AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 vs Intel Xeon W-2145 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2145 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 are both 8-core, 16-thread processors, yet they target vastly different segments of the market. The Xeon W-2145 is an end-of-life, high-TDP workstation part built on Intel's 14nm Skylake architecture, while the Ryzen Embedded V2748 is an active, low-power part for embedded systems built on TSMC's 7nm Zen 2 architecture. Despite their different design goals, the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly close contest, with the AMD part taking a narrow but consistent lead across every single benchmark in the comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 wins every head-to-head benchmark included in the comparison. The Intel Xeon W-2145 does not win a single test. This means there is no workload category where the Intel part demonstrates a performance advantage based on the available data. The AMD part leads in both multi-core and single-core tests, across all three Cinebench generations (R15, R20, and R23). For users prioritizing raw compute throughput in applications like video rendering or 3D modeling, the Ryzen Embedded V2748 consistently delivers slightly higher scores.

However, the practical interpretation of these wins requires context. The Intel Xeon W-2145's domain is not performance efficiency but platform capability. It supports Quad-channel memory, providing a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, compared to the AMD's Dual-channel support at 51.2 GB/s. It also offers 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, versus the AMD's 20. For workloads that are heavily dependent on memory bandwidth or require massive I/O expansion—such as high-end workstation storage arrays or multi-GPU compute servers—the Intel platform provides a structural advantage that the benchmark scores do not capture. The AMD part, conversely, wins in the embedded and mobile space, where its 35W TDP and integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP make it a compelling choice for compact, passively-cooled systems. The Intel Xeon W-2145, with its 140W TDP, requires substantial cooling and power delivery, making it unsuitable for such environments. Thus, while the AMD wins on raw CPU benchmarks, the Intel part wins on platform features and memory bandwidth capabilities.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Xeon W-2145 is based on the Skylake-W architecture, manufactured on Intel's 14nm process. It features a large 484 mm² die, reflecting its workstation heritage. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 is based on the Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Renoir codename, manufactured on TSMC's 7nm process. This allows for a much smaller 156 mm² die containing 9,800 million transistors. This process advantage is a primary driver of the AMD part's massive efficiency lead, as evidenced by its 35W TDP compared to Intel's 140W TDP.

Cache hierarchies also differ notably. Both parts share the same 64 KB L1 cache per core. However, the Intel part has a 1 MB L2 cache per core, double the AMD's 512 KB per core. Conversely, the Intel part's L3 cache is 11 MB shared, while the AMD part has 8 MB shared. These differences could affect performance in cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark results suggest the overall impact is minimal. The Intel part also has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to the AMD's 2.90 GHz base and 4.25 GHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, the AMD part still manages to outperform the Intel part in the listed benchmarks, indicating a significant IPC (instructions per clock) advantage for the Zen 2 architecture.

Another critical difference is the integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, while the Intel Xeon W-2145 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The AMD part also uses a different socket (AMD Socket FP6) compared to the Intel Socket 2066, making them incompatible with each other's platforms. Both support ECC memory and DDR4, but the memory bus width differs, as noted previously.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are consistent and decisive. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 scores 1579, a 2.3% lead over the Intel Xeon W-2145's 1542. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern, with the AMD scoring 222 against Intel's 217, again a 2.3% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD's multi-core score is 6580, beating the Intel's 6425 by 2.4%. The single-core R20 test sees the AMD at 929 versus the Intel's 906, a 2.5% delta.

The trend continues in Cinebench R23. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 scores 15668 in multi-core, exceeding the Intel's 15299 by 2.4%. In single-core R23, the AMD scores 2212, while the Intel scores 2159, another 2.4% lead. The consistency of these deltas—hovering around 2.3% to 2.5% across all tests—is striking. It suggests a uniform performance advantage for the AMD architecture, regardless of the specific rendering workload or the number of threads utilized. Furthermore, the data also includes Geekbench results for the Intel part only, where it scores 8712 multi-core and 1345 single-core. These scores, while not directly comparable to the AMD's Cinebench results, place the Intel part in a particular performance tier. The average benchmark score for the Intel part is 4576, while the AMD part's average is 4532, a difference of less than 1%, despite the AMD winning every individual head-to-head test. This paradox is resolved by noting that the Intel part has 8 benchmark scores, including the two Geekbench tests, while the AMD part only has 6 Cinebench scores, which skews the averages differently.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 is faster, winning all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It leads by 2.3% in R15 (1579 vs 1542), 2.4% in R20 (6580 vs 6425), and 2.4% in R23 (15668 vs 15299).

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2145 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 winning all six compared tests. The Intel Xeon W-2145 has zero wins in this comparison.

Q: How do their memory bandwidths compare?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2145 has a significant advantage, supporting Quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 only supports Dual-channel memory, with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Are these processors comparable in terms of power consumption?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 has a TDP of 35W, while the Intel Xeon W-2145 has a TDP of 140W. This makes the AMD part far more power-efficient.

Q: What are the architectural differences between the two?

A: The Intel part uses the Skylake-W architecture on a 14nm process, while the AMD part uses the Zen 2 (Renoir) architecture on a 7nm process. The AMD part also integrates Radeon Graphics, whereas the Intel part has none.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2145 has 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), which is more than double the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748's 20 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

The Verdict

Based purely on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 is the superior processor for CPU compute tasks. It consistently outperforms the Intel Xeon W-2145 in every rendering benchmark, despite having lower clock speeds and a much lower TDP. The data suggests that the Zen 2 architecture is significantly more efficient and effective than the older Skylake design. For users building a system where raw CPU performance is the sole criterion, the AMD part is the clear choice.

However, the data also reveals that the Intel Xeon W-2145 occupies a different niche. Its Quad-channel memory controller and higher number of PCIe lanes are features that the AMD part simply does not offer. A system requiring massive memory bandwidth for scientific computing or data analytics would benefit from the Intel platform, even if its CPU cores are slightly slower. Furthermore, the Intel part's launch MSRP was $1113, a figure that reflects its workstation positioning. The AMD part, with its integrated graphics and 35W TDP, is designed for embedded systems where space and power are at a premium. The choice is not about which CPU is "better" in a vacuum, but which platform features are more important for the specific use case. If you need a low-power, high-efficiency CPU with integrated graphics for a compact system, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 wins without question. If you need a workstation platform with high memory bandwidth and expansion capabilities, the Intel Xeon W-2145 is the only one of the two that provides that.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon W-2145 | AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.25 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Skylake-W | Renoir |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 484 mm² | 156 mm² |

| Transistors | Not specified | 9,800 million |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 11 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 48 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Graphics 448SP |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2017-08-28 | 2020-11-09 |