AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 vs Intel Xeon W-2155 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results present a consistent picture: the Intel Xeon W-2155 wins every recorded Cinebench test against the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48. Across six head-to-head comparisons, the Intel part takes all six wins with a narrow but uniform margin. The multicore scores show the Xeon W-2155 at 1767 in Cinebench R15 versus 1730 for the AMD chip, a 2.1% advantage. The same 2.1% gap appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel scores 7365 and AMD scores 7212. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel processor records 17538 against 17172, again 2.1% ahead.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. The Xeon W-2155 posts 249 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Ryzen Embedded V3C48 reaches 244, a 2% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, Intel scores 1039 versus 1018, a 2.1% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2475 for Intel and 2424 for AMD, also 2.1% apart. The consistency of these margins suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-dependent. Every benchmark in the database points the same direction, with no single test favoring the AMD part.

The average benchmark score reinforces this. The Xeon W-2155 carries an average score of 5072, while the Ryzen Embedded V3C48 sits at 4967. That places the Intel chip in the 60th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the 59th percentile for the AMD processor. These percentile rankings are nearly identical, indicating that both chips occupy a similar tier of overall performance, even though the Intel part has the edge in every direct comparison.

When placed against their nearest rivals, both processors hold their ground. The Xeon W-2155 is within 0.4% of the Intel Core i9-12900TE and the Intel Core i9-9820X, and within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5750GE. The Ryzen Embedded V3C48 sits 0.3% behind the Intel Core i5-12600HE, 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G, and 0.5% behind the Intel Xeon W-2150B. These tight deltas show that neither chip is an outlier in its performance class; the differences between them are small relative to the broader field.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The Intel Xeon W-2155 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-W, using a 14 nm process manufactured by Intel. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, on a 6 nm process from TSMC. The process node difference is substantial: 14 nm versus 6 nm. This does not translate into a performance advantage for AMD in the recorded benchmarks, but it does have implications for power and density.

The Intel chip packs 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD chip offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Both run a base clock of 3.30 GHz, but the Intel part boosts to 4.50 GHz compared to 3.80 GHz for the AMD. That higher boost clock likely contributes to the Intel wins in single-core tests, where the margin is around 2%. The Intel processor also has a larger L2 cache per core at 1 MB versus 512 KB for the AMD chip. However, the AMD part has a larger shared L3 cache: 16 MB versus 13.75 MB on the Intel. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

Memory architecture differs sharply. The Xeon W-2155 supports DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus and a peak bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The Ryzen Embedded V3C48 supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s peak bandwidth. Despite using newer DDR5 memory, the AMD chip has lower theoretical memory bandwidth due to its dual-channel configuration. Both processors support ECC memory, which matters for workstation and server reliability.

PCIe connectivity also diverges. The Intel part provides PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The AMD part uses a newer PCIe standard, but the Intel part has more than double the lane count. The socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 2066 for the Xeon W-2155, AMD Socket FP7 for the Ryzen Embedded V3C48. The Intel die size is recorded at 484 mm², while the AMD die size is not listed in the database.

The production status and release timing separate these parts further. The Intel Xeon W-2155 was released in August 2017 and is marked as end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 was released in September 2022 and remains active in production. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $1440, though no launch price is recorded for the AMD chip. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a distinguishing factor.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data gives the Intel Xeon W-2155 a clean sweep across all tested workloads, but the margins are modest. The largest advantage appears in multicore tests, where the Intel chip leads by 2.1% consistently. This small but repeatable edge suggests the Xeon W-2155 is the better choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, such as Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore runs. The 10-core, 20-thread configuration with higher boost clocks appears to offset the AMD chip's newer architecture and larger L3 cache.

For single-threaded tasks, the Intel part also wins, with a 2% to 2.1% lead depending on the Cinebench version. The higher 4.50 GHz boost clock is the likely driver here. Applications that depend on single-core responsiveness, such as legacy code or lightly threaded scripts, would favor the Intel processor based on this data. However, the margin is slim enough that real-world differences would be difficult to perceive without direct measurement.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 does not win any recorded benchmark, but its lower 45 W TDP compared to the Intel part's 140 W TDP is a significant differentiator. The data does not include power consumption measurements, but the TDP figures in the database suggest the AMD chip operates in a much lower thermal envelope. For environments where cooling is constrained or where energy efficiency is a priority, the AMD part may be preferable despite its slightly lower scores. The AMD chip also supports DDR5 and PCIe Gen 4, which could matter for system designs that prioritize newer memory and I/O standards.

The Intel chip's quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth versus the AMD chip's 76.8 GB/s could benefit memory-intensive workloads, though the recorded benchmarks do not test this directly. Similarly, the Intel part's 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion headroom than the AMD part's 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which may influence system architecture choices.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2155 wins all three multicore Cinebench tests. It scores 1767 versus 1730 in R15, 7365 versus 7212 in R20, and 17538 versus 17172 in R23. Each win is by 2.1%.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 wins?

A: No. In the six head-to-head comparisons recorded, the Intel processor wins every single test. The AMD chip does not record a single win against the Xeon W-2155.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2155 has 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock differences?

A: The Intel processor boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the AMD processor boosts to 3.80 GHz. Both have a base clock of 3.30 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon W-2155 and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2155 supports DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 supports DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification fields where the two processors differ. The Intel Xeon W-2155 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The boost clock differs: 4.50 GHz for Intel versus 3.80 GHz for AMD, with a shared 3.30 GHz base clock. TDP is a major difference: 140 W for the Intel part versus 45 W for the AMD part.

The socket and architecture are entirely different. Intel uses Socket 2066 with Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel. AMD uses Socket FP7 with Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm process from TSMC. The Intel die size is 484 mm², while the AMD die size is not recorded. Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3: Intel has 1 MB L2 per core and 13.75 MB shared L3, while AMD has 512 KB L2 per core and 16 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core.

Memory support separates them: DDR4 with quad-channel and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth for Intel, DDR5 with dual-channel and 76.8 GB/s for AMD. PCIe capabilities also differ: Intel provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes, AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The market segment is recorded as Server/Workstation for Intel and Desktop for AMD. Production status shows Intel as end-of-life and AMD as active. Release dates are August 2017 for Intel and September 2022 for AMD. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $1440; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. Part numbers are SR3LR for Intel and 100-000000817 for AMD.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points clearly to the Intel Xeon W-2155 as the higher-performing processor in every recorded test. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with margins of 2% to 2.1% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. Its average benchmark score of 5072 surpasses the AMD chip's 4967, and its 60th percentile ranking edges out the AMD part's 59th percentile. For users whose primary concern is raw compute performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel part is the data-backed choice.

However, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 offers a substantially lower TDP of 45 W compared to the Intel part's 140 W. The database does not include power measurements, but the TDP figures indicate a much lower thermal design point. For embedded or compact systems where heat dissipation is a limiting factor, the AMD processor may be the more practical option, even though it loses every recorded benchmark. The AMD chip also uses newer technology: DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 4, and a 6 nm process, which may offer advantages in system-level design that are not captured in these Cinebench scores.

The choice depends on priorities. The Intel Xeon W-2155 delivers the higher performance in all recorded tests and provides more cores, threads, PCIe lanes, and memory bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 delivers competitive performance within a much smaller power envelope and uses newer memory and I/O standards. The data does not show a scenario where the AMD chip wins on performance, but its active production status and lower TDP make it a viable option for designs where those factors dominate. The Intel part is end-of-life, which may affect long-term availability, but its launch MSRP of $1440 reflects its workstation-class positioning.