AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS vs Intel Core i7-10870H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS and Intel Core i7-10870H are two mobile processors that land at nearly the same average benchmark score, with the AMD part scoring 3447 and the Intel part scoring 3446. This 0 deltaPct in their nearestRivals listing places them as direct competitors, yet the data reveals they achieve this parity through fundamentally different strengths. The benchmark results split exactly three wins each, suggesting that the choice between them depends heavily on the specific workload rather than overall superiority.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS dominates in Cinebench R15, taking both the multi-core and single-core tests. In multi-core, it scores 1563 against Intel's 1194, a 30.9% advantage. The single-core margin is even larger at 32.7%, with scores of 223 versus 168. This indicates the Zen 3 architecture delivers exceptional performance in legacy rendering workloads, particularly when single-threaded performance is the bottleneck.

The Intel Core i7-10870H fights back in newer Cinebench R23 and Geekbench multi-threaded tests. It scores 11852 in R23 multi-core versus AMD's 9564, a 19.3% lead, and 1673 in R23 single-core versus 1367, an 18.3% advantage. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel wins with 7357 against 6395, a 13.1% margin. The Intel part also has additional benchmark data from 3DMark, where it scores 5178 at max threads, but this test has no direct AMD counterpart in the fact pack.

The single-core Geekbench result goes to AMD, with 1569 against Intel's 1443, an 8.7% win. This split suggests AMD excels in older, less thread-scalable workloads while Intel performs better in modern multi-threaded applications. The data shows a generational shift in benchmark optimization, with R15 favoring AMD's per-core efficiency and R23 favoring Intel's higher core count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS uses the Zen 3 architecture on TSMC's 7 nm process node, built on the Cezanne codename. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i7-10870H uses the Comet Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm process, with the Comet Lake-H codename. It offers 8 cores and 16 threads, running at a 2.20 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost.

The cache configurations differ notably. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache, but AMD allocates 512 KB of L2 per core while Intel uses 256 KB per core. This means AMD has double the L2 cache per core, which can benefit certain workloads. The transistor counts reveal another gap: AMD has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while Intel's transistor count and die size are not listed in the data.

Memory support shows both use DDR4, but AMD specifies dual-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel's memory bus and bandwidth are not provided. Both have integrated graphics, with AMD using Radeon Vega 7 and Intel using UHD Graphics. The TDP difference is significant: AMD operates at 35 watts while Intel draws 45 watts. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though Intel's listing specifies 16 lanes for CPU only.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is better for older rendering workloads like Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS wins decisively in Cinebench R15, scoring 1563 in multi-core and 223 in single-core, compared to Intel's 1194 and 168. This represents a 30.9% and 32.7% advantage respectively.

Q: Does the Intel processor ever beat AMD in single-core performance?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 1673 against AMD's 1367, an 18.3% lead. However, in Geekbench single-core, AMD wins with 1569 versus Intel's 1443, an 8.7% margin.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives Intel a 2-core and 4-thread advantage.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: AMD has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz versus Intel's 2.20 GHz, but Intel has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus AMD's 4.20 GHz.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-10870H has a TDP of 45 watts, indicating AMD is more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Do both processors have the same overall benchmark standing?

A: Yes, both have a percentileVsAllCpus of 54, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical at 3447 for AMD and 3446 for Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS belongs to the 5000 series with a Ryzen 5 generation, while Intel's is from the Core 10th Gen with a Core i7 generation. AMD uses the Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, while Intel uses Comet Lake with the Comet Lake-H codename. The process node differs significantly: AMD uses 7 nm from TSMC, while Intel uses 14 nm from Intel's own foundry.

Core and thread counts differ, with AMD at 6 cores and 12 threads versus Intel's 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 2.20 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are 4.20 GHz and 5.00 GHz respectively. The TDP is 35 watts for AMD and 45 watts for Intel. Sockets differ: AMD uses AMD Socket FP6, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1440.

Cache configurations show AMD with 512 KB L2 per core versus Intel's 256 KB per core, though both have 64 KB L1 per core and 16 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is listed only for AMD at 68.3 GB/s with dual-channel support, while Intel's memory bus and bandwidth are not specified. The integrated graphics differ, with AMD using Radeon Vega 7 and Intel using UHD Graphics. Production status is Active for both, with release dates of 2021-01-11 for AMD and 2020-09-16 for Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test delivers the largest win for AMD, with a 30.9% advantage. AMD scores 1563 against Intel's 1194, showing that in this legacy benchmark, the 6-core Zen 3 design outperforms the 8-core Comet Lake part despite having fewer cores. The R15 single-core test is even more lopsided, with AMD winning by 32.7% (223 versus 168), which points to AMD's superior per-core efficiency in this workload.

Intel's biggest win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 11852 against AMD's 9564, a 19.3% margin. This test likely scales better with Intel's additional 2 cores and 4 threads. The R23 single-core test also goes to Intel with a 1673 score versus 1367, an 18.3% victory, which is surprising given AMD's R15 single-core dominance. This suggests the R23 test better utilizes Intel's higher 5.00 GHz boost clock.

Geekbench results are split. Intel wins multi-core with 7357 against 6395, a 13.1% margin, while AMD wins single-core with 1569 against 1443, an 8.7% advantage. The 3DMark tests for Intel show scores of 5163 at 16 threads, 1347 at 2 threads, 2462 at 4 threads, 4013 at 8 threads, 5178 at max threads, and 720 at single thread, but no comparable AMD data exists in the fact pack to draw direct comparisons.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS is the clear winner for users running Cinebench R15 workloads, whether multi-core or single-core, with margins exceeding 30%. Its lower 35-watt TDP also makes it the more power-efficient choice, which is relevant for mobile systems where thermal management matters. The AMD part also wins Geekbench single-core, making it attractive for applications that rely on single-threaded performance.

The Intel Core i7-10870H is the better choice for Cinebench R23 and Geekbench multi-core workloads, with a 19.3% lead in R23 multi-core and 13.1% in Geekbench multi-core. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide more parallel processing capability, and the 5.00 GHz boost clock appears to help in the newer R23 single-core test, where it leads by 18.3%. However, this comes at the cost of a higher 45-watt TDP.

Given that both processors share the same percentileVsAllCpus of 54 and nearly identical average scores, the decision hinges on which benchmarks represent the user's actual workload. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS suits users prioritizing legacy software compatibility and power efficiency, while the Intel Core i7-10870H serves those running modern multi-threaded applications that can exploit its additional cores. The equal three-win split in head-to-head benchmarks confirms that neither processor is universally superior, and the choice should be guided by the specific software environment.