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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U and AMD Ryzen 5 5600G occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance hierarchy, with average benchmark scores of 21174 and 21088, respectively. This places the Intel part in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip sits just one point behind in the 74th percentile. The data reveals a fascinating clash between a modern, low-power mobile processor and a desktop chip built on older architecture, with each dominating distinct workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking single-core result belongs to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 1666 against the AMD’s 1409. That is an 18.2% advantage, a decisive margin that underscores Intel’s architectural efficiency in lightly threaded tasks. The gap narrows in Cinebench R15 single-core, where Intel wins by a slimmer 4.6% (238.5 vs 228), but the pattern is consistent: Intel’s single-thread performance is superior across both Cinebench iterations.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G answers back forcefully in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it posts 10551 versus Intel’s 9674.5, an 8.3% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar 8.1% advantage (1724 vs 1585). This is not a marginal difference; the AMD chip’s higher base clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to Intel’s 1.70 GHz, appears to translate directly into sustained multi-threaded throughput.

PassMark’s suite further amplifies the split. AMD wins data compression by a massive 29% (249302 vs 177122), data encryption by 25.7% (15247 vs 11333), and extended instructions by 42.9% (17334 vs 9903). The extended instructions result is particularly lopsided, suggesting AMD’s Zen 3 cores handle AVX-type workloads with far greater efficiency. AMD also takes integer math by 14.5% (67344 vs 57564), multithread by 16.9% (19717 vs 16382), and random string sorting by 22% (25354 vs 19767).

Intel, however, claims the remaining PassMark disciplines. It wins floating-point math by 6.4% (40256 vs 37830), find prime numbers by 14% (65 vs 57), physics by 20.4% (1084 vs 900), and single-thread by 6.1% (3372 vs 3177). The physics result is intriguing—Intel’s 20.4% lead suggests its memory controller or cache hierarchy provides an edge in simulation-style loads, despite AMD’s overall multi-core dominance.

The final tally is 8 wins for AMD and 7 for Intel across the 15 shared benchmarks. Yet the margins tell a richer story: AMD’s wins are often blowouts (29%, 42.9%), while Intel’s victories, except for Cinebench R23 single-core, are more modest. This asymmetry matters for workload-specific recommendations.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is the clear choice for data-heavy, parallelized tasks. Its 29% lead in data compression and 25.7% lead in data encryption point to strong integer throughput and memory bandwidth utilization, despite its lower memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus Intel’s 89.6 GB/s. The 42.9% margin in extended instructions is decisive for scientific computing or media encoding that leverages SIMD. For users running Cinebench-style renders, the 8.3% multi-core advantage makes AMD the better pick for productivity.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U excels in single-threaded responsiveness and specific niche workloads. Its 18.2% Cinebench R23 single-core lead translates to snappier application launch and lighter coding tasks. The 20.4% physics win suggests advantages in gaming physics simulations or CAD-style calculations. Intel’s 6.1% single-thread PassMark score reinforces this, though the margin is smaller than the Cinebench delta.

Notably, AMD wins the PassMark multithread test by 16.9%, but Intel wins PassMark floating-point math by 6.4%. This indicates AMD’s strength lies in integer-heavy parallel workloads, while Intel handles floating-point arrays more gracefully. The prime numbers test, where Intel wins by 14%, is a classic measure of raw integer loop performance—Intel’s higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus AMD’s 4.40 GHz likely explains this.

Architecture Differences

The two processors take fundamentally different design paths. Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155U is built on the Meteor Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 7 nm process. It packs 12 cores and 14 threads, using a hybrid design that presumably balances performance and efficiency cores. The cache layout is generous per core: 112 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 4 with 12 lanes.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600G uses the Zen 3 architecture (Cezanne codename), also on a 7 nm node but fabricated by TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads—half the core count of Intel but with simultaneous multithreading. The cache is smaller per core (64 KB L1, 512 KB L2) but the shared L3 is larger at 16 MB. Memory support is DDR4, also dual-channel, at 51.2 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes. AMD’s die size is 180 mm² with 10,700 million transistors, while Intel’s die size and transistor count are unspecified.

