AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i5-5675R Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H and Intel Core i5-5675R are both quad-core processors that land in the same performance tier, yet they achieve their results through fundamentally different designs and target different market segments. The data shows a split decision across benchmark suites, with each chip claiming three wins in direct head-to-head comparisons. The AMD part, a 35-watt mobile processor from the 3000 series, and the Intel part, a 65-watt desktop chip from the Broadwell generation, present a compelling case study in how architectural priorities and thread counts influence real-world performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has an average benchmark score of 1653, while the Intel Core i5-5675R scores 1648. The delta between them is a mere 0.3% in favor of the AMD chip.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The results are contradictory across test versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H wins decisively with 742 points versus 476 for Intel, a 55.9% lead. However, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-5675R reverses the outcome, scoring 4733 against AMD’s 3929.5, a 17% margin.

Q: Which processor demonstrates stronger single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (144 vs 67, a 114.9% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (886 vs 668, a 32.6% lead). The Intel chip, however, wins Geekbench single-core with 1234 points versus 1001 for AMD, an 18.9% advantage.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations?

A: Both processors have 4 physical cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H supports 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel Core i5-5675R is limited to 4 threads.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has a TDP of 35 watts, making it a mobile-oriented part. The Intel Core i5-5675R has a TDP of 65 watts, reflecting its desktop market segment.

Q: What integrated graphics do these CPUs feature?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-5675R features Iris Pro Graphics 6200.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different process nodes and microarchitectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-5675R uses the Broadwell architecture, also with the Broadwell codename, manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel. These process differences are substantial, with AMD’s 12 nm node being a refinement over the previous generation.

The cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip has a larger L1 cache at 96 KB per core, compared to Intel’s 64 KB per core. Similarly, AMD’s L2 cache is 512 KB per core, double Intel’s 256 KB per core. Both processors share a 4 MB L3 cache. The transistor counts and die sizes also differ: the AMD part contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel part has a smaller 182 mm² die size, with transistor count not listed.

Memory support is another key differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, while the Intel Core i5-5675R supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel. Intel’s memory bandwidth is listed at 29.9 GB/s, while AMD’s bandwidth is not specified. Both processors support PCIe Gen 3, but Intel’s implementation is noted as 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD’s lane count is not detailed. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The market segments and sockets are entirely different. AMD’s chip is a mobile processor using the AMD Socket FP5, while Intel’s is a desktop part using Intel BGA 1364. This fundamental difference in target platform explains the TDP gap: 35 watts for AMD versus 65 watts for Intel. The release dates are also far apart, with Intel launching in May 2015 and AMD in January 2019.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H demonstrates clear superiority in legacy single-threaded workloads, particularly in Cinebench R15 single-core where it leads by 114.9% over Intel. This massive margin suggests that older applications and benchmarks that rely on single-thread performance will see significant benefits from the AMD chip. The AMD part also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core with a 55.9% advantage, indicating strong performance in older multi-threaded rendering tasks.

The Intel Core i5-5675R claims victory in the more modern Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 4733 versus AMD’s 3929.5. This 17% lead in the latest rendering benchmark suggests that Intel’s architecture handles the updated workload more efficiently. Intel also wins both Geekbench tests, with a 13.9% advantage in multi-core (3738 vs 3217) and an 18.9% lead in single-core (1234 vs 1001). These Geekbench results indicate that Intel’s chip excels in a broader range of modern general-purpose computing tasks.

The wins are evenly split at three apiece, but the nature of the victories matters. AMD dominates in the older Cinebench R15 suite, suggesting that legacy software and older games or applications favor its higher thread count and clock speed profile. Intel’s wins in Geekbench and Cinebench R23 point to better performance in contemporary workloads, including modern productivity applications and newer rendering engines.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference is thread count: the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has 8 threads versus 4 for the Intel Core i5-5675R. This doubling of thread count is a major architectural advantage for AMD in multi-threaded scenarios, though the benchmark results show it doesn’t guarantee victory in all cases.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel chip has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz but a lower boost clock of 3.60 GHz. This means Intel starts at a higher frequency but AMD can boost slightly higher under load.

The process node and foundry differ: AMD uses 12 nm from GlobalFoundries, while Intel uses 14 nm from its own foundry. Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 4,940 million, while Intel’s is not provided. Die size differs at 210 mm² for AMD and 182 mm² for Intel. Cache configurations differ in L1 and L2 sizes, as detailed earlier, though both share 4 MB of L3 cache.

Memory support is a major difference. AMD supports DDR4, while Intel supports DDR3. Memory bandwidth is listed only for Intel at 29.9 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon Vega 8 for AMD versus Iris Pro Graphics 6200 for Intel. The launch MSRP for Intel is $265, while AMD’s is not listed. The Intel part has a release date of May 2015, while AMD’s is January 2019.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results reveal a fascinating split. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H scores 742 points against Intel’s 476, a 55.9% advantage. This is the largest margin of victory for AMD in any test and highlights the benefit of 8 threads versus 4 threads in this particular workload.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows an even more extreme result. AMD scores 144 points versus Intel’s 67, a 114.9% lead. This more than doubling of the score is remarkable, especially considering that the Intel chip has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz versus AMD’s 2.10 GHz. The result suggests that the older Cinebench R15 single-core test is heavily optimized for AMD’s architecture or that the Intel chip’s performance is severely constrained in this specific benchmark.

The tables turn in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, Intel scores 4733 points against AMD’s 3929.5, a 17% lead. This is a significant reversal from the R15 multi-core result and indicates that the newer rendering workload scales better with Intel’s architecture. The R23 single-core test sees AMD regain the lead, scoring 886 versus Intel’s 668, a 32.6% margin.

Geekbench results favor Intel consistently. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel scores 3738 versus AMD’s 3217, a 13.9% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, Intel scores 1234 versus AMD’s 1001, an 18.9% lead. These results suggest that Geekbench’s workload mix aligns better with Intel’s Broadwell architecture, despite AMD’s higher thread count and newer process node.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: AMD at 1653 and Intel at 1648, a 0.3% difference. Both processors sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are mid-range performers. The nearest rival data confirms this positioning, with both chips trading places around the same score range. AMD’s closest rival is the Intel Core i7-4810MQ at 1651 (0.1% delta), while Intel’s closest rival is the Intel Core i7-5700HQ at 1645 (0.2% delta). The two processors are each other’s direct competitors, with a mere 0.3% delta in average score.