AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i5-7600T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7600T and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H are both 35W parts, yet they represent opposite design philosophies: a four-core desktop chip from 2017 versus a four-core, eight-thread mobile chip from 2019. The benchmark data shows a surprisingly balanced contest, with each CPU claiming three wins in their head-to-head comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H dominates in older Cinebench R15 tests and single-threaded R23, while the Intel Core i5-7600T takes decisive victories in Cinebench R23 multi-core and Geekbench tests. This split suggests the choice depends heavily on which workload generation and metric matters most to the user, as their average benchmark scores are nearly identical at 1664 for Intel and 1653 for AMD.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced verdict: neither CPU is a universal winner, and the selection should be guided by specific workload priorities. The Intel Core i5-7600T is the pick for users running Geekbench-heavy applications or modern multi-threaded Cinebench R23 workloads, where it leads by 7.1% and 26.4% respectively. Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is the choice for older Cinebench R15 benchmarks and single-threaded R23 tasks, where it holds advantages of 32.6% and 20.9%. The Ryzen chip also offers two times the thread count, which explains its R15 multi-core lead. However, the Intel chip counters with a 24.5% Geekbench single-core advantage, suggesting superior per-thread performance in that specific test. For a desktop user prioritizing raw multi-core throughput in modern rendering, the Intel chip wins. For a mobile user or someone relying on legacy Cinebench R15 scores, the AMD part is superior.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-7600T wins in three distinct categories: Cinebench R23 multi-core (4968 vs 3929.5), Geekbench multi-core (3447 vs 3217), and Geekbench single-core (1246 vs 1001). These wins point to strengths in modern, cache-sensitive workloads and the Geekbench suite's particular mix of integer and floating-point tasks. The R23 multi-core result is especially telling, as it shows Intel's 6MB of shared L3 cache and 3.70 GHz boost clock can overcome the AMD chip's thread advantage in this specific benchmark. The Geekbench single-core win by 24.5% indicates that the Intel core architecture is more efficient per-thread in that test, despite the Ryzen's higher 886 single-core R23 score.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H counters with wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core (742 vs 500), Cinebench R15 single-core (144 vs 70), and Cinebench R23 single-core (886 vs 701). The R15 results are striking, with the AMD chip leading by 32.6% in multi-core and 51.4% in single-core. This massive single-core R15 lead suggests the Ryzen's Zen+ architecture is significantly better optimized for that older benchmark's instruction mix. The R23 single-core win, while smaller at 20.9%, confirms that AMD has a per-thread advantage in Cinebench's rendering workloads. The Ryzen's eight threads also explain its R15 multi-core dominance, as the benchmark scales well with additional threads.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs diverge fundamentally in their underlying design. The Intel Core i5-7600T uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H employs the Zen+ architecture on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip is a desktop part on Socket 1151, whereas the AMD chip is a mobile part on Socket FP5. This form factor difference is critical: the Intel chip targets desktop builds, while the AMD chip is designed for laptops. The Ryzen 5 3550H integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. Cache configurations differ as well: Intel provides 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 6 MB shared L3, while AMD offers 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, but only 4 MB shared L3. The AMD chip's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its Cinebench single-core wins, while Intel's larger shared L3 helps in multi-threaded R23. Both support DDR4 memory and dual-channel buses, but Intel lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while AMD's is not specified. The Intel chip features HD 630 integrated graphics, while AMD pairs with Radeon Vega 8. Process node differences—14 nm for Intel versus 12 nm for AMD—suggest the AMD chip has a density advantage, though the Intel chip's older node still competes effectively in several benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better multi-core performance in the most recent Cinebench test?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600T wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 4968 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H's 3929.5, a 26.4% advantage.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare across benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (144 vs 70, a 51.4% delta) and Cinebench R23 single-core (886 vs 701, a 20.9% delta), but the Intel Core i5-7600T wins Geekbench single-core (1246 vs 1001, a 24.5% delta).

Q: What is the thread count difference and how does it affect results?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has 8 threads versus the Intel Core i5-7600T's 4 threads. This helps the AMD chip in Cinebench R15 multi-core (742 vs 500), but the Intel chip still wins R23 multi-core, indicating that thread count alone doesn't guarantee victory.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: Both CPUs list a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, so they are tied on that specification.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-7600T and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H have a percentile rank of 40 against all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1664 vs 1653).

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600T is built on a 14 nm process from Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H uses a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, giving AMD a smaller node.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided victory in the head-to-head data belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 144 against Intel's 70, a 51.4% delta. This is a massive gap that suggests the Zen+ architecture is far more efficient in that older benchmark's single-threaded workload. The same benchmark in multi-core shows AMD winning 742 to 500, a 32.6% delta, which is likely driven by the Ryzen's eight threads versus Intel's four. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD again wins, scoring 886 versus 701, a 20.9% delta, reinforcing the single-thread advantage in Cinebench workloads.

The Intel Core i5-7600T's biggest win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4968 versus the AMD chip's 3929.5, a 26.4% delta. This is a surprising result given AMD's R15 multi-core lead, and it suggests that the R23 benchmark's heavier workload favors Intel's larger 6MB L3 cache or different core design. Intel also wins Geekbench single-core by 24.5% (1246 vs 1001), which contrasts sharply with AMD's Cinebench single-core wins, indicating that benchmark-specific optimizations play a huge role. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel wins by a smaller 7.1% margin (3447 vs 3217), showing that AMD's thread advantage is not enough to overcome Intel's per-thread efficiency in that test. The data overall shows a 3-3 split in wins, with each CPU dominating in different test suites.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-7600T has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ: Intel runs at 2.80 GHz, AMD at 2.10 GHz, though both boost to 3.70 GHz. The Intel chip uses Socket 1151 and the Kaby Lake architecture, while AMD uses Socket FP5 and the Zen+ (Picasso) architecture. Process nodes are 14 nm (Intel) versus 12 nm (GlobalFoundries). The AMD chip has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while Intel's transistor count and die size are not listed. Cache configurations differ: Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3, while AMD has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with only 4 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is listed as 38.4 GB/s for Intel, but not specified for AMD. PCIe support differs: Intel lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD lists Gen 3 without a lane count. Integrated graphics are HD 630 for Intel and Radeon Vega 8 for AMD. Market segments differ, with Intel being Desktop and AMD being Mobile. Release dates are January 2017 for Intel and January 2019 for AMD. The Intel chip has a part number SR336, while AMD's is YM3500C4T4MFG. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.