AMD Ryzen 5 4500U vs Intel Core i5-1145GRE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U and Intel Core i5-1145GRE are both mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but benchmark data reveals they have distinctly different performance profiles depending on the workload. The AMD part wins the majority of direct comparisons, while the Intel chip counters with a significant victory in one modern multi-threaded test. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, identifies which processor suits which use case, and highlights the architectural and specification differences that drive these outcomes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the data is the massive divergence in Cinebench R15 single-core performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U scores 174 points, while the Intel Core i5-1145GRE scores just 99 points. That is a 75.8% advantage for the AMD chip, a gap so wide it suggests the Intel part is operating under a severe power or clock limitation during this specific test. In contrast, the Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a smaller but still decisive lead for AMD, with the Ryzen 5 4500U posting 892 points against Intel's 705 points, a 26.5% difference. The AMD processor's six physical cores appear to give it a clear edge in this older benchmark, despite the Intel part having eight threads.

The picture flips dramatically when looking at Cinebench R23 multi-core results. Here, the Intel Core i5-1145GRE takes the win with 7001 points, defeating the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U's 5920 points by 15.4%. This is a notable reversal, suggesting that the Intel architecture scales much better under the sustained, longer-duration load of R23, possibly due to its higher thermal design power (28 watts versus AMD's 15 watts). The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which may help in this scenario.

However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD reasserts dominance. The Ryzen 5 4500U scores 1152 points, which is 16.6% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1145GRE's 988 points. This result aligns with the R15 single-core outcome, reinforcing that the AMD Zen 2 cores deliver superior per-thread performance in these tests. Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U wins three of the four head-to-head benchmarks, with its only loss coming in the R23 multi-core test. The data shows a clear pattern: AMD wins in single-threaded and legacy multi-threaded workloads, while Intel wins in one specific, modern multi-threaded workload.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U is the better choice for users who prioritize single-threaded performance and consistency across a broad range of tests. It leads in three of four benchmarks, including a 75.8% margin in R15 single-core and a 16.6% margin in R23 single-core. For everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light coding, where single-thread performance is often the bottleneck, the AMD chip has a clear advantage. Its 45th percentile ranking among all CPUs is identical to Intel's, but its average benchmark score of 2035 is slightly higher than Intel's 2025, and its nearest rivals (like the Intel Xeon E-2124G) are within 0.1% of its score, indicating it sits at a competitive performance tier.

The Intel Core i5-1145GRE is the better pick for users who know their workloads are heavily multi-threaded and can sustain long, demanding rendering or compilation sessions. Its 15.4% victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the single largest win in the dataset, and it suggests the chip can leverage its eight threads and higher 28-watt TDP to pull ahead when the thermal envelope allows. The Intel processor also supports ECC memory, which is a critical feature for certain professional or server-like use cases that the AMD chip cannot accommodate.

In short, the data says: choose the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U for general performance and single-core tasks, choose the Intel Core i5-1145GRE for sustained multi-threaded workloads or if ECC memory support is mandatory. The AMD chip is the more balanced performer across the tested benchmarks, while the Intel chip is a specialist that wins in one specific area. Neither processor is a clear overall winner; the decision hinges entirely on which benchmark represents the buyer's primary use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U wins three out of four direct comparisons against the Intel Core i5-1145GRE, including Cinebench R15 multi-core, R15 single-core, and R23 single-core.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest difference is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U scores 174 compared to the Intel Core i5-1145GRE's 99, giving AMD a 75.8% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1145GRE beat the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U in any test?

A: Yes, the Intel chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 7001 against AMD's 5920, a 15.4% lead for Intel.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile overall?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U and Intel Core i5-1145GRE rank in the 45th percentile among all CPUs, though the AMD chip has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 2035 versus Intel's 2025.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1145GRE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Intel's implementation uses Hyper-Threading to reach 8 threads from 4 cores.

Q: Does the Intel processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-1145GRE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly in their core and thread configurations. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U offers 6 physical cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1145GRE has 4 physical cores and 8 threads. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, whereas the Intel part has a much lower base clock of 1500.00 MHz but a slightly higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The thermal design power also differs, with AMD rated at 15 watts and Intel at 28 watts. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1449. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Memory support also varies. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-1145GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip's bandwidth is not listed in the data. The AMD processor does not support ECC memory, whereas the Intel chip does. For PCIe, the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon Graphics with 384 shader processors, and Intel uses Iris Xe Graphics G7 with 80 execution units. The launch MSRP for the Intel Core i5-1145GRE is $362; no launch MSRP is listed for the AMD chip.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U is built on the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, part of the 4000 series, and manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i5-1145GRE uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Tiger Lake-U codename, featuring Willow Cove cores, and is built on a 10 nm process by Intel. The AMD chip integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not listed, and its die size is 144 mm².

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-1145GRE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and also 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip's larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB versus 512 KB) could contribute to its strong performance in the R23 multi-core test, while AMD's higher core count helps in other benchmarks. The release dates also differ, with AMD launching on 2020-01-05 and Intel on 2020-09-01. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production status and target the mobile market segment.