AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS vs Intel Core i9-9880H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS and Intel Core i9-9880H represent two distinct philosophies in mobile computing: a modern, power-efficient 7 nm design versus a high-core-count 14 nm part. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split, with the AMD chip dominating Cinebench tests while the Intel chip takes the Geekbench crowns. Both processors land at the 54th percentile in the database, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—3444 for the AMD versus 3433 for the Intel—yet the distribution of wins across workloads tells a nuanced story.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS leads with 12171 points, outperforming the Intel Core i9-9880H's 11437-point result by 6.4%. This pattern repeats across all three Cinebench versions tested.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-9880H wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 6248 in multi-core versus 5135 for the AMD chip, a 17.8% margin, and 1372 in single-core versus 1293, a 5.8% advantage.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons.

Q: What are the thermal design power (TDP) ratings for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is rated at 35 W, whereas the Intel Core i9-9880H carries a 45 W TDP. This 10 W difference is notable given the AMD chip's superior Cinebench performance.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9880H boosts to 4.80 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS's 4.00 GHz boost clock. The Intel chip also has a lower base clock of 2.30 GHz versus 3.00 GHz for the AMD.

Q: Are both processors in active production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is listed as "Active" in production status, while the Intel Core i9-9880H is marked "End-of-life."

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, using a 7 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. It integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i9-9880H uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-HR, fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 149 mm². Transistor counts are not listed for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD part features 512 KB of L2 cache per core versus 256 KB per core for the Intel. The L3 cache is also different: the AMD chip has 8 MB shared, while the Intel chip offers 16 MB shared. This doubling of L3 cache gives the Intel processor a potential advantage in data-heavy workloads, though benchmark results do not consistently reflect this.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Intel Core i9-9880H also supports dual-channel DDR4 but at a lower 42.7 GB/s. Both chips use PCIe Gen 3 and lack ECC memory support. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the AMD chip featuring a Radeon RX Vega 6 and the Intel chip using UHD 630.

The production timeline shows the Intel chip was released on 2019-04-22, while the AMD chip launched later on 2020-01-05. The AMD part is still active, whereas Intel has moved the i9-9880H to end-of-life status.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results create a clear division of labor. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS wins every Cinebench test—R15, R20, and R23—in both single-core and multi-core variants. In multi-core tests, the AMD chip consistently leads by 6.4%, which is remarkable given its 6-core configuration versus the Intel's 8 cores. Single-core Cinebench margins are similar, ranging from 6.4% to 6.8% in favor of AMD.

The Intel Core i9-9880H wins both Geekbench tests, with a particularly strong 17.8% margin in multi-core performance. This suggests the Intel chip excels in workloads that resemble Geekbench's testing methodology, which often includes memory-intensive and mixed workloads. The Intel chip's larger 16 MB L3 cache may contribute to this advantage.

For use cases, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS appears better suited for rendering and CPU-intensive tasks that Cinebench represents—3D modeling, video encoding, and physics simulations. The Intel Core i9-9880H, with its Geekbench wins, may be preferable for general productivity suites, web browsing with complex JavaScript, and tasks that benefit from higher boost clocks and more cache.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every specification field. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 2.30 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 4.00 GHz for AMD and 4.80 GHz for Intel. TDP ratings are 35 W for AMD and 45 W for Intel.

The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP6, whereas the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1440. The process nodes are 7 nm (TSMC) versus 14 nm (Intel). L2 cache is 512 KB per core for AMD versus 256 KB per core for Intel, and L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 16 MB shared. Memory bandwidth is 68.3 GB/s for AMD versus 42.7 GB/s for Intel.

Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode and PCIe Gen 3. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have integrated graphics—Radeon RX Vega 6 for AMD and UHD 630 for Intel. The Intel chip has a part number of SRFD1, while no part number is listed for the AMD chip. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent pattern of AMD superiority. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS scores 1226 against the Intel's 1152, a 6.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 173 versus 162, a 6.8% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD chip scores 5111 multi-core versus 4803, again 6.4% ahead, and 721 single-core versus 677, a 6.5% edge. In Cinebench R23, the AMD chip scores 12171 versus 11437 multi-core (6.4% lead) and 1718 versus 1614 single-core (6.4% lead).

The Geekbench results flip the narrative. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i9-9880H scores 6248 versus 5135 for the AMD chip, a substantial 17.8% advantage. The single-core Geekbench test shows the Intel chip ahead at 1372 versus 1293, a 5.8% margin. The overall win count is 6 for the AMD chip and 2 for the Intel chip.

The average benchmark scores are close: 3444 for the AMD chip and 3433 for the Intel chip, a difference of only 11 points. The nearest rival data places both chips near the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G, which scores 3441. The AMD chip's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-5960X, scores 3442 with a 0% deltaPct, indicating near-identical performance.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation based on workload. For users prioritizing rendering performance, video encoding, or any CPU-intensive task that Cinebench models, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is the stronger choice. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons despite having 2 fewer cores and 4 fewer threads than the Intel chip. Its 35 W TDP, lower than the Intel's 45 W, makes this performance lead even more impressive for thermally constrained laptops.

For users whose workloads align with Geekbench's testing methodology—which often includes memory access patterns, compression, and mixed integer/floating-point operations—the Intel Core i9-9880H offers a significant multi-core advantage of 17.8%. Its higher 4.80 GHz boost clock and doubled 16 MB L3 cache likely contribute to this result. The Intel chip also carries a 5.8% single-core Geekbench win.

The production status is a deciding factor for new purchases. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS remains in active production, while the Intel Core i9-9880H is end-of-life. From a longevity and availability standpoint, the AMD chip is the safer choice. Both processors sit at the 54th percentile, and their average scores are nearly identical, so the decision ultimately hinges on which benchmark suite best represents the target workload. The AMD chip's Cinebench dominance and active status make it the more balanced recommendation, while the Intel chip appeals specifically to Geekbench-oriented use cases.