AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS vs Intel Core i9-9900T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results present a clear split between these two processors, with each taking decisive victories in different test categories. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS wins six of the eight head-to-head matchups, while the Intel Core i9-9900T wins the remaining two, and those two wins are substantial.

In the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is consistently ahead across every iteration. In Cinebench R15, the AMD scores 1226 to the Intel's 1117 in multi-core, a 8.9% advantage. The single-core test shows the same margin: 173 versus 157, again 8.9% ahead. This pattern continues through Cinebench R20, where the AMD posts 5111 against 4658 in multi-core and 721 against 657 in single-core, both again showing an 8.9% edge. Cinebench R23 repeats the trend exactly: 12171 versus 11091 in multi-core, and 1718 versus 1565 in single-core, with the same 8.9% delta in both cases. The consistency of that margin across all six Cinebench runs suggests a fundamental clock-for-clock or architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results flip the story entirely. The Intel Core i9-9900T wins the multi-core test with 7298 against 5135, a massive 42.1% lead. In the single-core Geekbench test, the Intel also wins, scoring 1452 versus 1293, a 12.3% advantage. These are not small margins; the Geekbench multi-core result is the single largest delta in the entire comparison.

What explains this divergence? The Cinebench tests, which are heavily threaded and stress sustained all-core loads, favor the AMD's Zen 2 architecture and its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz compared to the Intel's 2.10 GHz. The Geekbench tests, which include a mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations, appear to favor the Intel's 8-core, 16-thread configuration with its larger 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel also has a higher boost clock at 4.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz, which likely contributes to its single-core Geekbench win.

Looking at the aggregate data, the two chips are nearly identical in overall standing. The Intel's average benchmark score is 3499, while the AMD's is 3444. Both sit at roughly the same percentile among all CPUs: Intel at 55, AMD at 54. The nearest rivals for each confirm this parity. The Intel is bracketed by the Xeon E-2176G at 3502 (0.1% faster) and the Xeon E5-1680 v4 at 3494 (0.2% slower). The AMD is bracketed by the Core i7-10870H at 3446 (0.1% faster) and the Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G at 3441 (0.1% slower). The overall picture is two processors with similar average performance, but with very different strengths in specific workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is the clear winner for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads. All three Cinebench versions, R15, R20, and R23, show the AMD ahead by 8.9% in both multi-core and single-core runs. This matters for anyone doing video rendering, 3D modeling, or other tasks that use Cinebench-style workloads, which are common in content creation. The AMD also wins on single-threaded Cinebench performance, which indicates better per-core efficiency in that specific benchmark family.

The Intel Core i9-9900T wins decisively in Geekbench multi-core, with a 42.1% lead. This is a large enough margin to suggest that applications which resemble Geekbench's test mix, such as database operations, encryption, compression, or certain scientific simulations, will run noticeably better on the Intel. The Intel also wins Geekbench single-core by 12.3%, which is significant for applications that are lightly threaded but rely on memory latency and cache behavior rather than raw clock speed.

For mixed-use scenarios, the choice depends on which benchmark family better represents the actual workload. If the software is Cinebench-like, the AMD is the pick. If it is Geekbench-like, the Intel is the pick. The data does not show one chip as universally superior; it shows two chips optimized for different tasks.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i9-9900T is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-R refresh, using Intel's 14 nm process node. The die size is 180.3 mm². It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. The die size is 156 mm², and the transistor count is 9,800 million, which is a far higher density than the Intel's older node. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The cache layout is 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses the AMD Socket FP6 and supports DDR4 in dual-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Radeon RX Vega 6. PCIe support is Gen 3, though the lane count is not specified for the CPU alone.

The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 7 nm. That explains the AMD's higher transistor count and smaller die. The AMD also has a much higher memory bandwidth, 68.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, which is a 60% advantage and likely contributes to its Geekbench performance in memory-heavy tests. However, the Intel has more cores (8 versus 6) and more L3 cache (16 MB versus 8 MB), which helps in certain multi-threaded and cache-sensitive workloads.

The Intel chip is end-of-life, released in April 2019. The AMD chip is still active in production, released in January 2020. The Intel has a known launch MSRP of $423. The AMD's launch MSRP is not recorded in the database. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-9900T has a base clock of 2.10 GHz. The AMD is significantly higher in this metric.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS scores 12171, while the Intel Core i9-9900T scores 11091. The AMD leads by 8.9%.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core, and by how much?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 7298 against the AMD's 5135, a lead of 42.1%.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T uses Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS uses TSMC's 7 nm process. The AMD node is smaller and newer.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS supports 68.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i9-9900T supports 42.7 GB/s. The AMD has a substantial advantage here.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-9900T is listed as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is listed as active production.

The Verdict

The choice between these two comes down to workload compatibility. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is the better option for Cinebench-style rendering and single-threaded tasks within that benchmark family. It leads by 8.9% in every Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core, and its higher base clock and memory bandwidth are clear advantages. It is also the newer part, still in active production, and built on a more advanced 7 nm process.

The Intel Core i9-9900T is the better option for Geekbench-style workloads, where it leads by 42.1% in multi-core and 12.3% in single-core. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and larger 16 MB L3 cache give it a distinct edge in those tests. It is an end-of-life desktop part, but for users whose software looks like Geekbench, the Intel is the clear winner.

The aggregate scores are nearly identical, with the Intel averaging 3499 and the AMD averaging 3444, and both sit at similar percentiles (55 versus 54). The nearest rivals for each chip confirm that they occupy the same performance tier overall. The data shows two processors with comparable average performance but opposite strengths in specific benchmark categories. Pick the AMD for rendering workloads, pick the Intel for memory-sensitive and cache-heavy applications. Do not expect one to be universally faster; the benchmark results do not support that conclusion.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Intel 8, AMD 6
• Threads: Intel 16, AMD 12
• Base Clock: Intel 2.10 GHz, AMD 3.00 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.40 GHz, AMD 4.00 GHz
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 versus AMD Socket FP6
• Architecture: Coffee Lake versus Zen 2
• Codename: Coffee Lake-R versus Renoir
• Process Node: 14 nm versus 7 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: Not recorded for Intel, 9,800 million for AMD
• Die Size: 180.3 mm² versus 156 mm²
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core versus 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: 16 MB shared versus 8 MB shared
• Memory Bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 3 (lane count not specified)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 630 versus Radeon RX Vega 6
• Market Segment: Desktop versus Mobile
• Production Status: End-of-life versus Active
• Release Date: 2019-04-22 versus 2020-01-05
• Launch MSRP: $423 versus not recorded
• Part Number: SRG1B versus not recorded