AMD Ryzen 5 2600E vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E and Intel Core i7-8700 are a study in contrasts: two 6-core, 12-thread desktop processors with identical 65W TDPs and near-identical average benchmark scores, yet with radically different performance profiles. The data shows the Intel chip winning 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the AMD part takes only 2 wins, but one of those is a staggering 170.6% blowout. The aggregate scores are effectively tied — 18230 for the Ryzen versus 18223 for the Intel — placing both at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, with a deltaPct of 0 between them.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-8700 dominates the Cinebench suite, but the margins are remarkably consistent and narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 1091 against the AMD's 1057, a 3.1% advantage. That same 3.1% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (4548 vs 4407) and Cinebench R23 multicore (10829 vs 10494). Single-core Cinebench results tell the same story: R15 shows 153 vs 149 (2.6% Intel lead), R20 shows 641 vs 622 (3% lead), and R23 shows 1528 vs 1481 (3.1% lead). This consistency suggests a fixed architectural efficiency gap rather than workload-specific variation — the Intel part simply executes the same instructions slightly faster across all render tests.

The Passmark suite reveals where the Intel chip stretches its lead. The largest conventional margin is in extended instructions, where Intel scores 12432 versus AMD's 6509 — a 47.6% advantage that points to superior SIMD or specialized instruction handling. Floating point math shows a 24.7% gap (27839 vs 20970), and random string sorting shows a 12.7% gap (23963 vs 20918). Integer math is closer at 11.4% (44881 vs 39781), and data compression shows a 7.1% delta (187009 vs 173653). Even the single-thread Passmark scores favor Intel heavily: 2629 vs 2297, a 12.6% edge that mirrors the 12.6% delta seen in the duplicate singlethread test.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E's two wins are not just wins — they are statement results. In Passmark data encryption, the AMD scores 12146 against Intel's 4488, a 170.6% advantage that is by far the largest delta in the entire comparison. This is not a marginal victory; the AMD part more than doubles the Intel's encryption throughput. The other AMD win is in Passmark physics, where it scores 752 against 732, a modest 2.7% edge. The remaining head-to-head results are all Intel wins: multithread (12756 vs 12346, 3.2% lead), find prime numbers (35 vs 32, 8.6% lead), and Cinebench R15 singlecore (153 vs 149, 2.6% lead).

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split based on workload type. For general-purpose computing, rendering, and most productivity tasks, the Intel Core i7-8700 is the superior processor. Its 3.1% lead across every Cinebench multicore test and its 12.6% single-thread advantage mean it will be faster in everyday applications, spreadsheet work, and lightly-threaded software. The Intel chip also wins in floating-point math, integer math, and data compression, making it the safer choice for scientific computing or database workloads that rely on those operations.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E is the undisputed champion in data encryption, with a 170.6% performance advantage that cannot be ignored. For anyone running encryption-heavy workloads — full-disk encryption, VPN gateways, secure communications — the AMD part is dramatically faster. Its 2.7% physics win suggests it also holds a slight edge in certain simulation or physics-calculation scenarios, though the margin is small enough to be within noise.

The average benchmark scores tell the real story: 18230 for AMD versus 18223 for Intel, a 0% delta. These processors are equals in aggregate, but they achieve that equality through opposite strategies. The Intel wins everywhere by small-to-moderate margins; the AMD loses most tests but wins one test by an enormous margin. Users should choose based on whether they need encryption performance (AMD) or broad all-around speed (Intel).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has an average benchmark score of 18230, while the Intel Core i7-8700 scores 18223. The deltaPct between them is 0, meaning they are statistically tied.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i7-8700 in single-threaded workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel scores 1528 against AMD's 1481, a 3.1% lead. The Passmark single-thread test shows a larger gap: 2629 vs 2297, a 12.6% advantage for Intel.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in Passmark data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E scores 12146 against Intel's 4488 — a 170.6% advantage for AMD.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads, and both have a 65W TDP.

Q: Which processor is better for physics simulations?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E wins the Passmark physics test with a score of 752 versus Intel's 732, a 2.7% advantage.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and each lists the other as its nearest rival with a deltaPct of 0.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8700 runs at 3.20 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost — the Intel chip is clocked higher at both ends. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 1151. The AMD's cache configuration is larger: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3, versus Intel's 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the AMD does not specify a bandwidth figure. The Intel part includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630) and a PCIe Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) configuration; the AMD lists no integrated graphics or PCIe data. The Intel is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $303, while the AMD remains active with no launch MSRP listed.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E is built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, using the Zen architecture (specifically Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) with 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-8700 uses Intel's 14 nm process and Coffee Lake architecture, with a smaller 154 mm² die and no transistor count listed. The AMD's Zen design allocates more cache per core, while the Intel's Coffee Lake design emphasizes higher clock speeds. The AMD has a release date of 2018-09-18, nearly a year after the Intel's 2017-10-04 release. Both support DDR4 dual-channel memory and neither supports ECC memory, but the Intel includes the UHD Graphics 630 iGPU while the AMD has no integrated graphics. The AMD's die is 24.7% larger than Intel's (192 mm² vs 154 mm²), yet both fit into a 65W thermal envelope. The foundry difference — GlobalFoundries for AMD versus Intel's own fabs — reflects two distinct manufacturing philosophies, with the AMD's larger transistor count (4,800 million) suggesting a denser but more power-hungry design despite the smaller process node.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8700 wins in 15 of 17 benchmarks, making it the clear choice for general-purpose desktop workloads. Its strengths are most pronounced in single-threaded tasks (12.6% Passmark lead), extended instruction sets (47.6% lead), and floating-point math (24.7% lead). It also wins in integer math (11.4%), random string sorting (12.7%), data compression (7.1%), and all Cinebench tests by roughly 3%. For rendering, video encoding, office productivity, and everyday multitasking, the Intel part is consistently faster, even if the margins are often modest.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E wins decisively in data encryption, with a 170.6% margin that dwarfs any other result in the comparison. This makes it the obvious pick for cryptographic workloads, secure data storage, or any application that heavily exercises AES or similar encryption instructions. Its 2.7% win in Passmark physics is minor but suggests a slight edge in physics simulation tasks. The overall benchmark averages are essentially identical, so the AMD's niche specialization comes at no aggregate cost — it trades broad wins for one massive specialization. Users who prioritize encryption should choose the AMD without hesitation; everyone else will find the Intel chip faster in nearly every measurable scenario.