AMD Ryzen 5 5560U vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700E and AMD Ryzen 5 5560U are two very different processors that nonetheless land in the same performance tier. The data shows a split decision: the Ryzen 5 5560U wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks (4 out of 6), while the Core i7-9700E takes the two most demanding multi-threaded tests. Both chips sit at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 3197 for the Intel versus 3162 for the AMD. This is a classic case where the aggregate score hides a wide variance in workload-specific behavior.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-9700E scores 10613 against the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U's 7667. That is a 38.4% advantage for Intel, the largest delta in any test. This is a substantial margin, indicating that in heavily threaded, sustained workloads, the Intel part pulls far ahead. The Core i7-9700E also wins Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1498 versus 1260, a 18.9% lead for Intel. This suggests that in the newer Cinebench workloads, Intel's architecture handles the instructions more efficiently, even though the AMD part has a higher boost clock in the data (4.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz for Intel).

However, the story reverses in the other tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1280 versus Intel's 1069, a 16.5% deficit for Intel. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: AMD scores 202 against Intel's 150, a 25.7% gap. These older Cinebench versions show a completely different hierarchy, with AMD taking a clear lead. The Geekbench results also favor AMD. In multi-core, the Ryzen 5 5560U scores 6922 versus 5661 for Intel, an 18.2% difference. In single-core Geekbench, AMD wins 1642 to 1497, an 8.8% margin.

The pattern here is striking: Intel wins decisively in Cinebench R23 (both multi and single core), while AMD wins everywhere else. The Cinebench R15 results are the opposite of R23, which suggests that the benchmarks themselves are measuring different aspects of the chips' capabilities. The Intel part's 8 cores and 8 threads (versus AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads) likely explains the R23 multi-core win, as that test scales well with physical cores. But the AMD chip's simultaneous multithreading (SMT) appears to help it in the older R15 test, where Intel's lack of SMT becomes a liability. Overall, the data shows that the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U has the higher average benchmark score (3162 versus 3197 for Intel, a negligible 1.1% difference), but the per-test deltas range from -25.7% to +38.4%, making this a matchup where workload selection is critical.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from entirely different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-9700E is a desktop part built on the Coffee Lake architecture, using a 14 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U is a mobile processor using the Zen 3 architecture, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The process node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm, which explains why the AMD chip can fit 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while Intel's larger 14 nm die is also 180.3 mm² but has no transistor count listed. The AMD chip's die is slightly smaller at 180 mm².

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the L2 cache differs: Intel has 256 KB per core, while AMD has 512 KB per core, doubling the L2 capacity. The L3 cache is larger on Intel: 12 MB shared versus 8 MB shared on AMD. This means Intel has more aggregate cache (12 MB + 2 MB L2 = 14 MB) versus AMD (8 MB + 3 MB L2 = 11 MB), but AMD's per-core L2 is more generous, which can benefit latency-sensitive workloads.

The memory subsystems are similar in type (both support DDR4, dual-channel), but AMD has a higher memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for Intel. AMD also supports ECC memory, while Intel does not. PCIe support is another differentiator: Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD offers Gen 3 with only 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different as well: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 6. The AMD chip is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, whereas the Intel desktop chip has a 65 W TDP, reflecting their different market segments (Mobile versus Desktop). Intel's socket is Socket 1151, AMD's is Socket FP6. Intel's production status is End-of-life, while AMD's is Active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has an average benchmark score of 3197, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U has 3162. The difference is roughly 1%, with Intel slightly ahead.

Q: Why does the Intel chip win Cinebench R23 multi-core by so much?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E scores 10613 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 38.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U's 7667. This is likely due to Intel's 8 physical cores (versus AMD's 6), as this benchmark scales well with core count.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD chip have its biggest win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U's largest win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 202 versus Intel's 150, a 25.7% margin.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of threads?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 threads (8 cores, no SMT), while the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U has 12 threads (6 cores with SMT).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-9700E does not.

Q: How do these chips compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-9700E's 42.7 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel's base clock is 2.60 GHz versus AMD's 2.30 GHz, and Intel's boost clock is 4.40 GHz versus AMD's 4.00 GHz. The TDP is a major split: Intel is 65 W, AMD is 15 W. The socket is different (Intel Socket 1151 versus AMD Socket FP6). The process node is different: Intel uses 14 nm from its own foundry, while AMD uses 7 nm from TSMC. The transistor count is only listed for AMD (10,700 million), and the die sizes are nearly identical (180.3 mm² for Intel, 180 mm² for AMD). L2 cache is 256 KB per core on Intel versus 512 KB per core on AMD. L3 cache is 12 MB shared on Intel versus 8 MB shared on AMD. Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for Intel versus 51.2 GB/s for AMD. ECC memory support is absent on Intel and present on AMD. PCIe lanes are 16 on Intel versus 8 on AMD. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 on Intel versus Radeon Vega 6 on AMD. The market segment is Desktop for Intel and Mobile for AMD. Production status is End-of-life for Intel and Active for AMD. The release dates differ by nearly two years: Intel launched in April 2019, AMD in January 2021.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9700E wins in the Cinebench R23 tests, both multi-core and single-core. The multi-core win is substantial (38.4%), making this the clear choice for workloads that resemble R23's rendering and ray-tracing patterns. The single-core R23 win (18.9%) is also notable, suggesting that Intel's architecture is more efficient in this specific workload. These wins indicate that the Intel part is better suited for modern rendering tasks that use the R23 instruction set, particularly those that can utilize its 8 physical cores.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U wins in all other benchmarks: Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, and Geekbench multi-core and single-core. The R15 single-core win is the largest (25.7%), followed by Geekbench multi-core (18.2%), R15 multi-core (16.5%), and Geekbench single-core (8.8%). This suggests that AMD's Zen 3 architecture is better at handling the older Cinebench R15 workloads and the Geekbench suite. The fact that AMD wins both multi-core and single-core in these tests indicates a more balanced advantage across different types of instructions. The AMD chip also has a higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s) and supports ECC memory, which could be advantages in data-intensive or error-sensitive applications. Its 15 W TDP also makes it far more power-efficient, though no power consumption figures are available in the data.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear trade-off. If the workload is centered on Cinebench R23-style rendering, the Intel Core i7-9700E is the superior choice, with a 38.4% multi-core lead and an 18.9% single-core lead. This makes it the pick for users running modern rendering or 3D modeling tasks that leverage R23's specific code paths. The Intel chip's 8 physical cores and higher boost clock (4.40 GHz) appear to give it an edge in this benchmark.

For everything else in the data, the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U is the winner. It leads in Cinebench R15 (both multi-core and single-core) and in Geekbench (both multi-core and single-core), with margins ranging from 8.8% to 25.7%. The AMD chip also offers higher memory bandwidth, ECC support, and a dramatically lower TDP (15 W versus 65 W). Its active production status and newer release date (January 2021 versus April 2019) mean it is still a current product, while the Intel part is end-of-life. The average benchmark scores are nearly tied (3197 versus 3162), but the AMD chip wins the majority of tests. For a balanced workload that includes general productivity, legacy applications, and Geekbench-style tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U is the better choice. The Intel Core i7-9700E is only preferable when the specific Cinebench R23 rendering workload is the primary use case.