AMD Ryzen 5 3550H vs Intel Core i7-10610U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two mobile processors is unusually sharp, with each chip claiming victories in different generations of the same test suite. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H wins three of the four recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-10610U takes only one, but that single win is the most decisive in the entire matchup.

The Ryzen 5 3550H dominates in the older Cinebench R15 tests. It scores 742 in multicore versus Intel's 561, a 32.3% advantage. The single-core R15 gap is even more extreme: 144 versus 79, an 82.3% lead for AMD. These are not small margins; they represent a generational-style gap in that particular workload. The Ryzen chip also wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test, scoring 886 against Intel's 786, a 12.7% advantage.

The Intel Core i7-10610U, however, flips the script entirely in Cinebench R23 multicore. It scores 5569 versus AMD's 3929.5, a 29.4% lead. This is the only test where Intel wins, but it is a substantial one, suggesting that the Intel chip's performance scales much better under sustained multi-threaded loads in the newer benchmark version.

Looking at the broader database averages, the two chips are almost inseparable. The Ryzen 5 3550H has an average benchmark score of 1653, while the Intel Core i7-10610U sits at 1611. The percentile rankings confirm this near parity: AMD sits at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, Intel at the 39th. Each chip's nearest rivals reinforce the picture. The Ryzen 5 3550H's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-4810MQ with an average score of 1651, a mere 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i7-10610U's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-970 at 1613, just 0.1% away.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-10610U boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H boosts to 3.70 GHz. Despite this 1.2 GHz advantage, Intel loses the single-core R23 test by 12.7%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H averages 1653 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core i7-10610U averages 1611. The difference is roughly 2.6%, placing both chips within the same performance tier.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Both are identical in this respect. Each has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-10610U has a 25 W TDP. Intel achieves its results with a 10 W lower power envelope.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H and the Intel Core i7-10610U have ECC memory support set to false.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-10610U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 4 MB shared L3 cache found on the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the database is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H scores 144 against the Intel Core i7-10610U's 79. That is an 82.3% delta, the largest margin in any comparison between these two chips. The Intel part's 4.90 GHz boost clock appears to provide no benefit here, suggesting that the recorded data reflects a workload where AMD's architecture has a decisive advantage.

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows a similar but less extreme pattern. AMD scores 742, Intel scores 561, giving AMD a 32.3% lead. This older benchmark clearly favors the Ryzen 5 3550H, and the data suggests that anyone relying on legacy Cinebench R15 results would strongly prefer the AMD part.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test flips back to AMD, though the margin is much narrower. AMD scores 886, Intel scores 786, a 12.7% advantage. This is notable because it comes in a newer benchmark where Intel's higher boost clock might be expected to help. Instead, AMD maintains the lead.

The Cinebench R23 multicore test is where Intel finally takes command. Intel scores 5569 versus AMD's 3929.5, a 29.4% lead. This is the largest absolute score gap in the entire head-to-head set, and it reverses the R15 multicore result almost exactly. The data implies that Intel's Comet Lake architecture scales far better in the newer, more demanding R23 multicore workload, despite having the same core and thread count.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-10610U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz as recorded in the database (this is equivalent to 1.80 GHz). The boost clocks differ significantly: AMD boosts to 3.70 GHz, Intel to 4.90 GHz.

TDP is another clear differentiator. AMD is rated at 35 W, Intel at 25 W. The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP5, while Intel uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 8, Intel with UHD Graphics.

Memory support shows a subtle difference. AMD supports DDR4 only, while Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and both have PCIe Gen 3 support.

The production statuses differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-10610U is listed as End-of-life. The release dates are also different: AMD launched on 2019-01-05, Intel on 2020-04-01.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, and uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-10610U uses the Comet Lake architecture, codenamed Comet Lake-U, on a 14 nm process node from Intel. AMD's smaller process node gives it a transistor count of 4,940 million and a die size of 210 mm², while Intel's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ significantly. AMD provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. In L3 cache, Intel doubles AMD's allocation: 8 MB shared versus 4 MB shared. This larger L3 cache on Intel may partially explain its strong Cinebench R23 multicore performance, as more shared cache can reduce memory latency under multi-threaded loads.

Neither chip has unlocked multipliers, and both are marked as mobile market segments. The AMD part belongs to the 3000 series and the Ryzen 5 generation, while Intel belongs to the Core 10th Gen and Core i7 generation.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear split-personality picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is the stronger choice for workloads resembling Cinebench R15, both single-core and multicore, and it also wins the R23 single-core test. Its 82.3% blowout in R15 single-core is the single most lopsided result in this comparison, and its 32.3% lead in R15 multicore reinforces a pattern of dominance in that benchmark generation.

The Intel Core i7-10610U is the better pick for modern multi-threaded rendering workloads as represented by Cinebench R23 multicore. Its 29.4% advantage over AMD in that test is decisive, and its larger 8 MB L3 cache likely contributes to that result. Intel also achieves this with a 25 W TDP, 10 W lower than AMD's 35 W rating, and a higher 4.90 GHz boost clock.

For buyers prioritizing legacy benchmark performance or single-core responsiveness in the newer R23 test, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is the data-backed choice. For those running sustained multi-core workloads in current rendering software, the Intel Core i7-10610U offers a significant edge. The overall averages are nearly identical, with AMD at 1653 and Intel at 1611, meaning neither chip holds a broad overall supremacy. The decision hinges entirely on which workload family matters more.

The production status also factors into the decision. AMD remains Active, while Intel has moved to End-of-life, which may affect availability and long-term support considerations in the database's recorded data.