AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Core i5-9600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results between the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and the Intel Core i5-9600 reveal a split personality, with each processor claiming decisive victories in different workload categories. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U posts a commanding 1291 score against the Intel Core i5-9600's 820, a 57.4% advantage. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and it signals that the Ryzen's 12 threads versus the Core i5's 6 threads make a massive difference in heavily threaded rendering tasks from that era.

The single-core results in Cinebench R15 are equally one-sided in AMD's favor, though the gap narrows in percentage terms. The Ryzen 5 4680U scores 170, while the Core i5-9600 scores 115, giving AMD a 47.8% lead. This is surprising because the Core i5-9600 has a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz compared to the Ryzen's 4.00 GHz. The database shows that raw clock speed alone does not dictate single-thread performance; the Zen 2 architecture's efficiency appears to overcome the clock deficit.

However, the story flips dramatically in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i5-9600 takes the win with 8141 points versus the Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073 points, a 13.1% deficit for AMD. This reversal is notable: the Ryzen wins the older R15 multi-core test by a landslide but loses the R23 multi-core test. The data suggests that the R23 workload scales differently with memory bandwidth, cache architecture, or instruction-level parallelism, and the Intel chip's 9 MB of shared L3 cache and 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth may provide an advantage in this specific rendering scenario.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U edges out the Intel Core i5-9600 with a 1163 score versus 1149, a narrow 1.2% victory. This is the tightest margin in the head-to-head set, showing that the two processors are almost identical in modern single-threaded performance despite their architectural differences. Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins 3 out of 4 head-to-head benchmarks, but the one loss is significant because it comes in the most demanding and current multi-threaded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has an average benchmark score of 2424, while the Intel Core i5-9600 has an average score of 2354. This gives the AMD chip a modest edge in aggregate performance across the database's recorded measurements.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of their percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: Both processors sit at the 48th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Despite their architectural and performance differences, they are positioned in the same percentile tier, meaning neither is a clear outlier relative to the broader CPU landscape.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U leads the Intel Core i5-9600 by 57.4%. This is more than four times larger than the next biggest gap, which is the 47.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-9600 outperform the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U?

A: The Intel Core i5-9600 wins only in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 8141 against the Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073, a 13.1% advantage. This is the sole benchmark in the head-to-head set where Intel comes out ahead.

Q: Are the two processors comparable in single-threaded performance in the latest test?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1163 and the Intel Core i5-9600 scores 1149, a difference of just 1.2%. The database shows that for this specific workload, the two are nearly indistinguishable.

Q: What do the nearest rival comparisons reveal about each processor's standing?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8500B with an average score of 2423 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U with 2413 (0.5% delta). The Intel Core i5-9600's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X with 2361 (-0.3% delta) and the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 with 2348 (0.3% delta). This suggests the Ryzen 5 4680U sits slightly higher in the performance hierarchy than the Core i5-9600.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node, while the Intel Core i5-9600 uses Intel's 14 nm process. This process difference is fundamental: the 7 nm node allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, whereas the database does not list transistor or die size data for the Intel chip. The Ryzen 5 4680U uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, while the Intel Core i5-9600 uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake Refresh generation.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. Both processors have 6 physical cores, but the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U supports 12 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel Core i5-9600 has only 6 threads with no hyper-threading. This explains the Ryzen's massive 57.4% win in the R15 multi-core test, as it can process twice as many threads simultaneously.

Cache configurations also diverge. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-9600 has the same 64 KB L1 cache per core but only 256 KB of L2 cache per core, paired with 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has more total L3 cache, which may contribute to its R23 multi-core advantage.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U supports LPDDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-9600 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a higher 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. This memory bandwidth difference could be a factor in the R23 multi-core results, where the Intel chip pulls ahead despite having fewer threads.

The integrated graphics also differ: the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U includes Radeon Graphics with 448SP, while the Intel Core i5-9600 includes UHD 630. The AMD chip's socket is AMD Socket FP6, designed for mobile, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151 for desktop. The Ryzen 5 4680U has a 15 W TDP, whereas the Core i5-9600 has a 65 W TDP, reflecting their different market segments and thermal envelopes.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. For users focused on Cinebench R15 workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the dominant choice, leading by 57.4% in multi-core and 47.8% in single-core. Its 12 threads give it a massive advantage in older rendering tasks, and it also wins the R23 single-core test by a narrow 1.2%. The Ryzen 5 4680U also has a higher average benchmark score (2424 versus 2354) and wins 3 out of 4 head-to-head benchmarks.

However, for users running Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-9600 is the better performer, with a 13.1% lead. This is the only benchmark where Intel wins, but it is also the most modern and demanding test in the comparison. The fact that the Intel chip wins this specific workload despite having half the threads suggests that its higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s) and larger L3 cache (9 MB versus 8 MB) provide tangible benefits in this rendering scenario.

The database places both processors at the 48th percentile, meaning they are statistically similar in overall standing. The choice ultimately depends on whether the user prioritizes the older R15 tests, where AMD wins decisively, or the newer R23 multi-core test, where Intel excels. Given that the AMD chip wins more benchmarks and has a higher average score, the data slightly favors the Ryzen 5 4680U as an all-rounder, but the Intel Core i5-9600 is the clear pick for R23 multi-core workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-9600 has 6 threads. The base clock is 2.20 GHz for AMD versus 3.10 GHz for Intel, and the boost clock is 4.00 GHz for AMD versus 4.50 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 15 W for AMD versus 65 W for Intel, reflecting the mobile versus desktop market segments.

The process node is 7 nm for AMD versus 14 nm for Intel. The AMD chip's cache includes 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB per core for Intel, and 8 MB shared L3 versus 9 MB shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR4 for AMD versus DDR4 for Intel, with memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. The socket is AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel Socket 1151, and the integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics 448SP versus UHD 630.

The release dates differ by over two years: the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U was released on 2021-04-12, while the Intel Core i5-9600 was released on 2018-10-18. The part numbers are 100-000000356 for AMD and SR3X2 for Intel. Both processors have locked multipliers, use PCIe Gen 3, and do not support ECC memory. The AMD chip is built on the Zen 2 Renoir architecture, while the Intel chip uses Coffee Lake.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins in three of the four head-to-head benchmarks. Its biggest victory is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1291 versus 820, a 57.4% lead. This is a workload where the 12 threads versus 6 threads advantage is fully realized. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 47.8% (170 versus 115), which is surprising given the Intel chip's higher boost clock. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip wins by a slim 1.2% (1163 versus 1149), showing that its Zen 2 architecture is competitive even in modern single-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i5-9600 wins in exactly one benchmark: Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its score of 8141 versus 7073 represents a 13.1% advantage. This is the most demanding test in the comparison, and the Intel chip's higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s) and larger L3 cache (9 MB) appear to be decisive factors. The data suggests that for users running modern multi-threaded renders, the Intel chip is the stronger choice, despite its lack of hyper-threading.

For users running older Cinebench R15 tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is overwhelmingly better. For users running the latest Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Intel Core i5-9600 is the better option. The AMD chip also has a higher average benchmark score (2424 versus 2354), meaning that across all recorded measurements, it performs slightly better on average. Ultimately, the Ryzen 5 4680U is the more versatile processor, but the Core i5-9600 has a specific strength in modern multi-threaded rendering that cannot be ignored.