AMD Ryzen 5 2500U vs Intel Core i7-2760QM Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U and Intel Core i7-2760QM are both four-core, eight-thread mobile processors, but they represent vastly different eras of design. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance victory for the AMD part, yet the Intel chip remains a relevant comparison point due to their nearly identical average benchmark scores. The Ryzen 5 2500U posts an average score of 1058, while the Core i7-2760QM sits at 1057, a delta of just 0.1%. This near-parity in overall standing, however, masks a complete rout in the individual head-to-head tests where the AMD processor wins all four comparisons.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen 5 2500U scores 137 against the i7-2760QM’s 51. That is a 168.6% advantage for AMD, a staggering margin that indicates the older Intel architecture is completely outclassed in lightly-threaded workloads. The multi-core Cinebench R15 test tells a similar story, with the Ryzen 5 2500U achieving 609 points versus the Intel’s 366, a 66.4% lead. This suggests that even when all cores are engaged, the newer Zen design generates significantly more throughput.

Geekbench results reinforce the pattern. In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2500U scores 2635, while the i7-2760QM manages 1625, giving AMD a 62.2% win. The single-core Geekbench test shows the Ryzen 5 2500U at 851 against the Intel’s 534, a 59.4% advantage. Across all four shared benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is the winner, with no tests favoring the Intel part. The data indicates that while their aggregate scores are separated by a fraction of a percent, the Ryzen 5 2500U delivers dramatically higher performance in every measurable category from the fact pack.

The Verdict

For any user prioritizing raw performance, the choice is unambiguous based on the benchmark data. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U wins every single head-to-head test, with margins ranging from 59.4% to 168.6%. The Intel Core i7-2760QM, despite having a similar core and thread count, cannot compete in any workload represented by these scores. The i7-2760QM’s best showing is a 0.1% delta in average score against the Ryzen 5 2500U, a statistical tie that does not translate into any actual benchmark victory.

The Intel Core i7-2760QM is an end-of-life product, while the Ryzen 5 2500U is listed as active, which further cements the recommendation. The data shows that the AMD processor is the superior choice for anyone looking at these two specific models. The i7-2760QM may have been a capable part in its day, but against the Ryzen 5 2500U, it is simply outmatched. If the choice is between these two, the Ryzen 5 2500U is the only logical pick from a performance standpoint.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-2760QM is a Sandy Bridge design on Intel’s 32 nm process, with just 1,160 million transistors on a slightly larger 216 mm² die. This difference in process technology and transistor count is a primary driver of the performance gap, as the newer AMD chip has far more resources to work with.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 2500U features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has a smaller 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, but a larger 6 MB of shared L3 cache. While the Intel chip has more L3, the AMD part’s larger L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its superior single-thread performance. The Ryzen 5 2500U also supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the Intel i7-2760QM does not list DDR4 support in the data, only a dual-channel memory bus.

Integrated graphics present another clear divergence. The Ryzen 5 2500U includes a Radeon Vega 8 iGPU, while the i7-2760QM comes with Intel HD 3000. The Ryzen 5 2500U also uses a different socket, AMD Socket FP5, compared to the Intel BGA 1224. Power consumption is a major factor: the Ryzen 5 2500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i7-2760QM is rated at 45 watts. This threefold difference in TDP highlights the efficiency of the newer Zen design, which delivers far higher performance while drawing significantly less power. The base clocks also reflect this, with the Ryzen 5 2500U running at 2000 MHz and boosting to 3.60 GHz, while the i7-2760QM operates at 2400 MHz base and 3.50 GHz boost.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U scores 137, which is 168.6% higher than the Intel Core i7-2760QM’s 51.

Q: Are these two processors comparable in overall performance?

A: Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Ryzen 5 2500U at 1058 and the i7-2760QM at 1057, a delta of just 0.1%. However, the Ryzen wins all individual head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U has a 15-watt TDP, while the Intel Core i7-2760QM has a 45-watt TDP.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, which is larger than the 4 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is built on a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-2760QM uses a 32 nm process.

Q: Which processor won the Geekbench multi-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U won with a score of 2635, compared to the Intel Core i7-2760QM’s 1625, a 62.2% advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is the clear winner in every benchmark category included in the data. It dominates in both multi-core and single-core workloads, as evidenced by its victories in Cinebench R15 and Geekbench tests. The Ryzen 5 2500U’s 66.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 62.2% lead in Geekbench multi-core show that it is far more capable for tasks that utilize all threads, such as video rendering or compilation. Its single-core wins, with margins over 59%, make it the better choice for everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications like word processing or web browsing.

The Intel Core i7-2760QM, on the other hand, does not have a single benchmark win in this comparison. Its only claim to parity is the 0.1% delta in average score against the Ryzen 5 2500U, which is essentially a tie. The i7-2760QM does have a larger L3 cache at 6 MB, which could theoretically benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads, but this does not manifest in any of the provided test scores. For a user choosing between these two, the Ryzen 5 2500U is the superior choice for all use cases represented by the benchmark data, offering higher scores across the board while consuming less power. The i7-2760QM’s only advantage is its availability as an older, end-of-life part, which does not translate into a performance benefit.