AMD Ryzen 5 4600H vs Intel Core i7-1260U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H and Intel Core i7-1260U represent two distinct philosophies for mobile computing, separated by two years of design evolution. The data shows a near-dead heat in overall average benchmark scores—16341 for the AMD part versus 16320 for the Intel—resulting in a razor-thin deltaPct of 0.1% in favor of the Ryzen. Both processors sit at the 70th percentile against all CPUs, yet their individual benchmark results reveal starkly different strengths, with the Intel part winning 10 head-to-head tests and the AMD winning 7. This analysis walks through the architecture, specifications, and benchmark data to clarify where each chip excels.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H holds a marginal edge with an average benchmark score of 16341, compared to the Intel Core i7-1260U's 16320. This translates to a deltaPct of 0.1% in favor of the AMD chip.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260U dominates in single-threaded workloads. It leads by 35% in Geekbench single-core (1936 vs 1259), by 28.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1601 vs 1142.5), and by 23.3% in Passmark single-thread (3153 vs 2418).

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H takes both multi-core Cinebench tests. It leads by 18.5% in Cinebench R15 (1425 vs 1203) and by 2% in Cinebench R23 (8072 vs 7912.5), despite the Intel chip's higher core count.

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 i7-1260U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip maintains competitive multi-threaded scores.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260U boosts up to 4.70 GHz, significantly higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H's 4.00 GHz. The Intel chip also has a much lower base clock of 1100.00 MHz compared to the AMD's 3.00 GHz.

Q: How close are the Passmark multithread scores?

A: The scores are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H scores 14228, just 1.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1260U's 14011.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is between AMD's Zen 2 and Intel's Alder Lake designs. The Ryzen 5 4600H, codenamed Renoir, is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. It uses a monolithic design with 6 cores and 12 threads, all based on the Zen 2 architecture. The Intel Core i7-1260U, codenamed Alder Lake-U, uses Intel's 10 nm process and employs a hybrid architecture, though the FACT PACK does not detail the specific performance/efficiency core mix. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 12 threads, suggesting a hybrid configuration where not all cores contribute to thread count.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. This gives Intel a larger L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB) and a substantially larger per-core L2 allocation. The process node advantage goes to AMD at 7 nm versus Intel's 10 nm, though the Intel chip compensates with a newer microarchitecture and higher boost clocks.

Power characteristics are dramatically different. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel Core i7-1260U is rated at just 9 watts. This 5x difference in thermal design power reflects the Intel chip's ultra-low-power orientation for thin-and-light laptops. The Intel part also supports PCIe Gen 4, whereas the AMD chip is limited to Gen 3. Memory support diverges as well: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD is restricted to DDR4. The AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the Intel chip's bandwidth is not listed in the data. Integrated graphics differ, with AMD offering Radeon RX Vega 6 and Intel offering Iris Xe 96EU.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness, burst performance, and energy efficiency, the Intel Core i7-1260U is the stronger choice. Its single-core leads are massive: 35% in Geekbench, 28.6% in Cinebench R23, and 23.3% in Passmark. The Intel chip also wins in physics simulation (1046 vs 629, a 39.9% lead) and floating-point math (31456 vs 26909, a 14.5% lead). These wins align with its much lower 9-watt TDP, making it suitable for fanless or ultra-portable designs.

For users who need sustained multi-threaded throughput, data compression, encryption, or extended instruction workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is the pick. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 18.5%, data compression by 32.7%, data encryption by 28.9%, and extended instructions by a commanding 56.3%. The AMD chip also holds a narrow 1.5% edge in Passmark multithread. Its higher 45-watt TDP suggests it can sustain these loads better under power, though the data does not include sustained-load thermal testing.

