AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS vs Intel Core i9-9900T Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9900T and AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS are both 35 W processors, but they come from different design philosophies. The Intel chip is an 8-core desktop part built on the older 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture. The AMD chip is a 6-core mobile part using the newer 7 nm Zen 3 design. The benchmark data shows a split decision, with each processor taking three of the six recorded tests. The average benchmark scores are close, with the Intel at 3499 and the AMD at 3447. The Intel CPU sits in the 55th percentile of all processors in the database, while the AMD CPU sits in the 54th percentile. This near tie in overall standing makes the per-test differences more interesting, as the wins are not evenly distributed across workload types.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the comparison comes from the Cinebench R15 multi-core test. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS scores 1563, while the Intel Core i9-9900T scores 1117. That gives the AMD processor a 28.5% advantage in this older rendering benchmark. The single-core version of the same test also favors AMD, with a score of 223 versus 157, a difference of 29.6%. These are the two biggest gaps in either direction, and both go to the AMD chip.

The Cinebench R23 results tell a completely different story. In the multi-core test, the Intel Core i9-9900T scores 11091, which is 16% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS at 9564. The single-core R23 test also goes to Intel, with a score of 1565 against 1367, a 14.5% margin. This reversal between R15 and R23 is notable, as the newer benchmark suite shows the Intel part in a much more favorable light.

In Geekbench, the results are split again. The multi-core test goes to Intel, with a score of 7298 versus 6395, a 14.1% advantage. The single-core test goes to AMD, with 1569 versus 1452, a 7.5% margin. So the overall record is three wins for each processor, but the margins are not symmetrical. The AMD chip wins by larger percentages in the tests it takes, while the Intel chip tends to win by smaller margins in the remaining tests.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database helps contextualize these scores. The Intel Core i9-9900T has an average score of 3499, and its closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E-2176G at 3502, which is only 0.1% ahead. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 and Intel Xeon E-2246G both sit at 3494 and 3492, respectively, with the i9-9900T leading each by 0.2%. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has an average score of 3447, with the Intel Core i7-10870H at 3446, essentially tied at 0.0%. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS follows at 3444, and the Intel Core i7-5960X at 3442, each about 0.1% behind.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS wins in the Cinebench R15 suite, both single and multi-core, and in Geekbench single-core. The R15 results are particularly strong for AMD, with margins of 29.6% and 28.5%. These are the largest wins recorded in the head-to-head data. The Geekbench single-core win is smaller at 7.5%, but it still represents a clear advantage in a commonly used cross-platform benchmark. For workloads that resemble the Cinebench R15 rendering model, the AMD chip is substantially faster.

The Intel Core i9-9900T wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, plus Geekbench multi-core. The R23 multi-core result is the most significant for Intel, as it shows the 8-core design pulling ahead of the 6-core AMD part by 16%. The single-core R23 win of 14.5% is also substantial. The Geekbench multi-core win of 14.1% completes Intel's set of victories. For users prioritizing the newer R23 benchmark or multi-threaded Geekbench workloads, the Intel chip is the stronger choice.

The pattern suggests that the AMD chip performs better in the older Cinebench R15 test, while the Intel chip performs better in the newer Cinebench R23 test. This is not a simple case of one processor being faster everywhere. The two architectures respond differently to the same workload generations. The AMD chip also edges out Intel in Geekbench single-core, but Intel takes the multi-core version of that same test.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-9900T uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-R codename, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The die size is 180.3 mm². The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630. It uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The socket is Intel Socket 1151, and the chip targets the desktop market segment.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS uses the Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 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, nearly identical to the Intel chip, but the transistor count is listed at 10,700 million. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 7. It uses PCIe Gen 3. The socket is AMD Socket FP6, and the chip targets the mobile market segment.

The process node difference is significant: 14 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD. The AMD chip also has a higher memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for Intel. The L2 cache per core is larger on the AMD chip, at 512 KB versus 256 KB. Both chips have 16 MB of L3 cache, and both have 64 KB of L1 per core. The base clocks differ, with AMD starting at 3.00 GHz and Intel at 2.10 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 4.40 GHz and AMD at 4.20 GHz. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip is still active in production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has an average benchmark score of 3499, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has an average score of 3447. The difference is 52 points, which is within the range of the nearest rival deltas for both chips.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T scores 11091 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 16% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS at 9564. This is one of the three benchmark wins for the Intel chip.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the head-to-head data?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS scores 223 versus 157 for the Intel Core i9-9900T, a 29.6% difference. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test is close behind, with AMD ahead by 28.5%.

Q: Do both processors use the same memory configuration?

A: Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the memory bandwidth differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Intel Core i9-9900T has 42.7 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test by a wide margin.

Q: Are both processors in the same market segment?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-9900T is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS is a mobile processor using AMD Socket FP6. The Intel chip is end-of-life, and the AMD chip is active in production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-9900T | AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS |

|----------------|----------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-R | Cezanne |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 10,700 million |

| Die Size | 180.3 mm² | 180 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Radeon Vega 7 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2019-04-22 | 2021-01-11 |

| Launch MSRP | $423 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRG1B | 100-000000296 |

The Verdict

The data shows that the Intel Core i9-9900T and AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS are closely matched overall, with the Intel chip holding a slight edge in average benchmark score (3499 versus 3447) and percentile ranking (55th versus 54th). The Intel chip wins the Cinebench R23 tests and Geekbench multi-core, which are the more modern or more heavily threaded workloads. The AMD chip wins the Cinebench R15 tests and Geekbench single-core, with the R15 margins being the largest in the comparison.

Users who prioritize the newer Cinebench R23 benchmark, or who need multi-core Geekbench performance, should lean toward the Intel Core i9-9900T. It also offers more cores and threads, with 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip is a desktop part, so it fits in a standard desktop socket. It is end-of-life, but it remains competitive in the recorded benchmarks.

Users who prioritize the older Cinebench R15 workload, or who need the strongest single-core Geekbench result, should lean toward the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS. The AMD chip also has a higher memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s, a newer 7 nm process node, and a smaller die size. It is a mobile part, so it is suited for laptops or compact systems using the FP6 socket. It is still active in production, which may matter for availability.

The choice comes down to which benchmark generation matters more. The Intel chip dominates the R23 suite, and the AMD chip dominates the R15 suite. The Geekbench results are split, with Intel ahead in multi-core and AMD ahead in single-core. Both processors have three wins each in the head-to-head data, so neither is a clear overall victor. The recorded data supports either choice depending on the target workload.