AMD Ryzen 5 2600E vs Intel Core i7-9700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700 is the clear performance leader in this matchup, winning 16 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E. The sole exception is a dramatic AMD victory in data encryption, where the Ryzen 5 2600E posts a score of 12,146 against Intel’s 4,322 — a 181% advantage. However, that single outlier does not offset the consistent, broad-based Intel dominance across rendering, math, and single-thread workloads. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical (18,230 for AMD vs 18,180 for Intel, a 0.3% difference), but that parity masks a very different performance profile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-9700 wins every Cinebench test by the same 6.3% margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 1,128 versus AMD’s 1,057; in single-core, it’s 159 versus 149. The pattern holds in R20 (4,704 vs 4,407 multicore; 664 vs 622 single-core) and R23 (11,200 vs 10,494 multicore; 1,581 vs 1,481 single-core). This uniformity suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage for Intel rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark results show wider swings. The Intel chip leads by 55.1% in extended instructions (14,488 vs 6,509), a massive gap that highlights Intel’s superior SIMD and encryption-adjacent instruction throughput. It also wins floating-point math by 38.7% (34,187 vs 20,970) and find-prime-numbers by 33.3% (48 vs 32). Single-thread performance is 16.7% higher (2,756 vs 2,297), and random string sorting is 10.9% faster (23,482 vs 20,918). Even in integer math, where the scores are closest, Intel edges ahead by 0.9% (40,138 vs 39,781).

The data compression test is closer: Intel wins 181,411 to 173,653, a 4.3% margin. Multithread PassMark shows Intel ahead by 6.6% (13,223 vs 12,346), and physics by 8.3% (820 vs 752). The only AMD triumph is data encryption, where it more than doubles Intel’s output — a result that suggests either a different instruction path or a specific optimization in AMD’s Zen architecture for that workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E uses the Zen architecture (specifically Zen+ on Pinnacle Ridge), built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost of 4.00 GHz. Its cache layout is 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3.

The Intel Core i7-9700 is Coffee Lake Refresh, on Intel’s 14 nm process, with a die size of 180.3 mm². It has 8 cores and 8 threads — no hyper-threading — with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost of 4.70 GHz. Its cache is smaller per core: 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, and 12 MB shared L3. The Intel chip also includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD part has none listed. Intel supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); AMD’s PCIe configuration is not specified.

Both use DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC. The Intel part lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; AMD’s is not given. Both have a 65 W TDP and locked multipliers. The AMD processor is still marked as Active production, while Intel’s is End-of-life. Release dates differ: AMD launched on September 18, 2018, Intel on April 22, 2019.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-9700 wins in nearly every scenario. For multi-threaded rendering, it leads across all three Cinebench versions — R15, R20, and R23 — by a consistent 6.3%. It also dominates in math-heavy workloads, with a 38.7% lead in floating-point math and a 33.3% lead in prime number searches. For users running extended instruction sets or SIMD-heavy code, the 55.1% gap in PassMark extended instructions is decisive. Single-thread responsiveness is also Intel’s territory, with a 16.7% advantage in PassMark single-thread tests and a 6.3% edge in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has exactly one clear win: data encryption, where it scores 181% higher. This is not a marginal difference — it is a categorical advantage that could matter for specific encryption or hashing workloads. Beyond that, AMD’s best showing is integer math, where it trails by only 0.9%, and data compression, where it is 4.3% behind. Those are competitive numbers, but they do not change the overall picture.

For general productivity, Intel’s edge in multithread PassMark (6.6%) and physics (8.3%) suggests better all-around throughput. Intel also wins random string sorting by 10.9%, which can reflect database or sorting tasks. The average benchmark scores being nearly identical (0.3% apart) is misleading: it reflects AMD’s encryption outlier pulling its average up, not balanced performance.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i7-9700 if you need the best all-around performance. The data shows it wins 16 of 17 direct comparisons, with leads ranging from 0.9% in integer math to 55.1% in extended instructions. It is faster in every rendering test, every single-thread test, and the majority of math and compression workloads. The 8-core, 8-thread configuration with a 4.70 GHz boost clock delivers higher peak performance than AMD’s 6-core, 12-thread part at 4.00 GHz. The Intel chip also includes integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks, and its launch MSRP was $333. The fact that Intel’s part is End-of-life while AMD’s is still Active may affect availability, but not performance.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E only if data encryption is your primary or exclusive workload. Its 181% advantage in that test is extraordinary and unmatched by any other metric. It also offers 12 threads versus Intel’s 8, which might help in heavily threaded scenarios — but the benchmark data does not reflect that, as Intel still wins Cinebench multicore and PassMark multithread. For any other use case, the Intel Core i7-9700 is the superior choice based on measured results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel has more physical cores, but AMD has more logical threads.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E scores 12,146 versus Intel’s 4,322, a 181% advantage for AMD. The next largest is PassMark extended instructions, where Intel leads by 55.1%.

Q: How close are their average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E has an average benchmark score of 18,230, while the Intel Core i7-9700 scores 18,180. Intel trails by 0.3%, which is within the nearest rival deltaPct values (0 to 0.3%).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-9700 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-9700 includes UHD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E does not list any integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700 has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to 4.00 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E. Intel also has a slightly lower base clock at 3.00 GHz versus 3.10 GHz.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-9700 is marked as End-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 2600E | Intel Core i7-9700 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 192 mm² | 180.3 mm² |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) | Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2018-09-18 | 2019-04-22 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $333 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SRG13 |