AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel Core i5-1240U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Core i5-1240U are fundamentally different processors targeting entirely different market segments, yet their overall benchmark averages land surprisingly close. The Ryzen 5 3600 holds an average benchmark score of 17035, while the Core i5-1240U sits at 16957, a negligible gap of less than 1%. The data shows the AMD chip secures 13 benchmark wins against 4 for Intel, but the Intel part takes some of the most important single-threaded tests. This comparison pits a 6-core desktop processor against a 10-core mobile chip, so the results are best understood through the lens of their intended use cases rather than as a direct generational showdown.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation appears in multi-core rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 15045 against the i5-1240U’s 7902, a massive 90.4% advantage. That near-doubling of performance is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. The gap narrows but remains decisive in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD part leads 6318 to 5013, a 26% margin, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it wins 1516 to 1242, a 22.1% edge. These results indicate that for sustained all-core workloads, the desktop Ryzen’s higher power envelope and dedicated cooling allow it to pull far ahead of the mobile Intel chip.

Single-core performance tells a different story. The i5-1240U wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 226 points against 214 for the Ryzen 5 3600, a 5.3% advantage. However, that lead reverses completely in newer Cinebench versions. The Ryzen 5 3600 takes Cinebench R20 single-core with 892 versus 707, a 26.2% win, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 2124 against 1559, a 36.2% margin. The PassMark single-thread test also favors Intel, with the i5-1240U scoring 3239 against the Ryzen’s 2562, a 20.9% advantage. This inconsistency suggests the Intel chip’s higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz helps in certain legacy or lightly-threaded tests, but the AMD part’s Zen 2 architecture delivers stronger results in more recent single-core benchmarks.

In specialized PassMark workloads, the Ryzen 5 3600 dominates most categories. Data compression shows a 53.6% lead (219774 to 143102), data encryption a 55.7% lead (13953 to 8964), and extended instructions an 82.1% lead (14442 to 7932). Prime number finding goes to AMD by 71.4% (108 to 63), and random string sorting favors AMD by 48.2% (23707 to 15996). The one notable Intel win outside single-thread tests is floating point math, where the i5-1240U scores 29726 against 28607, a 3.8% margin. Integer math goes to AMD by 8.1% (48607 to 44968), and multithreaded PassMark shows a 32% AMD advantage (17700 to 13406).

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 3600 is the clear choice for heavily threaded productivity and content creation. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15045 versus 7902 for the i5-1240U makes it the obvious pick for video rendering, 3D modeling, or any workload that scales across all cores. The 90.4% advantage in that test is not incremental; it is transformative for render times. Similarly, data compression and encryption tasks run far faster on the AMD chip, with 53.6% and 55.7% leads respectively. The Ryzen 5 3600 also wins PassMark physics with 1152 to 981, a 17.4% edge, indicating better performance in simulation or physics-based calculations.

The Intel Core i5-1240U wins where power efficiency and portability matter. Its 9W TDP against the Ryzen’s 65W TDP means it is designed for thin-and-light laptops, while the AMD part is a desktop processor. In terms of raw benchmark wins, the i5-1240U takes PassMark single-thread (3239 to 2562, a 20.9% lead) and floating point math (29726 to 28607, a 3.8% lead). It also edges out the Ryzen in Cinebench R15 single-core (226 to 214, a 5.3% lead). For users who need bursty, single-threaded responsiveness in everyday tasks like web browsing or office applications, the Intel chip’s higher boost clock and newer architecture provide a measurable advantage in those specific tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 uses Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process fabricated by TSMC, with 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-1240U uses Alder Lake architecture on Intel’s 10 nm process. The core counts differ significantly: the Ryzen has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part achieves equal thread count with fewer threads per core, implying a hybrid arrangement, though the data only shows aggregate core and thread numbers.

Cache configurations also differ. The Ryzen 5 3600 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-1240U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite having more L1 and L2 per core, the Intel chip’s much smaller L3 pool likely contributes to its weaker multi-core performance in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports only DDR4 memory, while the i5-1240U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ryzen lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel part’s memory bandwidth is not specified in the data.

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses AMD Socket AM4 and has a unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The i5-1240U uses Intel BGA 1781, is soldered to the motherboard, and has a locked multiplier. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Iris Xe 80EU graphics. PCIe support also differs: the Ryzen offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-1240U supports Gen 4 without specifying lane count. The TDP gap is stark at 65W versus 9W, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design split. The Ryzen 5 3600 launched in July 2019, while the i5-1240U launched in February 2022.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: choose the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 if you need desktop-class multi-core performance, and choose the Intel Core i5-1240U if you are building or buying a mobile system. The Ryzen 5 3600 wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with its largest victories in Cinebench R23 multi-core (90.4% ahead) and extended instructions (82.1% ahead). It also leads in every Cinebench R20 and R23 test, including single-core, where it beats the i5-1240U by 26.2% and 36.2% respectively. The only areas where the Intel chip wins are PassMark single-thread (20.9% ahead), floating point math (3.8% ahead), and Cinebench R15 single-core (5.3% ahead). If you are a content creator or productivity user who needs maximum multi-threaded throughput, the Ryzen 5 3600 is the only logical choice from this data. If you need a low-power processor for a laptop and prioritize single-thread responsiveness in lightweight tasks, the i5-1240U is the better fit. The 65W TDP of the AMD part makes it unsuitable for battery-powered devices, while the 9W TDP of the Intel part makes it unsuitable for sustained heavy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins all multi-core tests, with a 90.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (15045 vs 7902) and a 26% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core (6318 vs 5013).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1240U beat the Ryzen 5 3600 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i5-1240U wins PassMark single-thread (3239 vs 2562, a 20.9% lead), PassMark floating point math (29726 vs 28607, a 3.8% lead), and Cinebench R15 single-core (226 vs 214, a 5.3% lead).

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Despite having more cores, the Intel chip loses most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1240U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has a TDP of 65W, while the i5-1240U has a TDP of 9W, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has no integrated graphics, while the i5-1240U includes Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5-1240U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 9W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1781 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,800 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | Not specified |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Iris Xe 80EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $199 | Not specified |