AMD Ryzen 5 2600H vs Intel Core i7-7820HQ Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is decisively one-sided. Across all six recorded Cinebench comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H takes every single win. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ does not record a single victory in the database's direct comparison tests.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H dominates in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Its lead in multi-core tests is substantial, with Cinebench R23 multi-core showing an 11.8% advantage. The single-core deltas are nearly identical in magnitude, ranging from 11.6% to 11.9% across the three Cinebench generations. This consistency is notable: the Ryzen part does not merely edge ahead in one specific test, it maintains a nearly uniform lead across different rendering workloads.

For the Intel Core i7-7820HQ, the picture is less favorable. It trails by roughly 11 to 12 percent in every recorded benchmark. However, the database shows that the i7-7820HQ holds a separate benchmark record in Geekbench, where it scores 3748 multi-core and 1215 single-core. These Geekbench results are not part of the direct head-to-head comparison, but they do appear in the item's benchmark history. The Ryzen 5 2600H has no recorded Geekbench entry, so the Intel part can claim a presence in that testing suite despite losing all direct comparisons.

The average benchmark scores place the two very close overall. The Ryzen 5 2600H averages 1967 points, while the i7-7820HQ averages 1940 points. That is a difference of roughly 1.4%, far smaller than the double-digit deltas seen in the Cinebench pairings. The percentile rankings are similarly tight: the AMD chip sits at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel chip at the 43rd. In aggregate terms, these are effectively equivalent parts, but in the specific workloads measured head-to-head, the AMD processor is consistently faster.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins all six head-to-head comparisons recorded in the database. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ wins zero.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's lead in multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2600H scores 6801 versus 6084 for the i7-7820HQ, a delta of 11.8%. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar 11.8% gap (2856 vs 2555), and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows an 11.7% lead (685 vs 613).

Q: Is the Intel part competitive in single-core workloads?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins every single-core test as well. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 960 versus 858, an 11.9% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 403 versus 360, also 11.9%. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 96 versus 86, an 11.6% lead.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H has an average benchmark score of 1967. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ has an average of 1940. The AMD part is ranked at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel part at the 43rd.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-7820HQ have any benchmark results outside the head-to-head tests?

A: Yes. The database records Geekbench results for the i7-7820HQ: 3748 multi-core and 1215 single-core. No Geekbench scores are listed for the Ryzen 5 2600H.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820HQ boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H boosts to 3.60 GHz. Despite this higher boost clock, the Intel part loses all six head-to-head comparisons.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the uniformity of the AMD advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2600H scores 685 against 613 for the i7-7820HQ, a delta of 11.7%. The single-core variant of the same test shows 96 versus 86, an 11.6% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2856 versus 2555, an 11.8% delta, and single-core is 403 versus 360, an 11.9% delta. The newest test, Cinebench R23, continues the pattern: multi-core 6801 versus 6084, 11.8%, and single-core 960 versus 858, 11.9%.

The largest single delta is 11.9%, which appears in both Cinebench R20 single-core and Cinebench R23 single-core. The smallest delta is 11.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The spread between the smallest and largest advantage is only 0.3 percentage points. This tight clustering suggests the performance relationship between the two processors is stable across workload generations and thread counts.

The Intel part's best relative showing is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it loses by 11.6%. Its worst relative showing is 11.9% in the two newer single-core tests. Interestingly, the multi-core deltas (11.7%, 11.8%, 11.8%) are nearly identical to the single-core deltas on a generation-by-generation basis. This means the AMD processor is not winning through better scaling, it simply starts ahead and maintains that lead in both lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios.

For context, the nearest rivals in the database reinforce the overall positioning. The Ryzen 5 2600H sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X (1968 average score, -0.1% delta), the Intel Xeon D-2712T (1964, +0.2%), the Intel Core i7-10810U (1971, -0.2%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 (1973, -0.3%). The i7-7820HQ sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-9850HL (1941, -0.1%), the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945, -0.2%), the Intel Core i3-10300 (1934, +0.3%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 (1947, -0.4%). In aggregate terms, both processors are surrounded by comparable desktop and mobile parts, but the direct comparison shows a clear and repeated winner.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several core specifications. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, both carry a 45 W TDP, and both are mobile parts. The similarities end there.

Clock speeds differ notably. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ has a lower base clock of 2.90 GHz but a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Intel part boosts 300 MHz higher, yet still loses every benchmark, which points to architectural efficiency differences rather than raw clock capability.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1440. Memory support differs as well: the Ryzen 5 2600H supports DDR4 only, while the i7-7820HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the Intel part has no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

PCIe connectivity differs. The AMD processor provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Intel processor provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part offers twice the PCIe lane count.

Integrated graphics differ. The Ryzen 5 2600H pairs with Radeon Vega 8, while the i7-7820HQ uses Intel HD Graphics 630. Neither supports ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Production status and release timing differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is listed as Active and was released in September 2018. The Intel Core i7-7820HQ is listed as End-of-life and was released in January 2017. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $378; the AMD part has no launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clean. AMD builds the Ryzen 5 2600H on its Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, part of the 2000 series. Intel builds the i7-7820HQ on Kaby Lake, codenamed Kaby Lake-H. Both use a 14 nm process node, but the foundries differ: GlobalFoundries produces the AMD chip, Intel produces its own.

The cache layouts are markedly different. The Ryzen 5 2600H provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-7820HQ provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has larger L1 and L2 caches per core, while the Intel part has double the shared L3. The i7-7820HQ also has a smaller die size at 126 mm² versus 210 mm² for the Ryzen. The AMD chip contains 4,950 million transistors; no transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

The part numbers and integrated graphics also distinguish the two. The Ryzen 5 2600H carries the part number YM2600C3T4MFB and integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The i7-7820HQ carries part number SR32N and integrates Intel HD Graphics 630. The AMD chip's integrated GPU is a Vega-based design, whereas Intel uses its HD Graphics architecture.

The benchmark results suggest that AMD's larger per-core caches and Zen architecture deliver better performance per clock in Cinebench despite the Intel part's higher boost clock. The i7-7820HQ's doubled L3 cache and additional PCIe lanes do not translate into wins in the recorded rendering workloads. The Ryzen 5 2600H's consistent 11 to 12 percent advantage across all six tests indicates that its architectural choices, including larger L1 and L2 caches, provide a fundamental efficiency edge in these specific workloads. The Intel part remains competitive in aggregate scoring, but the head-to-head data is unambiguous.