AMD Ryzen 5 5600 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is decisively one-sided. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 wins 14 of the 17 recorded benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U takes only 3. The margin in the AMD victories is often substantial. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 18,309 against the Intel part's 9,674.5, a gap of 47.2%. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where AMD leads by 25% (7,689 vs. 5,765), and in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the lead is 14.1% (1,845 vs. 1,585).

Single-core Cinebench results also favor AMD, though by smaller margins. The Ryzen 5 5600 posts 2,584 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,666 for the Intel chip, a 35.5% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD leads by 25.1% (1,085 vs. 813), and in R15 single-core by 8.3% (260 vs. 238.5). These are consistent wins across all three generations of the Cinebench renderer.

The PassMark suite tells a similar story. The Ryzen 5 5600 wins data compression by 29.6% (251,687 vs. 177,122), data encryption by 27% (15,531 vs. 11,333), and extended instructions by 41.7% (16,993 vs. 9,903). The largest PassMark margin is in find prime numbers, where AMD scores 137 against Intel's 65, a 52.6% deficit for the Core Ultra. Integer math goes to AMD by 15.8% (68,396 vs. 57,564), multithread by 23.9% (21,541 vs. 16,382), physics by 15.6% (1,285 vs. 1,084), and random string sorting by 23.8% (25,943 vs. 19,767).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U's three wins are narrow but notable. It takes floating point math by 3.8% (40,256 vs. 38,778) and single-thread PassMark by 3.6% (3,372 vs. 3,256). The same single-thread score appears twice in the data set, confirming the result. These are the only categories where the Intel part leads, and the margins are far smaller than the AMD victories. The overall benchmark average also reflects this: the Intel chip sits at 21,174 average score with a 75th percentile ranking, while the AMD part averages 20,468 with a 74th percentile. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U at 0.2% higher average score and the AMD EPYC 9454 at 0.2% lower. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V at 0.1% higher and the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G at 0.2% higher.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity workloads. The Cinebench multicore results show a consistent 14% to 47% advantage across R15, R20, and R23. Data-heavy tasks also favor AMD: compression, encryption, integer math, and random string sorting all go to the Ryzen by margins between 15% and 30%. The physics test, which reflects real-time simulation capability, also goes to AMD by 15.6%. For users running rendering, code compilation, or data processing, the recorded data points squarely to the Ryzen 5 5600.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U wins in two specific categories. Floating point math is one, with a 3.8% edge (40,256 vs. 38,778). The other is PassMark single-thread, where Intel leads by 3.6% (3,372 vs. 3,256). These wins are narrow and isolated. The Intel part does not lead in any Cinebench single-core test, nor in any other PassMark workload. Its overall average benchmark score is higher than the AMD part's (21,174 vs. 20,468), but this is driven by the aggregate across all tests, not by dominance in any particular area.

For single-core performance, the data is mixed. AMD wins all three Cinebench single-core tests by 8% to 35%, but Intel wins the PassMark single-thread test by 3.6%. This suggests the Intel part has a slight edge in certain lightweight, latency-sensitive operations, while the AMD part is stronger in sustained single-core rendering workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is a Meteor Lake mobile part built on an Intel 7 nm process. It uses a hybrid architecture with 12 cores and 14 threads, which implies a mix of performance and efficiency cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a Vermeer desktop part based on Zen 3, also fabricated on a 7 nm node, but by TSMC rather than Intel. It uses 6 cores and 12 threads, all based on the same Zen 3 core design.

Cache structures differ considerably. The Intel part has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's larger L3 (32 MB vs. 12 MB) is likely a factor in its strong performance in data compression and encryption, which benefit from larger working sets. The Intel chip's larger L2 per core (2 MB vs. 512 KB) may help in some latency-sensitive workloads, but the benchmark data does not show a clear advantage from this.

The AMD part has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. This is a key architectural difference for system design: the Ryzen 5 5600 requires a discrete GPU, while the Core Ultra 7 155U can drive a display on its own. However, the benchmark data here covers CPU workloads only.

The Intel part supports DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD part supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. Despite the higher theoretical bandwidth in the Intel design, the AMD part wins all memory-sensitive benchmarks in the head-to-head data. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 1.70 GHz for Intel and 3.50 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 4.80 GHz for Intel and 4.40 GHz for AMD. The Intel part can boost higher, but the AMD part has a much higher base clock.

TDP is 15 watts for the Intel mobile part versus 65 watts for the AMD desktop part. This is the single largest specification difference and explains much of the performance gap: the AMD chip is allowed to draw over four times the power. Sockets differ: Intel uses BGA 2049 (soldered), while AMD uses Socket AM4 (socketed). The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking; the Intel part does not.

Memory support differs: Intel uses DDR5, AMD uses DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 89.6 GB/s for Intel versus 51.2 GB/s for AMD. PCIe lanes differ: Intel has 12 Gen 4 lanes, AMD has 20 Gen 4 lanes. The AMD part has ECC support, the Intel part does not. The AMD part has a listed transistor count of 4,150 million and a die size of 74 mm², while the Intel part has no listed transistor count or die size in the database.

Release dates differ: the Intel part launched on December 13, 2023, while the AMD part launched on April 19, 2022. The Intel part launched at $490 MSRP, the AMD part at $199 MSRP. These are the only pricing data available, and they are stated here as launch MSRP values only.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part has more cores, but the AMD part wins the majority of multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 scores 18,309 versus 9,674.5 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, a 47.2% difference. The second largest is in PassMark find prime numbers, where AMD leads by 52.6% (137 vs. 65).

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins three of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests: PassMark floating point math by 3.8% (40,256 vs. 38,778), and PassMark single-thread by 3.6% (3,372 vs. 3,256, recorded twice).

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U includes Arc Xe-LPG 64EU integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD part consumes over four times the power, which correlates with its higher performance in most benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U does not, according to the database.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the faster processor in nearly every measured workload. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench multicore and single-core tests, all major PassMark data workloads, and the physics test. The margins in its favor are often large, ranging from 14.1% to 52.6%. The only categories where the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U leads are floating point math and PassMark single-thread, both by margins under 4%.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, or integer math, the Ryzen 5 5600 is the clear choice based on recorded benchmark scores. Its 6 cores and 12 threads outperform the Intel part's 12 cores and 14 threads in these workloads, likely due to its higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs. 1.70 GHz) and larger L3 cache (32 MB vs. 12 MB).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U's advantages are in power efficiency and integrated graphics. Its 15-watt TDP is a fraction of the AMD part's 65 watts, and it includes Arc Xe-LPG 64EU graphics, which the AMD part lacks. These features make it suitable for compact or battery-powered systems where a discrete GPU is not an option. However, the benchmark data shows that in raw CPU performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the superior part by a wide margin.

The overall average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 21,174 versus 20,468 for AMD, but this aggregate is skewed by the Intel part's higher percentile ranking (75th vs. 74th) and its inclusion of PassMark scores where it performs well. The head-to-head comparison, which uses identical test conditions, is the more reliable guide, and it favors AMD decisively.

Buyers who need maximum CPU throughput in desktop workloads should choose the AMD Ryzen 5 5600. Buyers who need a low-power processor with integrated graphics and are willing to accept significantly lower multi-threaded performance should consider the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U. The recorded data does not support any other conclusion.