AMD Ryzen 5 4600U vs Intel Core i7-4790S Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins every head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i7-4790S. Across four shared benchmark tests, the AMD processor takes all four wins, with deltas ranging from 27.6% to 108.9%. The Ryzen 5 4600U's average benchmark score of 1832 narrowly edges out the i7-4790S's 1827, and both sit at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy nearly identical overall performance tiers despite the stark per-test differences. However, the two chips serve fundamentally different markets and eras — the 4600U is a 15W mobile part from 2020, while the 4790S is a 65W desktop part from 2014. The data suggests the Ryzen 5 4600U is the clear choice for anyone seeking raw performance in a modern, power-efficient mobile package. The i7-4790S, now end-of-life, retains relevance only for legacy desktop systems where its socket and DDR3 memory support are already in place. Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, so the scores represent stock behavior.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 4600U wins everywhere the two share benchmarks. In single-core Cinebench R15, the 4600U scores 175.5 versus 84 for the 4790S — a 108.9% advantage. That is more than double the Intel part's score. In single-core Geekbench, the 4600U posts 1347 against 1056, a 27.6% lead. The multi-core results are equally one-sided: Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 1089 for AMD versus 595 for Intel (an 83% delta), and Geekbench multi-core shows 4715 versus 3307 (a 42.6% delta). The i7-4790S has no benchmark win in any shared test. That said, the Intel chip does have additional benchmark data points not shared with the AMD part — Cinebench R20 and R23 scores — which indicate it can still produce usable results in those workloads, but there is no comparable AMD score in the data to draw a direct contrast. The 4790S's 65W TDP and desktop socket suggest it was built for sustained all-core loads, yet the data shows the 15W mobile chip simply outmuscles it in every measurable shared test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different architectural generations and design philosophies. The Ryzen 5 4600U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process with Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, and packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Core i7-4790S uses Intel's 22 nm process with Haswell architecture, containing 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The transistor density difference is enormous — the AMD chip crams roughly seven times more transistors into a smaller area. Core counts diverge: the 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 4790S has 4 cores and 8 threads. Both share identical L1 cache (64 KB per core) and total L3 cache (8 MB shared), but the L2 cache differs: 512 KB per core on the AMD part versus 256 KB per core on the Intel part. The 4600U supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the 4790S is limited to DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth — exactly half the memory throughput. Both use dual-channel memory buses and PCIe Gen 3, though the Intel part specifies 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD chip features Radeon RX Vega 6, while Intel offers HD 4600. The 4600U uses AMD Socket FP6, the 4790S uses Intel Socket 1150. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 175.5 versus 84 for the Intel Core i7-4790S (a 108.9% delta). In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1347 versus 1056 (a 27.6% delta).

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1089 versus 595 (83% higher) and Geekbench multi-core with 4715 versus 3307 (42.6% higher). The Intel chip has no multi-core win in shared benchmarks.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i7-4790S has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part also has larger L2 cache at 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core on the Intel part.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has a TDP of 15W, while the Intel Core i7-4790S has a TDP of 65W. This means the AMD chip delivers higher benchmark scores while consuming significantly less power on paper.

Q: Are the average benchmark scores similar despite the head-to-head results?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 5 4600U has an average benchmark score of 1832, and the Intel Core i7-4790S has 1827. Both sit at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, suggesting they are in the same overall performance tier despite the lopsided head-to-head deltas.

Q: Which processor is newer and still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U was released on 2020-01-05 and is marked as Active in production. The Intel Core i7-4790S was released on 2014-05-10 and is marked as End-of-life. The release dates and production statuses reflect their very different market positions.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 175.5 against the Intel part's 84 — a 108.9% delta. This is the most dramatic gap in the entire comparison, indicating a massive per-clock advantage for the Zen 2 architecture in lightly threaded workloads. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the next biggest win: 1089 versus 595, an 83% delta. That result aligns with the core and thread count advantage (6C/12T versus 4C/8T) combined with the higher IPC of Zen 2.

Geekbench results are closer but still firmly in AMD's favor. The multi-core test shows 4715 versus 3307, a 42.6% delta. The single-core test shows 1347 versus 1056, a 27.6% delta. These narrower margins suggest that Geekbench's workload mix partially closes the architectural gap, but the AMD chip still maintains a comfortable lead. Notably, the Intel i7-4790S has additional Cinebench R20 and R23 scores (2482 multi-core, 350 single-core for R20; 5911 multi-core, 834 single-core for R23) that have no AMD counterpart in the shared test set, so they cannot be directly compared. The data shows zero wins for the Intel part across all shared benchmarks, and the Ryzen 5 4600U takes all four head-to-head victories. The pattern is consistent: whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the 4600U outperforms the 4790S by a wide margin, with deltas that range from over a quarter to more than double.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-4790S offers 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.10 GHz for AMD versus 3.20 GHz for Intel, though both boost to 4.00 GHz. TDP is dramatically different — 15W for the AMD part versus 65W for the Intel part. The process node favors AMD at 7 nm (TSMC) versus Intel's 22 nm, with transistor counts of 9,800 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes of 156 mm² versus 177 mm². Cache hierarchies differ in L2 size (512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core) but match in L1 (64 KB per core) and L3 (8 MB shared). Memory support diverges completely: the 4600U uses DDR4/LPDDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the 4790S uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel Socket 1150. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon RX Vega 6 versus Intel HD 4600. Market segments are mobile versus desktop, and production status is Active versus End-of-life. The release dates are 2020-01-05 versus 2014-05-10. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $312, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. PCIe support is Gen 3 on both, but the Intel part specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part lists no lane count. Both have ECC disabled and locked multipliers. The part numbers are 100-000000105 for AMD and SR1QM for Intel.