AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core i7-8700K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Core i7-8700K are both six-core, twelve-thread desktop processors, but they represent very different eras of silicon. The data shows a decisive shift in performance, with the newer AMD part winning 18 of the 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The single Intel victory, in PassMark random string sorting, is a narrow 2% margin, suggesting a specific workload where the older architecture retains a small edge. The scale of AMD's wins in compute-heavy tasks is substantial, making this less of a rivalry and more of a generational statement.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern is the consistency of AMD's advantage across Cinebench and PassMark suites. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 5500 scores 16,429 against the i7-8700K's 11,527, a 42.5% lead. This is not an isolated result; the Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests show nearly identical margins of 42.6% and 42.5% respectively. The single-core Cinebench results tell the same story, with the Ryzen 5 5500 leading by 42.9% in R15 and 42.5% in both R20 and R23. These are not marginal improvements; they represent a massive uplift in both lightly-threaded and fully-threaded rendering performance.

The PassMark suite reveals where the architectural changes have the largest impact. The Ryzen 5 5500's lead in integer math is 41.6%, scoring 65,001 versus 45,892. Floating-point math shows a 29% advantage (36,815 vs. 28,538). Data encryption is the most lopsided result on the entire list, with the Ryzen 5 5500 scoring 14,851 against the i7-8700K's 4,776, a 211% difference. This suggests the Zen 3 core's cryptographic instructions are dramatically more efficient. Data compression also favors AMD, showing a 23.4% lead (245,533 vs. 198,951). The extended instructions test, which often reflects newer SIMD capabilities, shows a 27.5% advantage for the Ryzen part.

The Geekbench results provide a broader view of general-purpose performance. The Ryzen 5 5500 leads by 11.7% in multi-core (7,976 vs. 7,140) and by 9.8% in single-core (1,730 vs. 1,575). These margins are smaller than the Cinebench deltas, indicating that the gap narrows in workloads that are less dependent on raw memory bandwidth or specific instruction throughput. The PassMark multi-thread score of 19,330 for the Ryzen 5 5500 versus 13,576 for the Intel part, a 42.4% difference, reinforces the multi-core trend. Even the PassMark physics test, which often has its own quirks, shows a 10.5% win for AMD (896 vs. 811).

The only Intel victory is in PassMark random string sorting: 25,270 for the i7-8700K versus 24,757 for the Ryzen 5 5500. The 2% delta is small, and it is a workload that likely depends on memory access patterns and branch prediction. It is a single data point that does not suggest any overall superiority for the Intel part. The single-thread PassMark score also goes to AMD, 3,058 versus 2,720, a 12.4% lead. This effectively closes the case on per-core performance, which was once a stronghold for Intel's higher clock speeds.

Architecture Differences

The performance gulf is rooted in fundamentally different designs. The Ryzen 5 5500 uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process node, while the i7-8700K is based on the older Coffee Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm node. The process node difference is a major factor; the 7 nm process allows for more transistors in a similar die area, or lower power for the same performance. The data reflects this efficiency gain. The Ryzen 5 5500 has a 65 W TDP, while the i7-8700K is rated at 95 W, yet the AMD part delivers significantly higher performance. The smaller process node also explains the transistor density: the AMD chip packs 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the Intel part's transistor count is not listed but its die size is 154 mm².

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both parts have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is doubled in the AMD design: 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core on the Intel. The L3 cache is also organized differently. The Ryzen 5 5500 has 16 MB of L3, while the i7-8700K has 12 MB shared. This larger, more modern cache structure likely contributes to the AMD part's lead in data compression and encryption tests, which benefit from larger working sets being held on-die.

Memory bandwidth is another clear differentiator. The Ryzen 5 5500 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, compared to the i7-8700K's 42.7 GB/s. This 20% bandwidth advantage is visible in the multi-core benchmarks, where data throughput is often the limiting factor. Both processors have PCIe Gen 3 support, but the i7-8700K has 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen 5 5500's lane configuration is not specified here. The Intel part includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics, making the i7-8700K a more flexible option for systems without a discrete GPU. The Ryzen 5 5500 is listed as Active production, while the i7-8700K is End-of-life.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 in multi-core rendering?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 leads by 42.5% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,429 vs. 11,527). The margin is consistent across older Cinebench versions, showing a 42.6% lead in R15 and a 42.5% lead in R20.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8700K win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins exactly one of the 19 head-to-head tests: PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 25,270 versus the Ryzen 5 5500's 24,757. This is a 2% margin, which is small and workload-specific.

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between these two CPUs?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark data encryption, where the Ryzen 5 5500 leads by 211% (14,851 vs. 4,776). This indicates a massive advantage in cryptographic workloads, likely due to newer instruction support in the Zen 3 core.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in single-threaded performance?

A: No, the Ryzen 5 5500 is ahead in every single-thread test. It leads by 42.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (233 vs. 163), 42.5% in R23 (2,319 vs. 1,627), and 12.4% in PassMark single-thread (3,058 vs. 2,720).

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i7-8700K also supports dual-channel DDR4, but its theoretical bandwidth is lower at 42.7 GB/s. This difference likely contributes to the AMD part's multi-core lead.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700K has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the Ryzen 5 5500's 4.20 GHz. Despite this clock advantage, the AMD part wins all single-thread benchmarks, demonstrating that IPC (instructions per clock) improvements in Zen 3 outweigh the raw clock speed difference.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 | Intel Core i7-8700K |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 14 nm (Intel) |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 95 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 154 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Launch MSRP | $159 | $359 |

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 5500 is the clear winner in almost every category. It dominates in multi-threaded workloads, as shown by the 42.4% lead in PassMark multi-thread and the consistent 42.5% margins in Cinebench multi-core tests. This makes it the superior choice for video rendering, 3D model compilation, and any other task that scales with all twelve threads. The 211% lead in data encryption and the 23.4% lead in data compression also make it the better pick for security-related tasks, database operations, and file archiving. The 41.6% lead in integer math further cements its position for general coding and scientific computing. Its lower TDP of 65 W versus 95 W also suggests it will be easier to cool in a variety of systems.

The i7-8700K's only win is in random string sorting, which is a niche workload. It also has the advantage of integrated UHD Graphics 630, making it a functional option for a basic desktop without a discrete graphics card. The higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz does not translate into any benchmark wins, but it indicates that the Intel part can sustain high frequencies when power and thermal limits allow. For users with an existing LGA 1151 motherboard, the i7-8700K might be a drop-in upgrade path, but it is End-of-life, so that platform is no longer receiving new processor releases.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is the faster processor in nearly every measurable way. It offers a 42.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 42.9% lead in R15 single-core, making it a generational leap over the i7-8700K. The Ryzen 5 5500 also achieves this with a lower TDP and a smaller process node. The i7-8700K holds a single, narrow win in random string sorting, which is not enough to recommend it for any general-purpose workload. The Intel part's integrated graphics are its only practical advantage, but for anyone using a discrete GPU, that feature is irrelevant.

From a platform perspective, the Ryzen 5 5500's AM4 socket and Active production status mean it is a current, supported product. The i7-8700K is End-of-life, which limits its appeal for new builds. The launch MSRP difference of $159 versus $359 further highlights the value proposition, but even ignoring cost, the benchmark results favor the AMD part overwhelmingly. For any user building a new system or upgrading an existing one, the choice is clear: the Ryzen 5 5500 delivers superior performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks. The i7-8700K is a relic of a previous era, and the data confirms that the Ryzen 5 5500 is the more capable processor in the vast majority of scenarios.