AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS vs Intel Core i7-10875H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS and Intel Core i7-10875H are two mobile processors from the same era, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen 5 relies on a power-efficient 7nm Zen 2 architecture with six cores, while the Intel chip uses a 14nm Comet Lake design with eight cores and a much higher boost clock. Benchmark data reveals a surprisingly narrow contest in most CPU-bound tests, but a decisive victory for Intel in Geekbench multicore. This analysis explores the data to understand where each chip excels and what that means for potential workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results paint a picture of near-parity in traditional rendering workloads. Across the entire Cinebench suite, the Intel Core i7-10875H wins every single test, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 1233 against AMD’s 1226, a delta of just -0.6%. The R15 single-core test shows a similar story: 174 for Intel versus 173 for AMD, again a -0.6% difference. This pattern holds for Cinebench R20 and R23, where Intel edges ahead by -0.5% in both multicore and single-core runs. These numbers indicate that for pure rendering tasks, the two processors are functionally equivalent in performance, despite the Intel chip having two more cores and a substantially higher boost clock.

The Geekbench results, however, break the trend dramatically. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i7-10875H scores 6511, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS scores only 5135. This represents a massive -21.1% delta, meaning Intel is about 27% faster in this specific test. The single-core Geekbench test also favors Intel, with a score of 1384 versus 1293, a -6.6% difference. This is the only benchmark category where the gap is significant, and it’s worth questioning why. Geekbench is known for its diverse workload mix, often including memory latency and branch prediction tests that can favor different architectures. The data suggests that the Intel chip’s higher peak clocks and larger shared cache may provide a tangible advantage in these varied, latency-sensitive tasks, even though it doesn’t translate to a big win in pure multi-threaded rendering.

Looking at the broader context, the Intel chip’s average benchmark score is 3432, which places it at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD chip has a nearly identical average score of 3444, also at the 54th percentile. Their nearest rivals further underscore this closeness. The Ryzen 5 4600HS is listed as being 0% different from the Intel Core i7-5960X, and -0.1% from the Intel Core i7-10870H. The Intel Core i7-10875H is -0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G and -0.3% behind the Ryzen 5 4600HS itself. The data shows that when averaged out, these two mobile processors are peers in overall performance, but the Geekbench multicore outlier reveals a specific workload where Intel has a clear edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-10875H wins all 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and both Geekbench tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS does not win a single direct comparison.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS competitive in multi-threaded rendering?

A: Yes, despite losing all Cinebench tests, the margins are extremely small. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel chip scores 12234 against AMD’s 12171, a difference of only -0.5%. The AMD chip is essentially within a rounding error of Intel’s 8-core processor in these workloads.

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

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench multicore, where Intel scores 6511 and AMD scores 5135, resulting in a -21.1% difference. This is the only benchmark with a double-digit percentage gap.

Q: How do these chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel chip has a slight but consistent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 1727 versus AMD’s 1718 (-0.5%). The Geekbench single-core test shows a larger gap, with Intel at 1384 and AMD at 1293 (-6.6%).

Q: Do the processors have similar overall performance averages?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has an average score of 3444, while the Intel Core i7-10875H has an average of 3432. Both are in the 54th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What does the Geekbench multicore result imply about the Intel chip?

A: The -21.1% delta suggests that the Intel Core i7-10875H has a significant advantage in workloads that are sensitive to memory latency and single-threaded responsiveness within a multi-threaded context, as Geekbench often tests a broader mix of tasks than pure rendering.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear, albeit nuanced, verdict. If the primary workload is multi-threaded rendering using Cinebench-style tasks, the choice is effectively a toss-up. The Intel Core i7-10875H wins all Cinebench tests, but the -0.5% to -0.6% deltas are so small that they are unlikely to be perceptible in real-world use. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS offers essentially the same rendering performance with a lower 35W TDP compared to Intel’s 45W, which could be a critical factor for laptop battery life and thermals.

However, for anyone whose workload is better represented by Geekbench, the verdict changes. The Intel Core i7-10875H is decisively ahead, with a 27% advantage in multicore and a 7% advantage in single-core performance. This suggests that for productivity applications, software compilation, or complex scientific simulations that are not purely linear, the Intel chip is the stronger choice. The data does not support a different conclusion: if you prioritize this broader performance envelope, the Intel chip is the winner. Those who value efficiency and are focused on streaming or basic rendering tasks might find the AMD chip adequate, but the numbers show the Intel chip is generally faster, especially outside of pure Cinebench loops.

Specification Differences

The specifications highlight the core design divergence. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-10875H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock speeds differ significantly, with AMD at 3.00 GHz and Intel at 2.30 GHz. The boost clocks also differ, with Intel at 5.10 GHz and AMD at 4.00 GHz. The TDP is another major difference: AMD is rated at 35W, and Intel is rated at 45W. The AMD chip has a smaller die size of 156 mm², while Intel’s is 177.5 mm². The L2 cache differs, with AMD having 512 KB per core and Intel having 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is different as well, with AMD having 8 MB shared and Intel having 16 MB shared. Memory bandwidth is also a point of separation, with AMD supporting 68.3 GB/s and Intel supporting 46.9 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ, with AMD featuring Radeon RX Vega 6 and Intel featuring UHD Graphics. The socket types are also different: AMD uses AMD Socket FP6, and Intel uses Intel BGA 1440.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, and is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i7-10875H is based on the Comet Lake architecture, codenamed Comet Lake-H, and is manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel. This process difference is fundamental, as the 7nm node allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a smaller die, whereas Intel’s larger 14nm die does not have a listed transistor count. The AMD chip features 6 cores and 12 threads, while Intel offers 8 cores and 16 threads. The cache structures also differ: AMD has a larger L2 cache (512 KB per core) but a smaller shared L3 cache (8 MB), while Intel has a smaller L2 (256 KB per core) but a larger shared L3 (16 MB). Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, but AMD has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both support PCIe Gen 3, though Intel specifies 16 lanes for the CPU.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-10875H wins in every head-to-head test. Its most significant win is in Geekbench multicore, where it is 21.1% ahead of the AMD chip. This suggests a clear victory for Intel in workloads that involve a mix of tasks, such as video editing, 3D modeling with complex physics, or running multiple demanding applications simultaneously. The Intel chip also wins all Cinebench tests, though the margins are tiny. This means for pure CPU rendering, the Intel chip is technically faster, but the difference is so small that the AMD chip would be a practical equal.

For the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS, there are no benchmark wins to point to. However, its performance is close enough in Cinebench to be considered a viable alternative for rendering tasks, especially given its lower 35W TDP. The data does not support a win for AMD in any specific workload category, but it does show that the chip is not far behind in the most common multi-threaded test. The AMD chip’s higher memory bandwidth (68.3 GB/s vs 46.9 GB/s) and larger L2 cache are not reflected in a benchmark win, which is an interesting observation. The numbers suggest that the AMD chip’s architectural efficiency helps it close the gap against a chip with more cores and a higher peak clock, but it cannot overcome Intel’s lead in the Geekbench multicore test.