AMD Ryzen 5 4500 vs Intel Core 7 150U Comparison

The Intel Core 7 150U and AMD Ryzen 5 4500 land in the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 17395 and 17333, respectively. That 0.4% difference is effectively a tie, and both processors sit at the 71st percentile among all CPUs. However, they achieve that parity through completely different strategies: Intel leans on a high-boosting, low-power mobile design, while AMD counters with a higher-TDP desktop part. The data shows 10 benchmark wins for AMD versus 9 for Intel, but the magnitude of those wins tells the real story. AMD’s victories in multi-threaded workloads are often large, while Intel’s wins in single-threaded and specialized math tasks are similarly decisive.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 if your priority is sustained multi-core throughput. The benchmark data is unambiguous here: in Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 13677 against Intel’s 8883, a massive 35.1% advantage. That lead carries into Geekbench multi-core (7005 vs 6234, an 11% gap) and PassMark multithread (16091 vs 14700, an 8.6% gap). If you are rendering, compiling, or running heavily threaded productivity workloads, the Ryzen 5 4500 is the pick.

Choose the Intel Core 7 150U for single-thread responsiveness and low-power mobile use. Intel wins PassMark single-thread by 35.3% (3508 vs 2593) and Cinebench R15 single-core by 30.9% (254 vs 194). It also dominates in prime number finding (70.6% faster) and physics calculations (39.4% faster). These are the metrics that translate to snappy everyday use and lightly threaded applications. The 150U is also a mobile part with a 15W TDP, making it the only sensible choice for a laptop, whereas the Ryzen is a desktop chip.

The overall win count slightly favors AMD at 10 wins to 9, but the average scores are nearly identical. That means the choice hinges entirely on workload profile. For a desktop build with adequate cooling, the Ryzen 5 4500 delivers more raw multi-thread muscle. For a thin-and-light laptop, the Core 7 150U offers superior single-thread performance and integrated graphics, which AMD completely lacks.

Architecture Differences

These are fundamentally different designs from different manufacturers. Intel’s Core 7 150U uses the Raptor Lake architecture on a 10nm process, built at Intel’s own foundry. It features 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy is generous: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and its PCIe implementation is Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units is a significant feature, as the Ryzen has no iGPU at all.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 4500 is a Zen 2 part codenamed Renoir, manufactured by TSMC on a 7nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The chip contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. Cache capacities are smaller per core: 64 KB of L1, 512 KB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. It supports only DDR4 memory, with a rated bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Notably, the Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel is locked.

The market segments differ entirely: the 150U is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1744, while the 4500 is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM4. The TDP gap is enormous at 15W versus 65W, which explains the performance characteristics. Intel’s chip was released in January 2024; AMD’s in April 2022. The Ryzen 5 4500 has a launch MSRP of $129.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U wins decisively. It leads by 30.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (254 vs 194), 35.3% in PassMark single-thread (3508 vs 2593), and 24.7% in Geekbench single-core (1857 vs 1489). The only single-core test AMD wins is Cinebench R20 (810 vs 740) and R23 (1930 vs 1875.5), but these are smaller margins.

Q: How much faster is the AMD part in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 provides a substantial multi-core advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the largest gap at 35.1% (13677 vs 8883). Geekbench multi-core favors AMD by 11% (7005 vs 6234), and PassMark multithread favors AMD by 8.6% (16091 vs 14700). Interestingly, Intel wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 9.3% (1505.5 vs 1378), but loses R20 by 8.6% (5248 vs 5744).

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 150U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core 7 150U includes Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has no integrated graphics at all, meaning a discrete GPU is mandatory for any display output with the AMD chip.

Q: Which processor is better for a laptop?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U is the only viable option for a laptop. It is a mobile processor with a 15W TDP and uses Intel BGA 1744 socket. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is a desktop processor with a 65W TDP on AMD Socket AM4, which is not suitable for portable designs.

Q: Can I overclock the AMD Ryzen 5 4500?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The Intel Core 7 150U has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of these two CPUs?

A: Both processors are at the 71st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 7 150U has an average benchmark score of 17395, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has an average score of 17333. The difference is a mere 0.4%, placing them statistically in the same performance class.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Intel Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel’s base clock is much lower at 1.80 GHz versus AMD’s 3.60 GHz, but Intel’s boost clock is much higher at 5.40 GHz versus AMD’s 4.10 GHz. The TDP is drastically different: 15W for Intel versus 65W for AMD.

The process node favors AMD at 7nm (TSMC) versus Intel’s 10nm. AMD discloses 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die; Intel does not list transistor count or die size. Cache allocation differs: Intel provides 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while AMD provides 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. Shared L3 is 12 MB on Intel versus 8 MB on AMD.

Memory support is broader on Intel, which accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD is limited to DDR4. AMD discloses a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; Intel does not list this figure. PCIe capability differs: Intel is Gen 4 with 8 lanes, AMD is Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Intel has integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 96EU; AMD has no integrated graphics. Intel’s socket is BGA 1744 (mobile), AMD’s is AM4 (desktop). AMD has an unlocked multiplier; Intel’s is locked. Release dates are January 2024 for Intel and April 2022 for AMD. AMD has a launch MSRP of $129; Intel has no listed MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core picture is mixed when looking at individual tests. Intel wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1505.5 against 1378, a 9.3% margin. But AMD strikes back hard in Cinebench R20, winning 5744 to 5248 (8.6%), and then dominates R23 with 13677 versus 8883, a crushing 35.1% lead. The R23 result is the largest single delta in the entire comparison. AMD also wins Geekbench multi-core by 11% (7005 vs 6234) and PassMark multithread by 8.6% (16091 vs 14700).

Single-core results tell the opposite story. Intel wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 30.9% (254 vs 194) and Geekbench single-core by 24.7% (1857 vs 1489). AMD wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 8.6% (810 vs 740) and R23 single-core by 2.8% (1930 vs 1875.5). PassMark single-thread heavily favors Intel at 3508 versus 2593, a 35.3% advantage.

Specialized workloads split the field. AMD wins data compression by 30.7% (228741 vs 158622), data encryption by 26.3% (13597 vs 10025), extended instructions by 42.3% (15166 vs 8748), and random string sorting by 23.8% (23989 vs 18269). Intel wins floating-point math by 17% (34405 vs 29405), integer math by 2.7% (51057 vs 49707), physics by 39.4% (1012 vs 726), and find prime numbers by a massive 70.6% (58 vs 34).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is the clear choice for heavy multi-threaded processing. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13677 is over 50% higher than Intel’s 8883, making it the superior part for CPU rendering, video encoding, and other workloads that scale across cores. The 11% lead in Geekbench multi-core and 8.6% lead in PassMark multithread reinforce this. AMD also wins every data-oriented workload: compression, encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting. If your workflow involves large data sets, compression algorithms, or cryptographic operations, the Ryzen’s 42.3% lead in extended instructions is particularly compelling.

The Intel Core 7 150U wins where single-thread speed and low power matter. A 35.3% lead in PassMark single-thread and 30.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core indicate faster responsiveness in everyday applications, web browsing, and office work. The 70.6% advantage in prime number finding and 39.4% in physics calculations suggest strong integer and simulation performance. The 17% lead in floating-point math is notable for certain scientific workloads. Critically, the 150U is the only option with integrated graphics, enabling systems without a discrete GPU. Its 15W TDP makes it the only viable choice for thin-and-light laptops, while the 65W Ryzen is a desktop-only component. For a portable machine with solid single-thread performance, the Intel chip is the obvious pick; for a desktop that crunches through multi-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 5 4500 delivers far more throughput.