AMD Ryzen 5 2600H vs Intel Core i7-8709G Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H and Intel Core i7-8709G are both 2018-era mobile processors aimed at compact, high-performance laptops, and the benchmark data shows a remarkably tight contest. The Ryzen 5 2600H edges out the Intel part in every single Cinebench test recorded, making it the consistent, if narrow, winner in raw CPU throughput. However, the Intel chip counters with a higher boost clock and a larger L3 cache, which could influence real-world responsiveness in ways that synthetic all-core tests do not fully capture. Both chips sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they belong to the same performance tier, but the data reveals a clear, if slight, numerical advantage for the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins every head-to-head comparison. It takes all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across the R15, R20, and R23 versions. The margins are small, ranging from a 0.8% advantage in Cinebench R20 multi-core to a 1.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. This means that in purely CPU-bound tasks like rendering, video encoding, or compiling code, the Ryzen 5 2600H will consistently deliver slightly higher frame rates or shorter completion times than the Core i7-8709G.

The Intel Core i7-8709G, on the other hand, wins on paper in a few architectural and feature categories that can translate to practical advantages. Its base clock is lower at 3.10 GHz, but its boost clock is significantly higher at 4.10 GHz, compared to the AMD’s 3.60 GHz boost. This suggests that in lightly-threaded tasks or bursty workloads, the Intel chip has a higher theoretical ceiling for peak frequency. Additionally, the Core i7-8709G integrates the Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics, which is a much more powerful GPU than the Radeon Vega 8 in the Ryzen part. The data does not include GPU benchmarks, but the specification difference points to the Intel chip being the better choice for gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks without a discrete graphics card.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and foundries. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, and manufactured on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-8709G uses the Kaby Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm process, but manufactured by Intel, and its transistor count and die size are not listed.

Cache layouts differ notably. The Ryzen 5 2600H has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, but doubles the shared L3 cache to 8 MB. This larger L3 cache on the Intel part could help with frequently accessed data, potentially mitigating some of the AMD chip's raw core efficiency advantages.

Memory support is another splitting point. Both support DDR4 memory, but the Ryzen 5 2600H specifies dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip's memory bus and bandwidth are not listed. The AMD part also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip has no PCIe information provided. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-8709G uses the Intel BGA 2270 socket, while the AMD uses AMD Socket FP5. The Intel chip has a higher TDP of 65 watts compared to the AMD's 45 watts, meaning it may require more robust cooling and draw more power under load.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is a series of narrow wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 685 against the Intel's 679, a 0.9% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 96 for AMD versus 95 for Intel, a 1.1% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD wins multi-core 2856 to 2832 (0.8%) and single-core 403 to 399 (1.0%). The most modern test, Cinebench R23, shows the AMD leading multi-core 6801 to 6743 (0.9%) and single-core 960 to 952 (0.8%).

These results indicate that the Ryzen 5 2600H is consistently faster, but the margins are so small that they would be nearly imperceptible in everyday use. A 0.8% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core translates to just a handful of points. The Intel part's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz does not help it overcome the AMD's lead in these specific single-threaded tests, suggesting that the AMD's architecture is more efficient at converting clock cycles into work, or that the Intel chip is thermally limited in its mobile package. The average benchmark score for the AMD is 1967, compared to 1950 for the Intel, reinforcing the slight overall edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 685 vs 679 in R15, 2856 vs 2832 in R20, and 6801 vs 6743 in R23, giving it a 0.8% to 0.9% lead over the Intel Core i7-8709G.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8709G have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H wins every single-core test as well, with margins of 1.1% in R15 (96 vs 95), 1.0% in R20 (403 vs 399), and 0.8% in R23 (960 vs 952). Despite the Intel's higher 4.10 GHz boost clock, the AMD chip scores higher.

Q: How do these processors compare to other CPUs in the database?

A: Both sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H has an average score of 1967, closely matching the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X at 1968 and the Intel Core i7-10810U at 1971. The Intel Core i7-8709G averages 1950, placing it near the Intel Core i5-1035G7 at 1948.

Q: What are the key differences in integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H features the Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel Core i7-8709G features the Radeon RX Vega M GH. The benchmark data does not include GPU performance scores, but the Intel chip's integrated graphics is a distinct, higher-tier part.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G has a TDP of 65 watts, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H's 45-watt TDP. This implies the Intel chip may generate more heat and require more substantial cooling.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, which is double the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 2600H | Intel Core i7-8709G |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel BGA 2270 |

| Architecture | Zen (Raven Ridge) | Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake G) |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | Not listed |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not listed |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | Radeon RX Vega M GH |

| Release Date | 2018-09-09 | 2018-01-31 |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is the faster CPU in this comparison, winning all six recorded benchmarks. For users whose primary concern is raw processor performance in applications like video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation, the Ryzen 5 2600H is the correct choice. Its consistent, albeit small, lead in both single-core and multi-core tests shows a more efficient core design, and its lower 45-watt TDP makes it easier to cool in a thin laptop chassis.

The Intel Core i7-8709G should be selected for scenarios where the integrated graphics matter more than the CPU. The inclusion of the Radeon RX Vega M GH is a massive specification advantage over the Radeon Vega 8, even though no GPU benchmark data is present in this pack. For a user who wants to play games or run GPU-accelerated workloads without a separate graphics card, the Intel part is the only one of the two that can plausibly deliver playable frame rates. It also has a higher boost clock and double the L3 cache, which could be a tiebreaker in some niche, cache-sensitive workloads. However, based purely on the CPU benchmark numbers provided, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is the winner, and it does so while drawing less power. The Intel part is a trade-off: you sacrifice CPU throughput and efficiency for a vastly superior integrated GPU.