AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel Core i5-1240P Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and the Intel Core i5-1240P occupy different corners of the processor market, with the former being a desktop part from 2017 and the latter a mobile chip from 2022. Despite their differences in platform and era, their aggregate benchmark scores are remarkably close: the Ryzen 5 1600X averages 3249 points against the i5-1240P’s 3202 points, placing both at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs. The data shows a clear split, however, when individual workloads are examined, with the Intel part dominating most Cinebench tests while the AMD chip claims a decisive victory in the multi-core Cinebench R23 run.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1240P is the winner in five of the six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its advantages are most pronounced in the older Cinebench R15 and R20 tests, where it leads by substantial margins in both multi-core and single-core performance. The i5-1240P’s single-core scores are particularly strong, with a 30.5% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core and a 17.5% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core. This suggests the Alder Lake architecture delivers superior per-thread performance, likely benefiting from its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz compared to the Ryzen’s 4.00 GHz. In multi-core workloads, the i5-1240P’s 12 cores and 16 threads provide a structural advantage over the Ryzen’s 6 cores and 12 threads, yielding a 28.8% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 17.4% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X’s sole win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 11073 against the Intel part’s 9392, a 17.9% advantage. This is a notable reversal of the trend seen in earlier Cinebench versions. The Ryzen’s 16 MB of shared L3 cache, double the i5-1240P’s 12 MB, may contribute to this result, as could the sustained power delivery of a desktop platform with a 95W TDP compared to the mobile chip’s 28W TDP. In single-core Cinebench R23, the two are nearly tied, with the i5-1240P edging ahead by just 2.3% (1600 vs 1563).

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen 5 1600X is built on AMD’s Zen architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, using 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, and it includes ECC memory support. The chip uses the AM4 socket, offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and has an unlocked multiplier. It launched at an MSRP of $249 in April 2017.

The Core i5-1240P, in contrast, uses Intel’s Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-P variant, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, which implies a hybrid configuration of performance and efficiency cores, though the fact pack does not specify the exact mix. Its base clock is listed at 1700.00 MHz, which seems unusually low and likely refers to an efficiency core base, while the boost clock reaches 4.40 GHz. The cache layout differs significantly: 80 KB of L1 per core, a larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but a smaller 12 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, but lacks ECC support. The chip is soldered to BGA 1744, uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and includes integrated Iris Xe 80EU graphics. It is not multiplier-unlocked and targets the mobile segment, with a 28W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the comparison is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i5-1240P scores 1566.5 against the Ryzen’s 1116, a 28.8% deficit for the AMD part. This gap is mirrored in the single-core version of the same test: 226 for Intel versus 157 for AMD, a 30.5% difference. These results indicate that in the R15 workload, the Intel chip’s combination of higher clocks and more cores overwhelms the Ryzen’s older architecture.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the margins narrow but remain firmly in Intel’s favor. The i5-1240P posts 5632 in multi-core versus 4650 for the Ryzen, a 17.4% lead. In single-core, the scores are 795 and 656 respectively, a 17.5% difference. The consistent single-core advantage across R15 and R20 suggests that the i5-1240P’s architectural efficiency, likely from the newer Alder Lake cores, provides a per-thread performance edge that the Ryzen cannot overcome.

The Cinebench R23 results tell a different story. In multi-core, the Ryzen 5 1600X flips the script, scoring 11073 against the i5-1240P’s 9392, a 17.9% win for AMD. This is a dramatic swing from the R20 result, where Intel led by 17.4%. The reason for this reversal is not stated in the data, but it may reflect the R23 workload’s longer duration, which could expose thermal or power limits on the mobile Intel part. In single-core R23, however, Intel still wins, albeit narrowly: 1600 versus 1563, a 2.3% margin. This near-tie in single-core performance, contrasted with the larger single-core gaps in R15 and R20, suggests the Ryzen’s Zen architecture scales better with the R23 workload, even if it cannot fully close the gap.

It is importantly the Geekbench results are only available for the Ryzen 5 1600X, with a multi-core score of 5661 and a single-core score of 1117. The i5-1240P has no Geekbench entry in the fact pack, so a direct comparison in that suite is not possible. However, the Ryzen’s overall percentile rank of 53 and average score of 3249 place it slightly above the i5-1240P’s average of 3202, despite the Intel chip winning more head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded performance in modern Cinebench R23 workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X is the better choice, delivering a 17.9% advantage. This win suggests that in sustained, demanding multi-core tasks, the desktop platform’s higher power envelope and larger L3 cache can overcome the Intel chip’s core count advantage. The Ryzen’s support for ECC memory and its unlocked multiplier also make it a more flexible option for certain workstation or enthusiast scenarios.

For virtually everything else, the Intel Core i5-1240P is superior. It wins five of six benchmarks, with particularly large margins in Cinebench R15 and R20. Its single-core performance is consistently ahead, ranging from 2.3% to 30.5% depending on the test version. The i5-1240P also offers modern platform features like PCIe Gen 4, DDR5 memory support, and integrated Iris Xe graphics, which the Ryzen lacks entirely. The mobile form factor and 28W TDP make it suitable for laptops, whereas the Ryzen is strictly a desktop part.

The choice ultimately depends on the intended use case. If the workload is dominated by Cinebench R23-style multi-threaded rendering, the Ryzen 5 1600X wins. If the workload involves a mix of single-threaded tasks, older Cinebench versions, or requires a mobile platform with integrated graphics, the i5-1240P is the data-backed pick. The two chips tie at the 53rd percentile overall, underscoring that neither is a dominant performer, but their strengths lie in different areas.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X has an average benchmark score of 3249, compared to the Intel Core i5-1240P’s 3202, a difference of 47 points in favor of AMD.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Intel Core i5-1240P scores 226 against the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X’s 157, a 30.5% difference.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1240P support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-1240P does not support ECC memory, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X does.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P includes Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What is the release date and launch MSRP of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X was released on April 10, 2017, with a launch MSRP of $249. The Intel Core i5-1240P has no launch MSRP listed in the data.