AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS vs Intel Core i7-7800X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS and the Intel Core i7-7800X, but the margin of victory is remarkably consistent. In the Cinebench suite, the AMD part wins all six tests, with the same 9.3% advantage appearing across Cinebench R20 multicore, R20 singlecore, R23 multicore, and R23 singlecore. The two older Cinebench R15 tests show similar gaps: a 9.2% lead in multicore and a 9.8% lead in singlecore. Those are not trivial margins. A 9.3% deficit means the Intel chip trails by roughly one-twelfth of its own score, which in a render workload translates into noticeably longer completion times.

The story flips when the benchmark changes. Geekbench multicore hands the Intel Core i7-7800X a decisive 19.6% win over the AMD part. That is a much larger swing than any Cinebench result, and it is worth pausing on because the two processors have the same core count and thread count. The Geekbench multicore result for the Intel chip is 6144 against 5135 for the AMD chip. In the singlecore Geekbench test, the Intel part wins again, but by a far slimmer 4.6% margin, 1352 versus 1293.

So the recorded data presents a puzzle: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS leads in every Cinebench iteration, while the Intel Core i7-7800X leads in both Geekbench tests. The average benchmark score across all tests slightly favors the AMD chip, 3444 versus 3333, which is a 3.3% difference. The percentile ranking against all CPUs is identical for both at 54, which places them in the same broad performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Looking at the nearest rivals confirms the positioning. The Intel Core i7-7800X sits within 0.9% of the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600, and it is 0.5% behind the Intel Xeon D-1587. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is effectively tied with the Intel Core i7-5960X at a 0% delta, 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-10870H, and within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G. Both processors are clustered in a dense region of the performance field, where a few percentage points separate entire product families.

The most striking aspect of the head-to-head is the consistency of the Cinebench gap versus the reversal in Geekbench. A 9.3% Cinebench deficit for Intel across three generations of the test suggests a systematic factor, not noise. Likewise, the 19.6% Geekbench multicore win for Intel suggests the opposite systematic factor in that workload. These are not borderline results; they are clear directional signals.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-7800X wins the remaining 2, which are both Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's lead in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS scores 12171 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 9.3% higher than the Intel Core i7-7800X's 11044.

Q: Is there any workload where the Intel processor wins by a wide margin?

A: Yes. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i7-7800X scores 6144, which is 19.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS's 5135. That is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set.

Q: Do the two processors share the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. The performance differences therefore come from architecture, clock behavior, cache, and memory configuration rather than core count.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has an average benchmark score of 3444, while the Intel Core i7-7800X averages 3333. The AMD part is about 3.3% higher on average.

Q: Are both processors ranked identically against all CPUs?

A: Both sit at the 54th percentile when compared to all CPUs in the database, which places them in the same overall performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-7800X is built on the Skylake-X architecture, a 14 nm design fabricated by Intel. It belongs to the Core i7 X-Series 7th generation and uses the Intel Socket 2066 platform. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It is part of the Ryzen 5 4000 series and uses the AMD Socket FP6.

The process node difference is significant: 14 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD. The AMD chip also has transistor and die size figures recorded: 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel part has no transistor count or die size listed in the database. The 7 nm node helps explain how the AMD processor achieves competitive or better performance while consuming far less power, though the benchmark data speaks for itself.

Cache configurations differ in structure. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 1 MB per core on the Intel chip versus 512 KB per core on the AMD chip. The shared L3 cache is 8.25 MB on the Intel part and 8 MB on the AMD part. So the Intel processor has more total cache per core in L2, while the AMD chip has a slightly smaller L3 pool. These differences can influence which workloads benefit from cache locality.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS includes Radeon RX Vega 6 integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i7-7800X has no integrated graphics listed at all. That makes the AMD part a complete package for systems without a discrete GPU, while the Intel chip requires a separate graphics card.

Memory architecture also differs. Both support DDR4, but the Intel part uses a quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, while the AMD part uses a dual-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s. The Intel chip has the raw bandwidth advantage on paper, yet the AMD chip still wins most compute benchmarks. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the Intel part specifies 28 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part simply lists Gen 3 without a lane count.

