AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS vs Intel Core i9-10900TE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-10900TE and AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS are both 35W processors that land in the same performance tier, but they achieve it through radically different designs. The data shows a 2-2 split in benchmark wins, with the Intel part taking the newer Cinebench R23 tests while the AMD part dominates the older R15 tests. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—3484 for Intel versus 3447 for AMD—and both sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. This is a genuine toss-up for overall compute, but the specific workloads tell a clear story.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-10900TE is the pick for modern multi-threaded rendering workloads. It leads the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS by 25.9% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (12045 vs 9564) and by 24.4% in R23 single-core (1700 vs 1367). If your software uses the latest Cinebench iteration or similarly scaled workloads, the 10-core/20-thread Intel part is the stronger choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS is the pick for legacy or differently-optimized workloads. It beats the Intel part by 22.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1563 vs 1213) and by 23.3% in R15 single-core (223 vs 171). For users running older benchmarks or applications that scale like R15, the 6-core/12-thread Zen 3 chip is the better performer.

Neither processor is a clear overall winner. The data suggests that if your workload is tied to one benchmark generation, choose accordingly. If you have mixed workloads, the near-identical average scores (3484 vs 3447) and matching 54th percentile ranking mean either will deliver comparable aggregate performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10900TE wins in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core. The multi-core advantage of 25.9% is substantial and indicates that the 10-core/20-thread configuration scales well under modern rendering loads. The single-core lead of 24.4% is notable because it shows Intel's 4.50 GHz boost clock outpaces AMD's 4.20 GHz boost in this specific test, despite the older Comet Lake architecture.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS wins in Cinebench R15, both multi-core and single-core. The multi-core win of 22.4% is surprising given the core deficit (6 vs 10), but it points to Zen 3's superior instructions-per-clock in this test. The single-core win of 23.3% reinforces that the 5600HS has a stronger per-thread performance profile in this benchmark generation.

The split is clean: Intel takes modern R23, AMD takes legacy R15. There is no overlap in wins, which makes the choice workload-specific rather than performance-tier-specific.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-10900TE uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It packs 10 cores and 20 threads with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The die size is 206 mm². Cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. It uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 46.9 GB/s bandwidth. The chip runs on Intel Socket 1200 and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630. It was released on 2020-04-29 with a launch MSRP of $488.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS uses the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Cezanne) on a 7 nm process node, fabricated by TSMC. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The die size is 180 mm² with 10,700 million transistors. Cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. It uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 68.3 GB/s bandwidth—45.6% higher than Intel's. The chip runs on AMD Socket FP6 and supports PCIe Gen 3. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 7. It was released on 2021-01-11.

The process node difference (14 nm vs 7 nm) explains much of the efficiency gap, though both are rated at 35W TDP. The Intel part compensates with more cores (10 vs 6) and more threads (20 vs 12), while the AMD part relies on higher base clock (3.00 vs 1.80 GHz) and denser process technology. The memory bandwidth advantage for AMD (68.3 vs 46.9 GB/s) is significant, though it does not translate into a win in the R23 tests.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The Intel part wins R23 single-core by 24.4% (1700 vs 1367), but the AMD part wins R15 single-core by 23.3% (223 vs 171).

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in overall performance?

A: Yes. The Intel part has an average benchmark score of 3484 and the AMD part has 3447, a difference of under 1%. Both are at the 54th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900TE has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, compared to 4.20 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the Intel Core i9-10900TE nor the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS supports ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900TE has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test is the Intel part's biggest win. The i9-10900TE scores 12045 against the 5600HS's 9564, a 25.9% advantage. This is a decisive margin that shows the 10-core/20-thread configuration has a clear edge in modern multi-threaded rendering.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test also goes to Intel, with a score of 1700 versus 1367, a 24.4% lead. This is notable because it demonstrates that the Intel boost clock of 4.50 GHz delivers higher peak performance than the AMD's 4.20 GHz in this workload, despite the older architecture.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test flips the script. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS scores 1563 against the Intel's 1213, a 22.4% win. This is a significant reversal that highlights the Zen 3 architecture's efficiency in this benchmark generation. Despite having 4 fewer cores and 8 fewer threads, the AMD part outperforms the Intel part by a wide margin.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test is also won by the AMD part, with a score of 223 versus 171, a 23.3% advantage. This is the largest single-core margin in the head-to-head data and reinforces that the 5600HS has superior per-thread performance in R15.

The data shows a clear pattern: Intel wins the modern R23 tests by roughly 25%, while AMD wins the older R15 tests by roughly 22-23%. The margins are consistent in both directions, suggesting that the performance gap is tied to benchmark generation rather than workload type. The average benchmark scores (3484 vs 3447) and the 54th percentile ranking for both confirm that they are peers in overall compute, with the choice depending entirely on the software environment.