AMD Ryzen 5 4600H vs Intel Core i5-1240U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240U holds a higher average benchmark score of 16957, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H's 16341. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile versus all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H wins the majority of multi-thread tests, including Cinebench R23 multicore (8072 vs 7902, a 2.2% lead) and PassMark multithread (14228 vs 13406, a 6.1% lead). However, the Intel chip counters in floating-point math and physics tests.

Q: Which processor has the stronger single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240U dominates single-thread tests. It leads by 26.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1559 vs 1142.5) and by 25.3% in PassMark single-thread (3239 vs 2418).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Despite fewer physical cores, the AMD chip still wins several multi-thread benchmarks.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is rated at a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-1240U is rated at just 9 W. This reflects very different design targets: sustained performance versus efficiency.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H features Radeon RX Vega 6 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-1240U includes Iris Xe 80EU. The database does not provide direct graphics benchmark comparisons between the two.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H wins 8 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, establishing itself as the stronger choice for sustained multi-threaded throughput. Its largest victories come in data compression (202030 vs 143102, a 41.2% lead), data encryption (12217 vs 8964, a 36.3% lead), and extended instructions (12942 vs 7932, a 63.2% lead). The chip also edges ahead in Cinebench R23 multicore by 2.2% and in PassMark multithread by 6.1%. Users running compression workloads, encryption tasks, or any workload that can exploit many threads will find the AMD part consistently ahead.

The Intel Core i5-1240U wins 7 of the head-to-head tests, with its strengths concentrated in single-thread responsiveness and specific math workloads. The chip leads by 26.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core, by 25.3% in PassMark single-thread, and by 22.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core. It also wins in PassMark physics by 35.9%, floating-point math by 9.5%, and prime number finding by 55.6%. These wins point toward interactive workloads, lightly threaded applications, and physics-oriented tasks where per-core efficiency matters more than raw thread count.

The split is clear: AMD for heavy parallel throughput, Intel for single-thread speed and efficiency-oriented tasks. The 9 W TDP of the Intel part versus the 45 W TDP of the AMD part further underscores that the Intel chip is designed for fanless or ultraportable systems, while the AMD chip targets more performance-oriented laptops.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is built on the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, part of the 4000 series. It uses a 7 nm process node manufactured by TSMC, with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-1240U uses the Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-U codename, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on the Intel part may help in workloads that benefit from a bigger shared pool, though the AMD chip's higher sustained throughput in many tests suggests its memory subsystem holds up well.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H supports DDR4 memory only, while the Intel Core i5-1240U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the database lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s for the AMD part and no bandwidth figure for the Intel part. PCIe support also differs: the AMD chip uses Gen 3, while the Intel chip supports Gen 4.

The integrated graphics solutions are distinct. AMD pairs the CPU with Radeon RX Vega 6, while Intel includes Iris Xe 80EU. The Intel part also uses a different socket, Intel BGA 1781, compared to AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are dramatically different: the AMD part runs at 3.00 GHz, while the Intel part lists a base clock of 1100.00 MHz, reflecting its ultra-low-power design. Boost clocks favor Intel at 4.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz for AMD.

TDP is the most striking difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H carries a 45 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-1240U is rated at just 9 W. This is a fivefold difference in thermal budget and explains much of the performance profile: AMD uses its power budget for sustained multi-thread performance, while Intel achieves competitive single-thread scores at a fraction of the power.

The process node differs as noted: 7 nm for AMD (TSMC) versus 10 nm for Intel. The AMD part has a listed transistor count of 9,800 million and a die size of 156 mm²; no equivalent figures are recorded for the Intel chip. Cache capacities differ in both per-core and shared pools. Memory support diverges, with AMD limited to DDR4 and Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. PCIe generations also differ, with AMD on Gen 3 and Intel on Gen 4. Release dates place the AMD chip in January 2020 and the Intel chip in February 2022. Neither processor has a listed launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory in the comparison belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 12942 against the Intel chip's 7932, a 63.2% lead. This is a decisive margin that indicates a substantial advantage in workloads using advanced instruction sets. Data compression follows closely: the AMD chip scores 202030 versus 143102, a 41.2% advantage. Data encryption shows a 36.3% lead for AMD (12217 vs 8964), and random string sorting adds another 35.6% win (21689 vs 15996). These four tests paint a consistent picture of AMD superiority in data manipulation and encryption-heavy tasks.

The Intel Core i5-1240U posts its largest win in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 63 versus the AMD chip's 28, a 55.6% margin. PassMark physics also swings heavily toward Intel, 981 versus 629, a 35.9% lead. Single-thread tests follow the same trend: Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel ahead by 26.7% (1559 vs 1142.5), PassMark single-thread shows a 25.3% lead (3239 vs 2418), and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 22.1% lead (226 vs 176). Floating-point math gives Intel a more modest 9.5% win (29726 vs 26909).

The multi-thread results are closer but still favor AMD. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD chip scores 8072 against the Intel chip's 7902, a 2.2% margin. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a larger gap: 1425 versus 1242, a 14.7% lead for AMD. PassMark multithread lands at 14228 versus 13406, a 6.1% win. PassMark integer math is nearly tied, with AMD ahead by just 1.6% (45698 vs 44968).

The overall pattern is consistent with the architectural divide. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H, with its 45 W TDP and 6 Zen 2 cores, delivers stronger sustained throughput in most parallel workloads. The Intel Core i5-1240U, with its 10 Alder Lake cores and 9 W TDP, answers with superior single-thread performance and wins in physics, prime number calculation, and floating-point math. The final tally of 8 wins for AMD and 7 for Intel reflects a balanced but characterful matchup, where the choice depends entirely on the workload mix.