AMD Ryzen 5 3500U vs Intel Core i7-6700 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U and the Intel Core i7-6700 represent two very different approaches to the same 4-core, 8-thread formula. The Ryzen 5 3500U is a 12nm mobile part from 2019, while the Core i7-6700 is a 14nm desktop processor from 2015. Benchmark results show a clear split: the Intel wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head tests, but the AMD takes the two most decisive victories, including a staggering 118.4% lead in one workload. Both processors sit at the 66th percentile of all CPUs, making their overall average scores nearly identical—11176 for the AMD and 11074 for the Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 3500U is not a general-purpose winner, but it is a specialist in two narrow domains. Its biggest triumph is in passmark_data_encryption, where it scores 6013 against the Intel's 2753. That is a 118.4% advantage, meaning the AMD completes encryption workloads more than twice as fast. The second AMD win is in cinebench_r15_singlecore, where it scores 143 versus 96, a 49% lead. These two results suggest the Zen+ architecture handles certain single-threaded and cryptographic instruction patterns particularly well, even against a chip with a much higher boost clock.

The Intel Core i7-6700 wins everywhere else, and its victories are not marginal. In geekbench_multicore, it scores 4201 against the AMD's 2508, a 40.3% lead. It also wins passmark_extended_instructions by 52.6%, passmark_find_prime_numbers by 44.4%, and passmark_physics by 34.2%. The Intel's wins in passmark_data_compression (16.9%), passmark_floating_point_math (21.2%), and passmark_random_string_sorting (23.4%) show it handles general-purpose and data-heavy tasks with far more authority. The only close call for the Intel is passmark_integer_math, where it wins by just 3.6% (25651 vs 24732).

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different manufacturing eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U uses the Zen+ architecture on a 12nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a transistor count of 4,940 million on a 210 mm² die. It has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core i7-6700 uses the Skylake architecture on Intel's 14nm process, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel has double the L3 cache, which helps explain its dominance in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

Clock speeds tell a similar story. The Intel has a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 4.00 GHz boost clock, while the AMD is much slower on paper at 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The Intel also has a far higher TDP at 65 watts versus the AMD's 15 watts, reflecting its desktop orientation. The AMD is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 1151 for desktop. Both support dual-channel memory, but the Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a rated memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the AMD only lists DDR4 support. The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD has Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel has HD Graphics 530. The AMD is still in active production, while the Intel is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single most lopsided result is in passmark_data_encryption. The AMD scores 6013, the Intel scores 2753, and the delta is 118.4% in favor of the AMD. This is not a small edge; it is a complete reversal of the overall trend. The AMD also wins cinebench_r15_singlecore by 49% (143 vs 96), which is surprising given the Intel's higher clocks and the fact that the Intel wins passmark_single_thread by 15.5% (2277 vs 1924). The discrepancy suggests that the Ryzen's single-core strength is workload-specific, not universal.

The Intel's largest win is in geekbench_multicore, where it leads by 40.3% (4201 vs 2508). This is followed by passmark_extended_instructions at 52.6% (7505 vs 3560) and passmark_find_prime_numbers at 44.4% (27 vs 15). The Intel also wins cinebench_r15_multicore by 5.5% (688 vs 650), which is a much closer margin than the Geekbench result. In passmark_multithread, the Intel leads by 14.8% (8051 vs 6858), showing that even in parallel workloads, the older desktop chip pulls ahead. The passmark_physics test shows a 34.2% advantage for the Intel (558 vs 367), reinforcing its strength in simulation-style calculations.

The data compression test is another clear Intel win: 113748 vs 94555, a 16.9% margin. Random string sorting goes to the Intel by 23.4% (14406 vs 11029), and floating-point math by 21.2% (15840 vs 12485). The only near-tie is integer math, where the Intel's 25651 barely edges the AMD's 24732. Across all 15 tests, the Intel wins 13, but the two AMD victories are so large that the average benchmark scores of the two chips are nearly identical—the AMD's 11176 is only 0.9% higher than the Intel's 11074.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i7-6700 is the stronger all-around processor for desktop workloads. It wins the majority of tests by significant margins, particularly in multi-core, extended instructions, and memory-intensive tasks. Any user running compression, physics simulations, or general productivity software would see measurably better results with the Intel. The 40.3% lead in geekbench_multicore and the 52.6% lead in extended instructions are decisive for content creation or scientific computing.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U is the better choice only for specific encryption-related tasks and one particular single-threaded benchmark. Its 118.4% lead in data encryption is extraordinary, and its 49% win in cinebench_r15_singlecore shows that Zen+ can outperform Skylake in certain legacy single-thread tests. However, these are narrow use cases. The AMD is also a mobile part with a 15-watt TDP, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel is a desktop chip with a 65-watt TDP. If the workload involves AES or similar encryption, the AMD wins outright. For everything else, the Intel is the safer bet.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U has an average benchmark score of 11176, which is 0.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-6700's 11074. Both processors sit at the 66th percentile of all CPUs.

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

A: The largest delta is in passmark_data_encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U scores 6013 versus the Intel's 2753, giving the AMD a 118.4% lead. The second-largest is in passmark_extended_instructions, where the Intel leads by 52.6% (7505 vs 3560).

Q: How do they compare in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700 wins geekbench_multicore by 40.3% (4201 vs 2508) and cinebench_r15_multicore by 5.5% (688 vs 650). In passmark_multithread, the Intel leads by 14.8% (8051 vs 6858).

Q: Which chip is better for single-threaded tasks?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The AMD wins cinebench_r15_singlecore by 49% (143 vs 96), but the Intel wins passmark_single_thread by 15.5% (2277 vs 1924) and geekbench_singlecore by 31.2% (1264 vs 870).

Q: What are the cache differences?

A: The AMD has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U nor the Intel Core i7-6700 supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3500U | Intel Core i7-6700 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen+ | Skylake |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | N/A |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | N/A |

| 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 Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | N/A | 34.1 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | HD Graphics 530 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2019-01-05 | 2015-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | N/A | $303 |

| Part Number | YM3500C4T4MFG | SR2L2 |