Neither processor supports ECC memory. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip is locked. The AMD part is an active production product, while the Intel part is end-of-life. The release dates reflect that: the Intel chip launched in mid-2017, and the AMD chip launched in early 2020.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical at 6 cores and 12 threads, so the differences lie elsewhere. The base clock differs: 3.50 GHz for the Intel Core i7-7800X versus 3.00 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS. The boost clock is the same for both at 4.00 GHz. The Intel chip starts from a higher base frequency, but the AMD chip reaches the same maximum boost.

The TDP figures could not be more different. The Intel part is rated at 140 W, while the AMD part is rated at 35 W. That is a fourfold difference in thermal design power. The AMD chip achieves its benchmark results within a 35 W envelope, which has major implications for cooling and system design.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 2066 for the Intel chip, AMD Socket FP6 for the AMD chip. The market segments also differ, with the Intel part classified as Desktop and the AMD part as Mobile. The process node differs as described: 14 nm for Intel, 7 nm for AMD, with different foundries (Intel for the former, TSMC for the latter).

Memory bus width differs (quad-channel versus dual-channel), and memory bandwidth differs accordingly (76.8 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s). L2 cache per core is 1 MB on the Intel part versus 512 KB on the AMD part, while L3 cache is 8.25 MB versus 8 MB. The Intel part has 28 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU; the AMD part lists PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count.

The AMD part includes integrated Radeon RX Vega 6 graphics; the Intel part has none. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD part does not. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $383; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part remains active. The Intel part number is SR3L4; no part number is listed for the AMD part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS wins in every Cinebench test, which means it is the stronger choice for render workloads, 3D animation, and any task that relies on Cinebench-style compute patterns. The consistency of the 9.3% lead across R20 and R23, and the similar margins in R15, points to a broad architectural advantage in these single-threaded and multi-threaded render tasks. The AMD chip also wins on power efficiency by a massive margin, with a 35 W TDP versus 140 W for Intel, making it suitable for thin-and-light systems and sustained mobile workloads.

The Intel Core i7-7800X wins in Geekbench, both multicore and singlecore. The multicore win is substantial at 19.6%, while the singlecore win is modest at 4.6%. This suggests the Intel chip has an advantage in workloads that resemble Geekbench's test patterns, which include encryption, compression, image processing, and machine learning tasks. The quad-channel memory bus and larger L2 cache may contribute to this advantage, though the data does not isolate the cause.

The Intel chip also has the higher base clock, which can help in lightly threaded tasks that do not boost for long periods. However, the AMD chip matches the 4.00 GHz boost clock, so the Intel advantage is limited to the base frequency range.

For a desktop build with a discrete GPU, the Intel Core i7-7800X offers a specific Geekbench-oriented performance profile, plus quad-channel memory bandwidth. For a mobile system or a compact desktop where power draw and heat matter, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS delivers superior Cinebench performance at a fraction of the TDP.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is the better all-round performer in the database's recorded benchmarks. It wins 6 of 8 head-to-head tests, has a higher average benchmark score (3444 versus 3333), and does so with a 35 W TDP against the Intel part's 140 W. The 9.3% Cinebench lead is consistent across multiple test versions, which gives confidence that it reflects a real architectural edge in render-style workloads.

The Intel Core i7-7800X is not without merit. Its 19.6% Geekbench multicore win is the largest margin anywhere in the head-to-head set, and it also wins Geekbench singlecore by 4.6%. For users whose workloads align with Geekbench's test patterns, the Intel chip offers a measurable advantage. The quad-channel memory bus and higher base clock are additional factors in its favor, along with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The identical 54th percentile ranking against all CPUs confirms that neither processor dominates the other in absolute terms. They sit in the same performance tier, separated by workload-specific strengths. The AMD chip wins where rendering and threaded compute matter; the Intel chip wins where Geekbench-style tasks dominate.

The production status difference is also relevant. The Intel Core i7-7800X is end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS remains active. For a current system purchase, the AMD part has the advantage of availability and ongoing support. For a legacy upgrade or a specific desktop workload where Geekbench performance is critical, the Intel part still holds a niche.

Ultimately, the choice depends on workload priority. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS should be the pick for users who value Cinebench-class rendering performance, power efficiency, and integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-7800X should be the pick for users who specifically need Geekbench multicore throughput and are building on the Intel Socket 2066 platform with a discrete GPU.