AMD Ryzen 3 5125C vs Intel Core i7-6700T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records only two shared benchmark results between the Intel Core i7-6700T and the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C, and the data shows a clear split: each processor takes one decisive win. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i7-6700T posts a score of 3906 against the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C's 2566. That is a 52.2% advantage for the Intel part, a massive margin driven by its four cores and eight threads versus the AMD chip's two cores and four threads. The Intel processor's multicore result is its strongest showing in the entire comparison, and the delta here is large enough to categorize this as a one-sided affair in heavily threaded workloads.

The single-core result flips the script. In Geekbench singlecore, the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C scores 1237, while the Intel Core i7-6700T manages 1128. The AMD part leads by 8.8% in this test, which is a notable edge given that the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz compared to the AMD's base clock of 3.00 GHz (the AMD part's boost clock is not recorded in the database). The AMD processor's per-core efficiency, rooted in its Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process, appears to overcome the Intel part's clock speed advantage in lightly threaded tasks. This single-core win is meaningful for the AMD chip because it demonstrates that despite having fewer cores, it can outperform the older Intel design when the workload scales to only one thread.

Looking at the broader benchmark profile, the Intel Core i7-6700T has a much richer set of recorded results. It shows Cinebench R15 multicore at 599, R15 singlecore at 84, R20 multicore at 2496, R20 singlecore at 352, R23 multicore at 5943, and R23 singlecore at 839. The AMD Ryzen 3 5125C has no Cinebench entries in the database, so the head-to-head comparison is limited to Geekbench. The average benchmark score for the Intel part is 1918, while the AMD part sits at 1902, a difference of only 16 points, or less than 1%. Both processors land at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, which places them in the same performance tier overall, but the distribution of wins is highly polarized: the Intel chip dominates multicore, and the AMD chip wins single-core.

The delta percentages in the nearest rival data further contextualize these scores. The Intel Core i7-6700T's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, has an average score of 1916, which is 0.1% lower. The Intel Core i3-10305T scores 1922, 0.2% higher, and the Intel Xeon E-2314 scores 1911, 0.4% lower. For the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-9100F at 1903, which is 0.1% higher, and the Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3 at 1907, 0.3% higher. These rival deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, reinforcing that both chips occupy a similar overall performance band, yet the head-to-head Geekbench results show how different the workload-specific behavior can be.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T wins decisively. In Geekbench multicore, it scores 3906 versus the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C's 2566, a 52.2% advantage. This result aligns with the Intel part's four cores and eight threads compared to the AMD's two cores and four threads.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C have any advantage in this comparison?

A: Yes, in single-core performance. The AMD part scores 1237 in Geekbench singlecore, beating the Intel Core i7-6700T's 1128 by 8.8%. This is notable because the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz, yet the AMD part's Zen 3 architecture still prevails per thread.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two?

A: The averages are very close. The Intel Core i7-6700T has an average benchmark score of 1918, and the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C has an average of 1902, a difference of just 16 points. Both sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C has a TDP of 15 watts. The AMD part draws less than half the power envelope, which is relevant for mobile and low-power systems.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 5125C has 2 cores and 4 threads. This core count difference is the primary reason for the Intel part's multicore dominance.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700T was released in August 2015, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C was released in May 2022. The AMD part is nearly seven years newer, which explains its architectural advantages in single-core efficiency and process node.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-6700T is the clear choice for multicore-heavy workloads. The 52.2% lead in Geekbench multicore over the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C is substantial, and the Intel part's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 5943 suggests it can handle rendering, video encoding, and other parallel tasks with reasonable competence. The four-core, eight-thread configuration provides a doubling of threads over the AMD part, which directly translates to better throughput in applications that scale with thread count. The Intel processor also has a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz, which helps in scenarios where bursts of activity across multiple cores are needed. The Intel part's 8 MB of shared L3 cache matches the AMD part, but the additional cores give it a structural advantage in any workload that can utilize more than two threads.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5125C wins in single-core performance and power efficiency. The 8.8% lead in Geekbench singlecore over the Intel Core i7-6700T is the defining metric for this chip. For everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light coding, where single-thread performance matters most, the AMD part will feel snappier. The 15 watt TDP is a major advantage for thin-and-light laptops, where thermal headroom and battery life are critical. The AMD part's 7 nm process node, manufactured by TSMC, provides a significant efficiency uplift over the Intel part's 14 nm node. The AMD chip also has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz, and its memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s versus the Intel part's 34.1 GB/s, which can help in memory-sensitive single-threaded workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-6700T has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5125C has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are close: the Intel part runs at 2.80 GHz, and the AMD part at 3.00 GHz, a 0.20 GHz difference in favor of AMD. The Intel part has a recorded boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD part's boost clock is null in the database, meaning no official figure is available for comparison. TDP is a major differentiator: the Intel part is rated at 35 watts, and the AMD part at 15 watts, a 20 watt gap. Socket types are entirely different: the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1151, and the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the AMD part supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth figures are distinct: the Intel part delivers 34.1 GB/s, and the AMD part delivers 51.2 GB/s, a 17.1 GB/s advantage for AMD. PCIe lanes differ: the Intel part provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are also different: the Intel part uses HD Graphics 530, and the AMD part uses Radeon Vega 3. Market segments are split: the Intel part is a desktop chip, and the AMD part is a mobile chip. Production status also differs, with the Intel part marked as end-of-life and the AMD part marked as active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $303, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial, reflecting nearly seven years of semiconductor evolution. The Intel Core i7-6700T is built on the Skylake architecture, using a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The AMD Ryzen 3 5125C is built on the Zen 3 architecture, specifically the Cezanne-U codename, using a 7 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. The process node difference is a full 7 nm step, which explains the AMD part's superior power efficiency: it delivers competitive performance at 15 watts versus the Intel part's 35 watts. The AMD part's transistor count is recorded at 10,700 million, and its die size is 180 mm², while the Intel part has no transistor count or die size listed in the database.

Cache hierarchies are similar in size but differ in distribution. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The L2 cache differs: the Intel part has 256 KB per core, while the AMD part has 512 KB per core, doubling the per-core L2 capacity. This larger L2 cache on the AMD part contributes to its single-core advantage, as more data can be kept closer to the execution units. The Intel part's generation is listed as Core i7 (Skylake), while the AMD part's generation is Ryzen 3 (Zen 3 (Cezanne)). The AMD part belongs to the 5000 series, a mature product line, while the Intel part is from the 2015-era Skylake family. The AMD part's integrated graphics, Radeon Vega 3, is a newer design than Intel's HD Graphics 530, though both are integrated solutions. The AMD part's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is 50% higher than the Intel part's 34.1 GB/s, which is a direct consequence of the newer memory controller design. The Intel part's support for DDR3 adds legacy compatibility, but the AMD part's sole support for DDR4 allows for a more optimized memory path. The AMD part's PCIe implementation is narrower at 8 lanes versus 16 lanes on the Intel part, which is consistent with its mobile positioning where discrete GPUs are less common.