AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data is unambiguous across every shared Cinebench test: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE leads the Intel Core i7-8086K in both single-core and multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 1361 against Intel’s 1206, a 12.9% advantage. The single-core R15 result repeats the exact same margin, with the Ryzen posting 192 versus 170. That consistency is notable: a 12.9% win in both the single-threaded and fully threaded portions of the same test suggests the AMD part is not merely scaling better with cores, but also executing each thread more efficiently.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Ryzen 5 4600GE delivers 5672 multi-core points, while the i7-8086K manages 5029, a 12.8% gap. Single-core R20 shows 800 against 709, again 12.8%. The same delta appears in Cinebench R23: 13505 multi-core versus 11975, and 1906 single-core versus 1690, both with a 12.8% edge for AMD. Across all six shared benchmarks, the Ryzen wins every round. There are no Intel victories in this head-to-head set.

What stands out is the uniformity of the margin. Whether the workload is lightly threaded or heavily parallel, the Ryzen 5 4600GE holds roughly a 13% lead. That is not a situation where one chip excels at one task and the other at another. The AMD processor is simply faster in every measured Cinebench scenario. The i7-8086K does have an additional Geekbench result in the database, scoring 7920 multi-core and 1697 single-core, but there is no matching Geekbench run for the Ryzen, so it cannot be compared directly within this data set.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the gap. The Ryzen 5 4600GE has an average of 3906 across its recorded tests, while the i7-8086K averages 3800. That difference of roughly 2.8% is smaller than the Cinebench deltas, likely because the Intel part’s Geekbench numbers pull its average up. Still, the Cinebench suite, which is the only common ground, consistently favors AMD by double digits.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion: pick the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE if you care about Cinebench performance, because it wins every shared benchmark by a near-constant 12.8% to 12.9%. The i7-8086K has no winning benchmark in this comparison. If your workflow is built around rendering, 3D scene creation, or any task that mirrors Cinebench’s CPU load, the Ryzen is the better choice. The margin is not tiny, and it applies to both single-threaded and multi-threaded runs.

That said, there are reasons to consider the Intel part, but they come from the specification sheet rather than the benchmark results. The i7-8086K has a higher base clock, 4.00 GHz versus 3.30 GHz, and a higher boost clock, 5.00 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. It also has more shared L3 cache, 12 MB versus 8 MB. Those numbers suggest the Intel chip may feel snappier in lightly threaded legacy applications that do not scale with the Ryzen’s architecture, but the recorded Cinebench single-core scores do not support that hypothesis. The Ryzen wins single-core tests too.

For a buyer focused strictly on the measured performance in this database, the Ryzen 5 4600GE is the winner. It is also still in active production, while the i7-8086K is end-of-life. The Intel chip was launched with a $425 MSRP, but that price is historical and not part of current market evaluation. The Ryzen has no recorded launch MSRP, so no direct price comparison is possible here. Based purely on benchmark data, the AMD part is the one to choose for Cinebench-class workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and fabrication nodes. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE is built on Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses Coffee Lake architecture on Intel’s 14 nm process. That process gap is significant. The Ryzen packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database. The smaller node allows AMD to deliver a 35 W TDP, compared to Intel’s 95 W TDP, while still achieving higher benchmark scores. That is an efficiency advantage that cannot be overstated for compact builds.

Both processors have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the core count is not a differentiator. The cache layout differs though. Each core on the Ryzen has 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, while the Intel core also has 64 KB of L1 but only 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 is larger on Intel, with 12 MB versus AMD’s 8 MB. Despite having less L3, the Ryzen still wins the multi-core tests, which indicates its memory hierarchy and interconnect are doing more with less.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 5 4600GE includes Radeon Vega 7, while the i7-8086K has UHD Graphics 630. No graphics benchmarks are in the database, so a performance comparison is not possible, but the presence of a Vega-class iGPU on AMD is generally associated with stronger media and light gaming capability. The Ryzen also supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU only. Both support dual-channel DDR4, but the Ryzen has a higher memory bandwidth rating of 51.2 GB/s versus Intel’s 42.7 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The database lists several fields where the two chips differ. The process node is the most fundamental: 7 nm for AMD, 14 nm for Intel. The TDP is dramatically different, 35 W for the Ryzen versus 95 W for the i7-8086K. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for AMD and 4.00 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.20 GHz for AMD and 5.00 GHz for Intel. The socket is different as well: AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 1151 for the Core i7.

Memory bandwidth differs, with AMD rated at 51.2 GB/s and Intel at 42.7 GB/s. The L2 cache per core is 512 KB on AMD versus 256 KB on Intel. L3 cache is 8 MB shared on AMD versus 12 MB shared on Intel. The integrated graphics are different, Radeon Vega 7 versus UHD Graphics 630. The release dates are also distinct: the Ryzen launched on 2020-07-20, while the i7-8086K launched on 2018-06-04. Production status shows the Ryzen as active and the Intel part as end-of-life. The Intel chip has a recorded launch MSRP of $425, while the Ryzen has none.

The Ryzen also lists a part number of 100-000000150, while the Intel part is SR3QQBX80684I78086K. Both have unlocked multipliers, so overclocking is possible on either. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel part specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU only, while the AMD part simply lists PCIe Gen 3.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8086K boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE boosts to 4.20 GHz.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE win any single-core benchmarks?

A: Yes. It wins all three single-core Cinebench tests: R15 (192 vs 170), R20 (800 vs 709), and R23 (1906 vs 1690), each by 12.8% to 12.9%.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600GE has a TDP of 35 W, while the i7-8086K has a TDP of 95 W. That is a 60 W difference in favor of AMD.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8086K has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE has 8 MB of shared L3.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 4600GE is listed as active in production, while the Intel Core i7-8086K is end-of-life.

Q: How many cores and threads do both processors have?

A: Both have 6 cores and 12 threads, so they are identical in that regard.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE wins every benchmark in the shared data set. That includes all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. The margin is consistent at around 12.8% to 12.9% across the board. This makes the Ryzen the clear choice for rendering, 3D modeling, video encoding, or any task that heavily stresses the CPU across multiple threads. It also wins in single-threaded Cinebench, which is a useful signal for everyday responsiveness in applications that rely on one or two cores.

The Intel Core i7-8086K does not win a single benchmark in this comparison. Its only recorded advantage is in raw clock speed, with a 5.00 GHz boost versus AMD’s 4.20 GHz. The extra L3 cache, 12 MB versus 8 MB, also gives it a theoretical edge in data-heavy workloads that fit within that larger cache. However, the database does not contain a benchmark where that translates into a win. The i7-8086K also has a higher base clock, 4.00 GHz versus 3.30 GHz, which may benefit users who run lightly threaded legacy software that is not well optimized for newer architectures.

For a builder who values low power consumption and high efficiency, the Ryzen 5 4600GE is the practical pick. Its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for small form factor systems, low-noise builds, or always-on machines, and it still outperforms the 95 W Intel part in every measured test. The Intel chip, despite being end-of-life, remains relevant for users who need the highest possible single-core clock speed for specific software that responds to raw frequency rather than architectural efficiency. But based on the recorded benchmark data, the Ryzen 5 4600GE is the stronger processor in both single-core and multi-core scenarios.