AMD Ryzen 5 4600U vs Intel Core i7-8706G Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8706G and AMD Ryzen 5 4600U are both mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, yet their benchmark results tell a story of decisive dominance by the AMD part. The data shows the Ryzen 5 4600U wins both head-to-head comparisons, with a substantial lead in multi-core and a massive advantage in single-core performance, despite both CPUs holding an identical 42nd percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unequivocal: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U outperforms the Intel Core i7-8706G in every measured test. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 4600U scores 1089 against the Intel's 641, producing a delta of -41.1% from the AMD's perspective. This means the Intel chip trails by over 40% in heavily threaded workloads, a gap that will manifest in video rendering, code compilation, and other parallel tasks. The Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads simply overpower the Intel's 4 cores and 8 threads.

Single-core performance shows an even starker divide. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen 5 4600U scores 175.5 while the Core i7-8706G manages only 90, a delta of -48.7%. The Intel processor delivers less than half the single-threaded performance of its rival. This result is surprising given that the Intel part has a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz compared to the Ryzen's 4.00 GHz, yet the architectural efficiency of Zen 2 clearly overcomes the clock speed deficit. The Ryzen's single-core advantage will translate to snappier application launches and better performance in lightly threaded games and productivity software.

The average benchmark score data reinforces this pattern. The Intel Core i7-8706G averages 1842 across its benchmark suite, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U averages 1832. These averages are nearly identical, but they obscure the fact that the two processors were tested on different benchmark sets. The Intel's average is buoyed by Cinebench R20 and R23 results, while the AMD's average relies on Geekbench scores. When compared directly on the same Cinebench R15 tests, the Ryzen is clearly superior. The nearest rivals list for the Intel chip includes the Ryzen 5 4600U with a delta of just 0.6%, confirming that these are considered peer processors in aggregate, even though the head-to-head data tells a different story.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1089 versus the Intel Core i7-8706G's 641, a 41.1% advantage for the AMD chip.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core workloads?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600U also wins single-core tests by a wide margin. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 175.5 is nearly double the Intel's 90, giving the AMD part a 48.7% lead.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same overall performance ranking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-8706G and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U hold the 42nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are within 0.6% of each other (1842 vs 1832).

Q: What is the closest rival to the Intel Core i7-8706G?

A: According to the data, the Intel Core i5-7600 is the closest rival, with an average score of 1844 and a delta of -0.1% from the i7-8706G's 1842.

Q: What is the closest rival to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U?

A: The Intel Core i5-8305G is the nearest rival to the Ryzen 5 4600U, with an average score of 1831 and a delta of just 0.1% from the AMD's 1832.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8706G has 4 cores and 8 threads.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the superior processor for virtually any workload. It wins both head-to-head benchmark comparisons by enormous margins, delivering 41.1% higher multi-core performance and 48.7% higher single-core performance. The Intel Core i7-8706G cannot compete on raw compute power, and its only saving grace is that its average benchmark score is nearly identical to the AMD's, thanks to different test suites. However, when comparing apples to apples on the same benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 4600U is the only reasonable choice for users who prioritize CPU performance.

The Intel chip's 4-core, 8-thread configuration is a generation behind in core count, and its Kaby Lake architecture cannot overcome that deficit. The Ryzen 5 4600U's Zen 2 architecture, built on a smaller 7 nm process, delivers superior performance per clock and per core. For anyone choosing between these two processors for a mobile system, the benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the processor to pick.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly across nearly every specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8706G provides only 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ markedly, with the Intel running at 3.10 GHz compared to the AMD's 2.10 GHz, though the Intel's boost clock of 4.10 GHz is only slightly higher than the AMD's 4.00 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) shows a massive gap: the Intel chip is rated at 65 watts, while the AMD sips power at just 15 watts.

The Intel processor uses the Intel BGA 2270 socket, whereas the AMD uses AMD Socket FP6. Memory support also differs, with the Intel supporting only DDR4 and the AMD supporting both DDR4 and LPDDR4. The AMD chip includes a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part lists no memory bus or bandwidth specifications. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U also has a part number (100-000000105) and belongs to the 4000 series, while the Intel chip has no series designation. Both processors have 8 MB of shared L3 cache, but the AMD has 512 KB of L2 cache per core compared to the Intel's 256 KB per core. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses Radeon RX Vega M GL, while AMD uses Radeon RX Vega 6.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is fundamental. The Intel Core i7-8706G is built on Kaby Lake architecture with a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U uses Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process node produced by TSMC. The smaller process node gives the AMD chip a significant efficiency advantage, which is reflected in its 15-watt TDP versus the Intel's 65-watt TDP. The AMD chip contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not specified in the data.

The core architectures reflect different design philosophies. The Intel Kaby Lake-G generation focuses on higher clock speeds with fewer cores, while the AMD Zen 2 (Renoir) generation emphasizes more cores with efficient power delivery. The AMD chip's larger L2 cache per core (512 KB vs 256 KB) likely contributes to its superior single-core performance. The Intel chip was released on 2018-01-31, while the AMD chip arrived on 2020-01-05, giving the Ryzen a two-year architectural advantage. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel chip's PCIe specification is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins in every benchmark category where direct comparison is possible. Its 41.1% multi-core advantage makes it the clear choice for threaded workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation. The 48.7% single-core lead means it also excels in everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and lightly threaded games, where single-core speed dominates. The Ryzen's 15-watt TDP makes it far more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals are critical.

The Intel Core i7-8706G has no benchmark wins against the Ryzen 5 4600U in the head-to-head data. Its higher base clock of 3.10 GHz might suggest better responsiveness in short bursts, but the benchmark results do not support this. The Intel chip's only potential advantage lies in its integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics, which may offer different graphics performance characteristics than the AMD's Radeon RX Vega 6, though no graphics benchmarks are included in the data. The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which could theoretically help in bursty workloads, but the single-core benchmark results contradict this expectation. For any use case that involves CPU computation, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the definitive winner.