These differences have direct performance implications. Intel’s higher memory bandwidth (89.6 vs 51.2 GB/s) likely contributes to its floating-point wins, while AMD’s larger L3 cache (16 vs 12 MB) helps with data compression and encryption, which often exceed L2 capacity. The core count disparity (12 vs 6) is offset by AMD’s higher base clock (3.90 vs 1.70 GHz), explaining why AMD wins multi-core despite fewer threads. Intel’s boost clock of 4.80 GHz exceeds AMD’s 4.40 GHz, aligning with Intel’s single-core victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U wins in all single-core tests. It leads by 18.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1666 vs 1409) and by 6.1% in PassMark single-thread (3372 vs 3177).

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: Yes. The AMD chip scores 10551 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus Intel’s 9674.5, an 8.3% advantage. It also wins PassMark multithread by 16.9% (19717 vs 16382).

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: Intel supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. Despite lower bandwidth, AMD wins data compression by 29% and encryption by 25.7%, suggesting cache efficiency matters more.

Q: What explains Intel’s physics benchmark lead?

A: Intel wins PassMark physics by 20.4% (1084 vs 900). This likely stems from its higher boost clock (4.80 GHz) and larger per-core L2 cache (2 MB vs 512 KB), which benefits simulation workloads with repeated data access.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: Intel has 12 cores and 14 threads, while AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. AMD’s higher base clock compensates, allowing it to win multi-core tests despite the lower core count.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Nearly. Intel is in the 75th percentile with an average score of 21174, and AMD is in the 74th percentile with 21088. The difference is 0.4% in Intel’s favor.

Specification Differences

• Cores: Intel 12 vs AMD 6
• Threads: Intel 14 vs AMD 12
• Base Clock: Intel 1.70 GHz vs AMD 3.90 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.80 GHz vs AMD 4.40 GHz
• TDP: Intel 15 W vs AMD 65 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 2049 vs AMD Socket AM4
• Architecture: Meteor Lake vs Zen 3 (Cezanne)
• Foundry: Intel vs TSMC
• Transistors: Not specified vs 10,700 million
• Die Size: Not specified vs 180 mm²
• L1 Cache: Intel 112 KB per core vs AMD 64 KB per core
• L2 Cache: Intel 2 MB per core vs AMD 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: Intel 12 MB shared vs AMD 16 MB
• Memory Support: DDR5 vs DDR4
• Memory Bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 4, 12 lanes vs Gen 3, 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Arc Xe-LPG 64EU vs Radeon Vega 7
• Market Segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Release Date: 2023-12-13 vs 2021-04-12
• Launch MSRP: $490 vs $259
• Unlocked Multiplier: No vs Yes

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for workload-specific buyers. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is the superior choice for multi-threaded productivity, data compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads. Its 42.9% lead in extended instructions and 29% lead in data compression are not trivial; they represent genuine throughput advantages for compile tasks, database operations, and scientific simulations. The 16.9% multithread win further cements its position for heavy parallel processing.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U is the pick for single-thread-sensitive applications and low-power scenarios. Its 18.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest single-core gap in this comparison, making it ideal for responsive desktop use, light coding, and workloads that rely on one or two fast threads. The 20.4% physics win and 6.4% floating-point advantage add niche appeal for simulation and numerical analysis.

The 15 W TDP of the Intel chip versus AMD’s 65 W makes the comparison even more lopsided in efficiency terms. Intel achieves 74% of AMD’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score (9674.5 vs 10551) while consuming less than a quarter of the power envelope. For mobile users, Intel’s design is the only viable option given its BGA socket and mobile market segment. For desktop builders with access to AM4 motherboards, AMD’s unlocked multiplier and lower launch MSRP of $259 versus $490 offer a compelling price-to-performance ratio, though pricing is noted here only as a factual specification. Ultimately, the choice hinges on whether the workload is multi-threaded (AMD) or single-threaded (Intel), with the power budget serving as the decisive tiebreaker.