AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i5-4670K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4670K and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H are two very different processors separated by nearly six years of silicon evolution, yet they land almost exactly on top of each other in aggregate performance. The data shows a 40th percentile ranking for both chips, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: 1656 for the Intel part versus 1653 for the AMD part, a delta of just 0.2%. The head-to-head benchmark results, however, tell a more nuanced story, with each processor winning three tests outright, often by significant margins. The older desktop chip flexes its muscle in newer multi-threaded workloads and Geekbench, while the newer mobile part dominates in Cinebench R15 and single-threaded R23 tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in this comparison is the Intel Core i5-4670K's performance in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4751 against the Ryzen 5 3550H's 3929.5. That is a 20.9% advantage for the Haswell chip, a substantial lead in a modern rendering workload that typically scales with core count. This is surprising given the Ryzen's 8 threads versus the Intel's 4, but the data is unambiguous: the older desktop processor delivers a decisive win in this test.

The Intel chip also takes the Geekbench tests decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 3700 versus 3217 for the AMD part, a 15% lead. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided, with the i5-4670K scoring 1302 against the Ryzen's 1001, a 30.1% margin. These results suggest that the Intel architecture, despite its age, has a significant edge in this particular benchmark suite.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H, however, dominates the older Cinebench R15 tests. In multi-core R15, the Ryzen scores 742 against the Intel's 478, an enormous 35.6% difference favoring AMD. The single-core R15 result is even more one-sided: the Ryzen scores 144 while the Intel manages only 67, a 53.5% delta. This is a massive gap, indicating that the Zen+ architecture holds a clear advantage in this legacy workload.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 5 3550H again comes out ahead, scoring 886 versus the Intel's 670, a 24.4% lead. This modern single-threaded test shows the AMD part's strength in per-core performance, a result that contradicts the Geekbench single-core finding. The two processors trade blows depending on the workload generation, with the Intel chip winning the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test and both Geekbench tests, while the AMD chip wins all the R15 tests and the R23 single-core test.

The aggregate picture is one of near-parity, with the Intel chip's wins being slightly larger on average in some cases, but the AMD chip's R15 victories are so large that they nearly offset the Geekbench and R23 multi-core losses. The final tally of 3 wins apiece reflects this split, but the magnitude of the deltas varies wildly, from the Ryzen's 53.5% crushing in R15 single-core to the Intel's 30.1% margin in Geekbench single-core.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670K has an average benchmark score of 1656, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has an average score of 1653. The difference is 0.2%, placing the Intel part marginally ahead.

Q: How large is the Ryzen 5 3550H's win in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The Ryzen 5 3550H scores 742 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, compared to the i5-4670K's 478. This gives the AMD processor a 35.6% advantage in that test.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel processor have its biggest lead?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670K's largest win is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1302 against the Ryzen's 1001, a 30.1% margin. It also has a 20.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

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

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-4670K and the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H have 4 cores. However, the Intel part has 4 threads while the AMD part has 8 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670K has a TDP of 84 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD processor consumes significantly less power.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670K has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H's boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision based on workload and platform. For users prioritizing modern multi-threaded rendering and Geekbench performance, the Intel Core i5-4670K is the stronger choice. Its 20.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 15% lead in Geekbench multi-core are substantial, and its 30.1% advantage in Geekbench single-core makes it the better pick for that specific benchmark suite.

For anyone running legacy Cinebench R15 workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is the definitive winner. The 35.6% margin in multi-core R15 and the staggering 53.5% lead in single-core R15 are impossible to ignore. The Ryzen also wins the modern Cinebench R23 single-core test by 24.4%, showing strength in single-threaded rendering tasks.

The Ryzen 5 3550H's 35-watt TDP versus the Intel's 84-watt TDP makes it the clear choice for power-constrained or mobile environments, given its market segment. The Intel part, with its unlocked multiplier, offers overclocking potential that the locked AMD processor lacks. Users should choose the Intel Core i5-4670K for Geekbench and newer multi-core Cinebench workloads, or the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H for Cinebench R15 performance and significantly lower power consumption.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i5-4670K and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H differ in several key specifications. The Intel part has 4 threads, while the AMD part has 8 threads, despite both having 4 cores. The Intel chip has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, whereas the AMD chip has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

The TDPs are vastly different: the Intel processor is rated at 84 watts, while the AMD processor is rated at 35 watts. The Intel part uses an Intel Socket 1150, while the AMD part uses an AMD Socket FP5. The Intel chip supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR4 memory, both in dual-channel configuration.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the Intel Core i5-4670K features Intel HD 4600, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H features Radeon Vega 8. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part does not. The Intel chip is a desktop part, while the AMD chip is a mobile part, and the AMD processor has an active production status.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural eras. The Intel Core i5-4670K is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, but only a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD part thus has more L1 and L2 cache per core, but less total L3 cache.

The Intel Core i5-4670K is a Core i5 from the Haswell generation, released in 2013, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is from the 3000 series, part of the Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) generation, released in 2019. Both use PCIe Gen 3, and neither supports ECC memory. The Intel chip is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip is a mobile part with a locked multiplier.