AMD Ryzen 5 5500U vs Intel Core i7-8750H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U and Intel Core i7-8750H are both six-core, twelve-thread mobile processors, but they come from different eras and design philosophies. The Ryzen 5 5500U is a 7nm Zen 2 part from 2021, while the Core i7-8750H is a 14nm Coffee Lake-H chip from 2018. In head-to-head testing, the AMD chip wins 12 of 17 benchmarks, while the Intel chip takes 5. This article breaks down where each processor excels, the architectural differences, and which one suits which workload.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U takes the majority of wins, including all Passmark math and encryption tests, Cinebench R15 both single and multi-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. The Intel Core i7-8750H wins Cinebench R23 multi-core, both Geekbench tests, Passmark physics, and Passmark find prime numbers. The margins tell a story: AMD's wins are often large, such as a 207.1% lead in data encryption, while Intel's wins are mostly narrow, with the largest being 13.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Looking at the specific tests, AMD dominates in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithread, random string sorting, and single-thread performance. It also wins Cinebench R15 by a wide margin in both single and multi-core. Intel's wins are concentrated in physics simulation, prime number finding, and the two Geekbench tests, plus the modern Cinebench R23 multi-core render test. The overall win count is 12 for AMD and 5 for Intel, making AMD the clear leader in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different nodes. AMD uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while Intel uses a 14 nm process from its own fabs. This leads to a transistor count of 9,800 million for AMD, while Intel's transistor count is not specified. The die sizes are similar: 156 mm² for AMD and 149 mm² for Intel. Cache layouts differ: AMD has 512 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3, while Intel has 256 KB of L2 per core and 12 MB of shared L3. The TDP is a major difference: AMD is rated at 15W, Intel at 45W. This suggests AMD is designed for thinner, lighter laptops, while Intel targets higher-performance notebooks.

The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon Graphics with 448 SPs, Intel uses UHD 630. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but AMD specifies dual-channel and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel does not list memory bus details. AMD also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 12 lanes, while Intel does not specify. Production status: AMD is active, Intel is end-of-life. Release dates: AMD January 2021, Intel April 2018. Sockets are also different: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 1440. These architectural differences explain why the two chips perform so differently across workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Starting with AMD's largest victory, the Passmark data encryption test shows a score of 10405 against Intel's 3388, a 207.1% advantage. This is a massive gap. In Cinebench R15, AMD leads by 49.5% in multi-core (1247 vs 834) and 51.3% in single-core (177 vs 117). The Passmark multithread test gives AMD a 30.9% lead (12831 vs 9799). Integer math is 27% higher (45258 vs 35629), and extended instructions are 25.5% higher (10838 vs 8637). Data compression is 25.2% higher (174584 vs 139418). Floating point math is 17.4% higher (26029 vs 22179). Single-thread performance is 6.3% higher (2419 vs 2276). Random string sorting is 2.2% higher (19035 vs 18622). Cinebench R23 single-core is nearly tied, with AMD ahead by 0.3% (1172 vs 1168).

On the Intel side, the biggest win is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 8274 against AMD's 7186, a 13.1% lead. Passmark physics shows Intel ahead by 11.8% (604 vs 533). Find prime numbers is a narrow 3.7% lead (27 vs 26). Geekbench multi-core is a 0.3% lead (4978 vs 4965), and single-core is 1.3% lead (1309 vs 1292). The data shows that AMD dominates in encryption, compression, and math workloads, while Intel holds an edge in physics simulation and prime number finding. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is notable because it is a modern render test, but AMD's R15 multi-core win is even larger, suggesting different scaling behavior between the two tests.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is the stronger overall processor for most tasks. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, often by substantial margins. Its lower TDP of 15W compared to Intel's 45W also makes it a more practical choice for thin-and-light laptops. The Intel Core i7-8750H is still competitive in specific areas: physics simulation, prime number finding, and slightly in Geekbench and Cinebench R23 multi-core. If your primary workload involves those specific tasks, the Intel chip may be worth considering. However, for general computing, encryption, compression, and math-heavy applications, the AMD chip is clearly ahead. Additionally, the AMD chip is still in production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life, which may affect availability and support. For most users, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is the better pick.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U has 8 MB.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U has a TDP of 15W, while the Intel Core i7-8750H has a TDP of 45W.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U boosts to 4.00 GHz.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests, and the Intel Core i7-8750H wins 5.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U was released on 2021-01-11, while the Intel Core i7-8750H was released on 2018-04-01.

Q: What are the process nodes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U is built on a 7 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-8750H uses a 14 nm process.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | Intel Core i7-8750H |

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

| Series | 5000 series | Not specified |

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 15W | 45W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Lucienne | Coffee Lake-H |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 2 (Lucienne)) | Core i7 (Coffee Lake-H) |

| Process node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not specified |

| Die size | 156 mm² | 149 mm² |

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 256 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 8 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Not specified |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Not specified |

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

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2021-01-11 | 2018-04-01 |

| Part number | 100-000000375 | SR3YY |