AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Core i7-9850HE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and Intel Core i7-9850HE are both six-core, twelve-thread mobile processors aimed at the same performance tier, yet they deliver starkly different results depending on the workload. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—2424 for the AMD part against 2421 for the Intel part—placing both at the 48th percentile of all CPUs. This makes for a genuinely competitive head-to-head, but the path each chip takes to that average reveals profound architectural and real-world performance differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a split personality across the two Cinebench versions, with each processor dominating one generation of the test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U posts a decisive 1291 points against the Intel Core i7-9850HE’s 843 points. That is a 53.1% advantage for AMD—a massive margin that underscores how well the Zen 2 architecture scales across all six cores in this older benchmark. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: AMD wins 170 to 119, a 42.9% lead. These are not narrow victories; they are generational gaps in efficiency and instruction throughput.

The tables turn completely in Cinebench R23. Here, the Intel Core i7-9850HE takes the multicore crown with 8370 points versus AMD’s 7073 points, a 15.5% swing in Intel’s favor. The single-core R23 result is far closer: Intel edges ahead 1181 to 1163, a mere 1.5% difference. This reversal is striking because the R15 and R23 tests both measure the same fundamental capability—rendering performance—yet they reward different aspects of each chip’s design. The R23 multicore result suggests that under sustained, modern multi-threaded loads, the Intel part’s higher thermal headroom and clock behavior allow it to pull ahead, despite its older 14 nm process.

Summing up the head-to-head, each chip claims two wins out of four tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins the R15 pair by enormous margins, while the Intel Core i7-9850HE wins the R23 pair, with its multicore victory being substantial and its single-core win being nearly negligible. The average benchmark scores of 2424 versus 2421 reflect this balance, with the delta between them at just 0.1%. This is a statistical tie overall, but the distribution of performance is anything but even.

Architecture Differences

The underlying designs could not be more different. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node, packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. It uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, part of the 4000 series. The Intel Core i7-9850HE, by contrast, is fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm node with a 149 mm² die, using the older Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake-HR codename. The process node gap alone—7 nm versus 14 nm—explains much of the efficiency disparity, as AMD achieves its R15 dominance with a 15 W TDP against Intel’s 45 W TDP.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. Both chips share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: AMD provides 512 KB per core, while Intel provides only 256 KB per core. The L3 cache flips the equation, with Intel offering 9 MB shared versus AMD’s 8 MB shared. This means AMD has a larger total per-core cache for fast-access data, while Intel has a slightly larger pool of last-level cache for shared workloads. Memory support also differs: AMD uses LPDDR4 with dual-channel support and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a higher 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The 8.6 GB/s bandwidth advantage for Intel could contribute to its R23 multicore lead in memory-sensitive workloads.

The integrated graphics are another differentiator. AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Graphics featuring 448 shader processors, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 630. Neither is a discrete-class solution, but the AMD iGPU has a higher shader count, suggesting better integrated graphics throughput. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3, neither supports ECC memory, and both are multiplier-unlocked, meaning they cannot be overclocked via the multiplier. The sockets differ—AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 1440—making them platform-incompatible. The AMD part carries part number 100-000000356, while the Intel part is SRFED.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has a marginally higher average benchmark score of 2424, compared to the Intel Core i7-9850HE’s 2421. The delta between them is just 0.1%, making them effectively equal in overall performance.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win Cinebench R15 by such a large margin?

A: In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1291 against Intel’s 843, a 53.1% advantage. In single-core R15, AMD leads 170 to 119, a 42.9% margin. This suggests the Zen 2 architecture delivers substantially higher instructions-per-clock and better core scaling in this older test.

Q: What explains the Intel chip’s victory in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HE scores 8370 in R23 multicore versus AMD’s 7073, a 15.5% lead. In R23 single-core, Intel wins narrowly at 1181 versus 1163, a 1.5% edge. The larger L3 cache (9 MB versus 8 MB) and higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s) may contribute to Intel’s stronger showing under this newer, more demanding workload.

Q: How do their thermal and power profiles compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has a 15 W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-9850HE has a 45 W TDP. This threefold difference in thermal design power means AMD achieves its performance at a fraction of the power envelope, which is critical for mobile chassis design.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and the Intel Core i7-9850HE have locked multipliers, preventing user overclocking via multiplier adjustment. Their performance is fixed as shipped.

Q: What is the production status of these chips?

A: Both processors are end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U was released on 2021-04-12, while the Intel Core i7-9850HE has no listed release date in the data.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the pick for legacy or lightly threaded workloads where its Cinebench R15 dominance—53.1% multicore and 42.9% single-core—translates into substantial real-world speedups. Its 7 nm process and 15 W TDP make it dramatically more power-efficient, allowing thinner and cooler laptops without sacrificing performance in older applications. For users running software that behaves like the R15 test, the AMD part is unequivocally faster.

The Intel Core i7-9850HE is the choice for modern, sustained multi-threaded workloads that resemble Cinebench R23. Its 15.5% multicore lead indicates better endurance under prolonged load, likely aided by its larger L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth. The single-core R23 result is a near-tie, so Intel’s advantage is purely in the multi-threaded domain. However, this comes at the cost of a 45 W TDP, meaning it demands more robust cooling and battery capacity.

For the average user, the overall average benchmark scores are too close to call—2424 versus 2421 is a rounding error. The decision hinges on whether the software stack is older (favoring AMD) or newer and more demanding (favoring Intel). Given that both are end-of-life mobile parts, platform availability and thermal design will likely dictate the practical choice, but the benchmark data shows no universal winner.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 4680U | Intel Core i7-9850HE |

|-------|-------------------|----------------------|

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Coffee Lake-HR |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 149 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 448SP | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Part Number | 100-000000356 | SRFED |

| Release Date | 2021-04-12 | Not listed |