AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Core i5-9500T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits the two CPUs evenly, with each securing two head-to-head benchmark victories. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U dominates in the Cinebench R15 tests, while the Intel Core i5-9500T takes the newer Cinebench R23 workloads by a significant margin.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1291 against the i5-9500T's 832, a 35.6% advantage for AMD. The gap is similarly pronounced in single-core R15, where AMD posts 170 versus Intel's 117, a 31.2% lead. These are substantial, unambiguous wins for the mobile part, reflecting a generational leap in per-thread performance and multi-threaded throughput in that specific workload.

However, the story flips dramatically in Cinebench R23. Here, the Intel Core i5-9500T surges ahead with a multi-core score of 8264, beating the Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073 by 16.8%. The single-core R23 result is effectively a tie: Intel scores 1166, AMD scores 1163, a 0.3% difference that falls within measurement noise. The R23 multi-core reversal is noteworthy, as it suggests the Intel part's sustained performance under a longer, more demanding workload is superior to AMD's, likely due to thermal and power management differences between the desktop and mobile designs.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the database lists additional scores for the i5-9500T that have no direct AMD counterpart in the head-to-head set. The Intel chip records a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 3470 and a single-core score of 489, alongside Geekbench multi-core and single-core results of 4407 and 1198, respectively. The Ryzen 5 4680U lacks corresponding R20 and Geekbench entries in the provided data, so those comparisons cannot be drawn. The average benchmark score across all tests favors Intel slightly: the i5-9500T sits at 2493, while the Ryzen 5 4680U sits at 2424. Both parts occupy nearly identical percentiles among all CPUs, with Intel at the 49th percentile and AMD at the 48th.

The nearest rival data contextualizes these scores. The i5-9500T's average of 2493 places it within 0.7% of the Intel Core i3-12100TE (2475), and it trails the Intel Core i5-1155G7 (2496) by just 0.1%. The AMD part's average of 2424 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-8500B (2423), and it sits 0.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U (2413). These proximity figures reinforce that both CPUs are mid-pack performers, not outliers in either direction.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of two processors with distinct strengths. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the decisive winner in older Cinebench R15 workloads, both multi-core and single-core, with margins exceeding 30%. This indicates a strong advantage in legacy applications and lightly threaded tasks that rely on that benchmark's characteristics. The Intel Core i5-9500T, however, wins the more modern Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 16.8%, which is a substantial margin that suggests better sustained performance under prolonged, heavy multi-threaded loads. The R23 single-core result is a dead heat.

For a user prioritizing modern multi-threaded rendering or encoding workloads, the Intel Core i5-9500T is the better choice based on its R23 multi-core lead. For scenarios involving older software benchmarks or single-threaded responsiveness as measured by R15, the Ryzen 5 4680U is superior. The i5-9500T also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (2493 versus 2424), but the difference is modest. The AMD part, being a 15-watt mobile chip, achieves its R15 dominance within a much lower power envelope, which is a critical consideration for portable devices. The Intel part, a 35-watt desktop processor, trades that efficiency for a stronger showing in the newer R23 multi-core test. The verdict is workload-dependent: pick Intel for modern multi-core performance, pick AMD for legacy benchmark strength and single-core R15 speed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing nodes. The Intel Core i5-9500T is built on Intel's 14 nm process and uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. It features 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The chip is a desktop part with a 35-watt TDP, socketed into Intel Socket 1151. It supports DDR4 memory through a dual-channel bus, delivering 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. It integrates UHD Graphics 630 and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The part number is SRF4D, and it was released in 2018.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is a fundamentally different design. It uses TSMC's 7 nm process, a smaller node that enables higher transistor density. The chip contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, compared to the Intel part's unspecified transistor count and die size. It is based on the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, part of the Ryzen 5 4000 series. It also has 6 cores but doubles the thread count to 12 thanks to simultaneous multithreading. The base clock is identical at 2.20 GHz, but the boost clock is higher at 4.00 GHz. This is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, designed for AMD Socket FP6. It supports LPDDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a lower memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The cache hierarchy features 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core (double Intel's per-core L2), and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics with 448SP. It has PCIe Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The part number is 100-000000356, and it was released in 2021.

The most significant architectural distinctions are the process node (14 nm versus 7 nm), thread count (6 versus 12), and TDP (35 watts versus 15 watts). The AMD part's smaller node and doubled threads explain its R15 dominance, while the Intel part's higher TDP and desktop socket likely contribute to its R23 multi-core win. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both lack an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-9500T boosts to 3.70 GHz.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-9500T scores 8264, which is 16.8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500T supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U supports LPDDR4 with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has 12 threads (6 cores with SMT), while the Intel Core i5-9500T has 6 threads (6 cores without SMT).

Q: Are there any benchmark results where the two are nearly tied?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i5-9500T scores 1166 and the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1163, a 0.3% difference.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500T uses Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U uses TSMC's 7 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins in legacy benchmark scenarios. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1291 is 35.6% higher than Intel's 832, and its R15 single-core score of 170 is 31.2% higher than Intel's 117. This makes it the preferred choice for applications that are heavily reliant on older rendering engines or single-threaded performance as measured by that benchmark. The 12 threads and higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz give it a clear edge in these specific workloads. It also achieves these results within a 15-watt TDP, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is paramount.

The Intel Core i5-9500T wins in modern multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8264 beats AMD's 7073 by 16.8%, indicating superior sustained performance under a longer, more demanding load. The 35-watt desktop TDP and larger shared L3 cache of 9 MB (versus 8 MB) likely contribute to this outcome. The R23 single-core result is a virtual tie, so Intel's win there is negligible. For users running current rendering, video encoding, or compilation tasks that scale across cores, the i5-9500T is the stronger performer. Its higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s also gives it an advantage in memory-intensive applications, though the AMD part's lower bandwidth is offset by its higher thread count in other scenarios.

In terms of overall average benchmark score, the Intel Core i5-9500T edges ahead at 2493 versus 2424, a 2.8% difference. Both parts are near the 48th to 49th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are solid mid-range options. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the i5-1155G7 and i3-12100TE, while the AMD chip's closest competitors are the i5-8500B and i7-9850HE. The data suggests that for a desktop user prioritizing modern multi-core performance, the i5-9500T is the better buy, while for a mobile user prioritizing legacy benchmark speed and power efficiency, the Ryzen 5 4680U is the clear winner.