AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 vs Intel Core i9-9820X Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly in favor of the Intel Core i9-9820X across every recorded test, though the margins are consistently narrow. The Intel part wins all six Cinebench comparisons, both single-core and multi-core, with deltas ranging from 1.6% to 1.7%. This is not a case of one processor dominating by a wide margin; it is a pattern of small but uniform advantages that hold across every workload in the database.

The Intel Core i9-9820X takes the multi-core victories with scores of 1759 in Cinebench R15, 7332 in R20, and 17459 in R23. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 trails by 1.7% in each of those multi-core runs, posting 1730, 7212, and 17172 respectively. The consistency of that 1.7% delta across three different Cinebench versions suggests the Intel processor maintains its edge regardless of how the workload scales with thread count.

On the single-core side, the Intel part again leads, though by a slightly smaller margin. The Core i9-9820X records 248 in R15, 1034 in R20, and 2464 in R23, while the AMD V3C48 posts 244, 1018, and 2424. The 1.6% delta in R15 and R20 single-core tests tightens to 1.7% in R23. These single-threaded results indicate the Intel architecture holds a modest advantage in lightly threaded scenarios, even though the AMD chip boosts to a lower maximum clock speed.

The use-case split, then, is not about which processor wins certain categories. The Intel Core i9-9820X wins everywhere. The meaningful distinction is the magnitude of the difference and the context of each platform. For workloads that are purely Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel part is consistently ahead, but the AMD processor is close enough that real-world differences may be difficult to perceive without direct side-by-side measurement. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the Intel chip averages 5049 across all tests, while the AMD chip averages 4967, a gap of roughly 1.7% overall.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing generations and design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-9820X uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process fabricated by Intel. It has 10 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, on a 6 nm process from TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with the same 3.30 GHz base clock but a lower 3.80 GHz boost clock.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The Intel part provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16.5 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip matches the 64 KB L1 per core but halves the L2 to 512 KB per core and provides 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel processor therefore has more total cache, particularly at the L2 level, which could contribute to its slight multi-core advantage in the recorded tests.

Memory support diverges sharply. The Intel Core i9-9820X uses DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The AMD V3C48 uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. Despite having fewer memory channels, the AMD chip's newer DDR5 standard keeps its bandwidth within about 10% of the Intel part, which is notable given the Intel processor's four channels.

Platform features also differ. The Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The AMD processor includes ECC memory support, which the Intel part lacks. Neither processor has integrated graphics. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The Intel chip uses Socket 2066, while the AMD chip uses Socket FP7.

Production status separates the two as well. The Intel Core i9-9820X is end-of-life, released in October 2018 with a launch MSRP of $889. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 is active, released in September 2022, and has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The Intel part belongs to the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen lineup, while the AMD part belongs to the Ryzen Embedded Zen 3+ Rembrandt family.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X has 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-9820X does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X boosts to 4.20 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 boosts to 3.80 GHz. Both have a 3.30 GHz base clock.

Q: How large is the multi-core gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X scores 17459 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 scores 17172. The Intel part leads by 1.7%.

Q: Which processor uses DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 supports DDR5. The Intel Core i9-9820X supports DDR4.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X has an average benchmark score of 5049, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 averages 4967.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear separation between the two processors. The Intel Core i9-9820X has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks match at 3.30 GHz, but the Intel chip boosts to 4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz for the AMD chip. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Intel part is rated at 165 W, while the AMD part is rated at 45 W.

Cache configurations differ. The Intel part provides 1 MB of L2 per core and 16.5 MB of shared L3. The AMD part provides 512 KB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core. Memory support separates them: DDR4 with quad-channel and 85.3 GB/s for Intel, DDR5 with dual-channel and 76.8 GB/s for AMD. ECC memory is supported only on the AMD chip. PCIe generations and lane counts differ: Gen 3 with 44 lanes for Intel, Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD.

Process technology and foundry differ: Intel uses 14 nm at Intel, AMD uses 6 nm at TSMC. The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD processor does not. Production status: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. Release dates differ by roughly four years: October 2018 for Intel, September 2022 for AMD. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $889 in the database; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Sockets differ: Intel Socket 2066 for the Core i9-9820X, AMD Socket FP7 for the V3C48. The Intel part is from the Core i9 X-Series 9th Gen generation, while the AMD part is from the Ryzen Embedded Zen 3+ Rembrandt generation. Neither processor has integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform: the Intel Core i9-9820X wins all six comparisons, but the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 1759 against 1730 for the AMD chip, a 1.7% lead. The R15 single-core test shows 248 versus 244, a 1.6% lead. These are the smallest margins in the set, indicating that single-threaded performance in the older Cinebench version is nearly equivalent between the two.

Cinebench R20 continues the pattern. The multi-core result is 7332 for Intel and 7212 for AMD, again a 1.7% delta. The single-core result is 1034 versus 1018, a 1.6% delta. The consistency of these deltas across R15 and R20 suggests that the architectural differences translate into a stable, predictable performance gap rather than one that fluctuates with workload characteristics.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding render workload in the database, shows the same story. Multi-core: 17459 for Intel, 17172 for AMD, a 1.7% lead. Single-core: 2464 for Intel, 2424 for AMD, a 1.7% lead. Notably, the single-core delta in R23 matches the multi-core delta exactly, which is unusual and suggests that the Intel part's advantage scales evenly across thread counts in this version.

The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel part leads by 287 points. The smallest absolute gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the lead is just 4 points. In percentage terms, the deltas never exceed 1.7%, so neither processor runs away from the other in any test.

The average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 5049, which is 82 points above the AMD part's 4967. The Intel processor sits at the 60th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD processor sits at the 59th percentile. In the nearest rival comparisons, the Intel chip's closest neighbor is the Intel Core i9-12900TE at 5050, a 0% delta, followed by the Intel Xeon Gold 6334 at 5043 with a 0.1% delta. The AMD chip's closest neighbor is the Intel Core i5-12600HE at 4980, a -0.3% delta, followed by the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G at 4949 with a 0.4% delta. These rival placements show both processors operating in the same performance tier, with the Intel chip marginally higher in the distribution.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i9-9820X is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded, but the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 is remarkably close given its substantially lower power envelope. The Intel chip wins all six Cinebench comparisons with deltas between 1.6% and 1.7%, and it holds a 1.7% advantage in average benchmark score. If raw rendering performance is the sole criterion, the Intel part is the clear pick.

However, the AMD processor's 45 W TDP against the Intel chip's 165 W TDP changes the practical calculus. The AMD part delivers 96% to 98% of the Intel chip's performance in each test while drawing far less power, according to the thermal design ratings. For systems where cooling capacity, power delivery, or energy efficiency are constraints, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 is the more sensible choice despite losing every benchmark.

The Intel Core i9-9820X also offers 10 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads, plus more PCIe lanes (44 Gen 3 versus 20 Gen 4) and a higher boost clock. The AMD processor counters with ECC memory support, DDR5 memory, a newer 6 nm process, and active production status. The Intel part is end-of-life, which may matter for long-term availability and support.

For a desktop user who already has an LGA 2066 platform or needs maximum multi-threaded throughput in Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel Core i9-9820X is the better performer. For an embedded or power-sensitive deployment where ECC memory and a modern socket are required, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 offers nearly the same benchmark results at a fraction of the TDP. The benchmark data does not declare a universal winner; it shows two processors with similar scores and very different platform priorities.