The overall average scores are nearly tied (16341 vs 16320), meaning neither chip has a universal advantage. The 70th percentile ranking for both confirms they are comparable mid-pack performers. The Intel chip wins more individual tests (10 vs 7), but the AMD chip wins the tests where it leads by larger margins. The choice comes down to whether the user values Intel's single-core and efficiency strengths or AMD's multi-threaded and specialized instruction advantages.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H has 6 cores and 12 threads; the Intel Core i7-1260U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 1100.00 MHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 4.00 GHz and 4.70 GHz respectively. TDP is 45 watts for AMD versus 9 watts for Intel. Sockets differ: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 1781.

Process technology splits at 7 nm (TSMC) for AMD versus 10 nm (Intel) for the Intel chip. The AMD part has a listed transistor count of 9,800 million and die size of 156 mm²; the Intel part has no transistor or die size data. Cache configurations differ: AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3; Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD versus DDR4/DDR5 for Intel, with AMD specifying 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and Intel not listing any. PCIe generation is Gen 3 for AMD and Gen 4 for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon RX Vega 6 for AMD and Iris Xe 96EU for Intel. Release dates differ by over two years: January 2020 for AMD, February 2022 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H comes in Passmark extended instructions, where it scores 12942 against Intel's 8280, a 56.3% advantage. This indicates a substantial lead in workloads using advanced CPU instruction sets. The AMD chip also excels in data compression (202030 vs 152217, a 32.7% win) and data encryption (12217 vs 9480, a 28.9% win). In random string sorting, AMD leads by 29.7% (21689 vs 16726). Cinebench R15 multi-core shows AMD ahead by 18.5% (1425 vs 1203). The AMD chip's win in Cinebench R23 multi-core is narrower at 2% (8072 vs 7912.5), and its Passmark multithread lead is just 1.5% (14228 vs 14011).

The Intel Core i7-1260U's biggest win is in Passmark find prime numbers, scoring 67 versus AMD's 28, a 58.2% advantage. Geekbench single-core shows Intel ahead by 35% (1936 vs 1259), and Passmark physics shows a 39.9% lead (1046 vs 629). Cinebench R23 single-core gives Intel a 28.6% win (1601 vs 1142.5), and Passmark single-thread shows a 23.3% lead (3153 vs 2418). Cinebench R15 single-core is 19.8% in Intel's favor (219.5 vs 176). Geekbench multi-core shows Intel ahead by 12.6% (6320 vs 5521). In floating-point math, Intel wins by 14.5% (31456 vs 26909). The closest contest is Passmark integer math, where Intel edges out AMD by just 0.4% (45887 vs 45698).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H wins in scenarios that demand heavy multi-threaded computation and specialized instruction throughput. Data compression and encryption workloads are clear AMD territory, with leads of 32.7% and 28.9% respectively. The extended instructions benchmark, showing a 56.3% lead, suggests AMD is better suited for applications that leverage SIMD or complex instruction paths. Random string sorting, up 29.7%, indicates an advantage in text processing and data organization tasks. For multi-core rendering, Cinebench R15 shows an 18.5% lead, though the margin shrinks to 2% in the newer R23 version. The AMD chip also maintains a slight edge in general multithreaded performance, as shown by the 1.5% Passmark multithread win. Its higher 45-watt TDP suggests it can sustain these workloads under load, though this is an inference from the TDP specification rather than a direct benchmark result.

The Intel Core i7-1260U wins in single-threaded and lightly-threaded scenarios, along with specific math and physics workloads. The 35% Geekbench single-core lead and 28.6% Cinebench R23 single-core lead indicate superior responsiveness in everyday applications that rely on one or two cores. The 58.2% win in prime number finding points to strong integer-heavy sequential computation. Physics simulation shows a 39.9% advantage, suggesting better performance in physics engines or scientific calculations. Floating-point math is 14.5% faster, and integer math is marginally ahead at 0.4%. The Geekbench multi-core win of 12.6% is notable given the 10-core count, showing that Intel's hybrid architecture can outperform the 6-core AMD part in some multi-threaded tests. The 9-watt TDP makes the Intel chip the clear choice for ultra-portable, battery-conscious designs where sustained high-power draw is not feasible.