AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U vs Intel Core i7-6800K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U and the Intel Core i7-6800K represent two very different approaches to computing: a modern, power-sipping mobile processor against a legacy, high-power desktop part. The benchmark data shows a clear generational shift, with the Ryzen 3 PRO winning 7 out of 8 head-to-head tests, despite the Intel chip having 50% more cores and threads. The i7-6800K does manage a significant single victory in Geekbench multicore, but the overall picture is one of a newer architecture delivering superior efficiency and per-core performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U wins every single-core benchmark. Its biggest margin is a 30.3% lead in Geekbench single-core (1612 vs 1237), with more modest wins of 6.2% in Cinebench R15 (137 vs 129) and 6.5% in Cinebench R20 (573 vs 538). The Ryzen also leads in Cinebench R23 single-core by 6.4% (1365 vs 1283).

Q: The Intel chip has more cores, so it must be better for multi-threaded tasks. Is that true?

A: Not according to the Cinebench results. Despite having 6 cores and 12 threads versus the Ryzen's 4 cores and 8 threads, the Intel Core i7-6800K loses in all three Cinebench multicore tests. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U leads by 6.3% in R15 (974 vs 916), 6.4% in R20 (4062 vs 3819), and 6.4% in R23 (9673 vs 9093).

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i7-6800K wins?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins decisively in Geekbench multicore with a score of 5688, compared to the AMD's 4525. This represents a 20.4% advantage for the i7-6800K, making it the only test where the older processor comes out ahead.

Q: How do these processors compare in terms of power consumption?

A: The difference is stark. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U has a 15W TDP, classifying it as a mobile processor. The Intel Core i7-6800K is a desktop part with a 140W TDP. This makes the Ryzen dramatically more power-efficient, though the data shows the i7-6800K can still deliver competitive or better performance in specific workloads like Geekbench multicore.

Q: What are the key architectural differences between the two chips?

A: The AMD chip is built on a modern 7nm process from TSMC using the Zen 3 architecture, while the Intel chip uses the older 14nm process and Broadwell architecture. The Ryzen has a smaller die size (180 mm² vs 246 mm²) but a higher transistor count (10,700 million vs 3,400 million), and it includes integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics, which the Intel chip lacks.

Q: Which processor is more recent and what is its production status?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U was released on 2022-04-18 and is currently marked as "Active." The Intel Core i7-6800K was released much earlier on 2016-05-30 and is now marked as "End-of-life." This explains the generational performance gap despite the Intel chip's higher core count.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental gap between these two processors is one of generation and design philosophy. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne-U, which is a significant evolution from the Intel Core i7-6800K's Broadwell-E architecture. This is immediately apparent in the manufacturing process: AMD uses a 7nm node from TSMC, while Intel uses a 14nm node. This process advantage is a key reason the Ryzen can pack 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, compared to the Intel chip's 3,400 million transistors on a larger 246 mm² die.

The core configurations differ sharply. The AMD part features 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel part offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache layouts also diverge. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD chip has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, double the Intel's 256 KB per core. At the L3 level, the Intel chip has a larger shared pool of 15 MB, compared to the AMD's 8 MB.

Memory architecture is another differentiator. Both support DDR4, but the Intel i7-6800K uses a quad-channel memory bus offering 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s. In terms of connectivity, the Intel chip offers more PCIe lanes (28 vs 8) but both are limited to PCIe Gen 3. A major feature difference is the integrated graphics: the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 6, while the Intel chip has no integrated graphics at all.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a clear picture of where each chip excels. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U dominates the Cinebench suite, which is a strong indicator of CPU rendering performance. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the AMD chip wins in both single-core and multicore tests. The margins are consistent, hovering around 6.3% to 6.5% for multicore and 6.2% to 6.5% for single-core. For instance, the Ryzen scores 974 to the Intel's 916 in R15 multicore, and 1365 to 1283 in R23 single-core. This consistency suggests a fundamental per-core performance advantage for the Zen 3 architecture.

The most dramatic result comes from Geekbench. The Intel Core i7-6800K wins the multicore test decisively with a score of 5688, which is 20.4% higher than the AMD's 4525. This is the only test where the Intel chip's extra cores and threads translate into a win, likely due to Geekbench's scaling characteristics. However, in the Geekbench single-core test, the AMD chip strikes back with its largest victory of all, scoring 1612 versus the Intel's 1237, a massive 30.3% lead. This shows that for lightly-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U is in a completely different class.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet highlights the divergent nature of these two products.

• Cores: 4 (AMD) vs 6 (Intel)
• Threads: 8 (AMD) vs 12 (Intel)
• Base Clock: 2.70 GHz (AMD) vs 3.40 GHz (Intel)
• Boost Clock: 4.10 GHz (AMD) vs 3.60 GHz (Intel)
• TDP: 15W (AMD) vs 140W (Intel)
• Process Node: 7 nm (AMD) vs 14 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: 10,700 million (AMD) vs 3,400 million (Intel)
• Die Size: 180 mm² (AMD) vs 246 mm² (Intel)
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core (AMD) vs 256 KB per core (Intel)
• L3 Cache: 8 MB shared (AMD) vs 15 MB shared (Intel)
• Memory Bus: Dual-channel (AMD) vs Quad-channel (Intel)
• Memory Bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s (AMD) vs 76.8 GB/s (Intel)
• PCIe Lanes: 8 (AMD) vs 28 (Intel)
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 6 (AMD) vs None (Intel)
• Socket: AMD Socket FP6 (AMD) vs Intel Socket 2011-3 (Intel)
• Production Status: Active (AMD) vs End-of-life (Intel)
• Unlocked Multiplier: False (AMD) vs True (Intel)

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U as the superior processor for the vast majority of tasks. It wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all of the Cinebench tests and the Geekbench single-core test. Its wins are consistent, and its huge 30.3% lead in Geekbench single-core performance confirms the efficiency of the Zen 3 architecture. The Ryzen achieves this while consuming a fraction of the power (15W vs 140W TDP) and being a mobile chip, which speaks volumes about its architectural efficiency.

The Intel Core i7-6800K's only saving grace is its Geekbench multicore victory, where it leads by 20.4%. This indicates that in workloads that scale exceptionally well with core count and can use its quad-channel memory bandwidth, the older chip can still flex its muscles. However, given that the Ryzen chip wins in all of the Cinebench multicore tests—the benchmarks most associated with CPU rendering power—the Intel chip's advantage appears to be specific to certain types of applications rather than a general multi-threaded superiority. For a modern builder, the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U is the clear choice. The Intel i7-6800K, with its "End-of-life" status and 140W TDP, is a relic that only makes sense for specific, highly-threaded workloads where its Geekbench strength can be leveraged.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U:

• Single-threaded performance: Wins every single-core test, with a massive 30.3% lead in Geekbench single-core.
• Rendering workloads: Wins all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests with margins around 6.3-6.4%.
• Efficiency: Uses a 15W TDP, making it suitable for compact, power-conscious systems.
• Integrated graphics: Includes Radeon Vega 6, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems.

Intel Core i7-6800K:

• Specific multi-threaded workloads: Wins Geekbench multicore by 20.4%, suggesting an advantage in applications that scale well with its 6 cores, 12 threads, and quad-channel memory.
• Platform connectivity: Offers 28 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, more than three times the Ryzen's 8 lanes.
• Overclocking: Has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for potential manual performance tuning, though the data provided does not include overclocked results.
• Legacy value: As an "End-of-life" part, it may be available on the used market, but its 140W TDP and older architecture make it a less practical choice for new builds.