AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Core i5-8600T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and Intel Core i5-8600T present a stark contrast in design philosophy and benchmark outcomes. The data shows a clear split: the Ryzen 5 4680U dominates in older Cinebench R15 tests and single-core R23, while the Intel Core i5-8600T takes a decisive victory in the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core workload. With both processors sitting at the 48th percentile against all CPUs, their overall performance class is similar, but the path each takes to get there is fundamentally different.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the winner in three of the four head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its most commanding lead comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1291 against Intel's 784, a massive 64.7% advantage. This suggests the Ryzen excels in scenarios that stress older rendering engines or workloads that are heavily threaded but not optimized for the latest instruction sets. Its single-core performance also leads in both R15 (170 vs 110, a 54.5% edge) and R23 (1163 vs 1099, a 5.8% edge), making it the better choice for lightly threaded applications like everyday productivity, web browsing, and legacy software.

The Intel Core i5-8600T claims victory in only one test, but it is a significant one. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 7787 versus AMD's 7073, a 9.2% advantage. This indicates that in modern, heavily multi-threaded workloads such as contemporary video rendering, 3D modeling, or scientific computing, the Intel part pulls ahead despite having fewer threads (6 vs 12). The i5-8600T also has a higher average benchmark score of 2383 compared to the Ryzen's 2424, though this is close enough to be considered a statistical tie given the rival deltas of less than 1%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins every single-core benchmark comparison available. It leads by 54.5% in Cinebench R15 (170 vs 110) and by 5.8% in Cinebench R23 (1163 vs 1099).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8600T win any benchmarks?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-8600T wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 7787, which is 9.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has an average benchmark score of 2424, while the Intel Core i5-8600T has an average of 2383. This places both at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, indicating very similar overall performance.

Q: What is the difference in their thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8600T has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Ryzen offers simultaneous multithreading, the Intel part does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-8600T's 3.70 GHz boost clock.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and the Intel Core i5-8600T are listed as end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap in the comparison is in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1291, while the Intel Core i5-8600T manages only 784. This 64.7% delta is the single biggest win for either processor and demonstrates the AMD part's overwhelming advantage in this specific workload. The Ryzen's 12 threads versus the Intel's 6 threads likely plays a decisive role here, as the R15 test scales well with thread count.

Single-core R15 tells a similar story, though with a slightly smaller margin. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 170 versus Intel's 110, a 54.5% lead. This is a substantial gap and suggests the AMD architecture is significantly more efficient at processing single-threaded instructions in this benchmark version. Even in the newer R23 single-core test, the Ryzen maintains its lead, scoring 1163 against Intel's 1099, a 5.8% difference. This shows that while the gap narrows with newer software, the AMD part retains the single-thread advantage.

The only reversal comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Here, the Intel Core i5-8600T takes the lead with 7787 points, beating the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073 by 9.2%. This is a notable shift. Despite having half the threads, the Intel part's higher power envelope (35W TDP vs 15W) and newer software optimization allows it to outperform the AMD chip in this demanding, modern workload. The result indicates that while the Ryzen is better in legacy multi-threaded tests, the Intel part is the stronger choice for current-generation render workloads.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is TDP. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is rated at 15W, while the Intel Core i5-8600T is rated at 35W. This is a fundamental design distinction: the Ryzen is a mobile part designed for efficiency, while the Intel is a desktop part designed for sustained performance at higher power draw.

Clock speeds also differ, with the AMD part having a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz compared to Intel's 2.30 GHz, but a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus Intel's 3.70 GHz. The AMD chip also has more threads (12 vs 6) and a different cache layout: 512 KB of L2 per core versus Intel's 256 KB, but a smaller shared L3 at 8 MB versus Intel's 9 MB.

The memory support differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U supports LPDDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-8600T supports DDR4 with a higher bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses and PCIe Gen 3, but the Intel part specifies 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are also different: AMD uses Radeon Graphics with 448 SPs, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 630.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-8600T uses Intel's 14 nm node. This process advantage allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, whereas Intel's die is slightly smaller at 154 mm² but with no transistor count listed. The smaller process node is a key reason the AMD chip can achieve its performance at a much lower 15W TDP.

The core architectures are entirely different generations. The AMD part uses Zen 2 architecture under the codename "Renoir", part of the 4000 series. The Intel part uses the older Coffee Lake architecture. Zen 2 brings a modern microarchitecture with simultaneous multithreading, which explains the Ryzen's 12 threads from 6 cores. Coffee Lake, while capable, does not offer SMT on the Core i5 tier, limiting it to 6 threads.

The memory controllers also reflect different design eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is designed for LPDDR4, a lower-power memory typically used in mobile devices, while the Intel Core i5-8600T is built for standard DDR4 desktop memory. The Intel part's higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus AMD's 34.1 GB/s suggests that, despite the older architecture, the Intel platform can feed data to the CPU faster, which may contribute to its R23 multi-core win.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision based on workload type. For users running legacy software, single-threaded applications, or older multi-threaded benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the undeniable winner. Its 64.7% lead in R15 multi-core and 54.5% lead in R15 single-core make it the superior choice for those environments. Its higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz and 12 threads give it a flexibility that the Intel part cannot match in these scenarios.

For users running modern, heavily multi-threaded workloads, the Intel Core i5-8600T is the better performer. Its 9.2% victory in R23 multi-core demonstrates that it can handle contemporary rendering and computational tasks more effectively, despite its lower thread count. The higher 35W TDP allows it to sustain performance where the 15W mobile chip may throttle. The Intel part also offers higher memory bandwidth, which can benefit memory-intensive modern applications.

Given that both processors sit at the 48th percentile and have near-identical average benchmark scores (2424 vs 2383), the choice comes down to workload specificity. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the pick for legacy performance and efficiency, while the Intel Core i5-8600T is the pick for modern multi-core rendering. The Intel part also has a launch MSRP of $213, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Ultimately, the benchmark results indicate that neither chip is universally faster; they are specialized for different eras of software.