AMD Ryzen 5 5600U vs Intel Core i7-8700B Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8700B and AMD Ryzen 5 5600U are both 6-core, 12-thread processors, but they are engineered for entirely different environments and deliver contrasting performance profiles. Benchmark data shows the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U wins four of six head-to-head tests, including all single-core tests except Cinebench R23, while the Intel Core i7-8700B secures a decisive victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 28%. The Intel part, a 65W desktop-class chip from 2018, and the AMD part, a 15W mobile processor from 2021, have nearly identical average benchmark scores (3086 vs 3053) and identical percentile rankings (52nd), but their architectural and market positioning create a clear split: the Ryzen 5 5600U excels in legacy single-core workloads and power-sensitive scenarios, while the i7-8700B dominates in the modern Cinebench R23 multi-threaded test.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U is the clear winner in Cinebench R15, both multi-core and single-core. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 1321 against Intel's 1005, a 23.9% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 223 vs 141, a 36.8% lead for AMD. This suggests the Zen 3 architecture has a significant IPC advantage over the older Coffee Lake design in this workload. The Ryzen also wins Geekbench multi-core (6043 vs 5936, a 1.8% lead) and Geekbench single-core (1567 vs 1443, a 7.9% lead). Across all benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 5600U takes four wins out of six, making it the more consistent performer in the majority of tests.

The Intel Core i7-8700B's wins are narrower but meaningful. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a wide margin: 9977 vs 7792.5, a 28% lead. This is a substantial victory, indicating that the Intel chip can sustain high multi-threaded throughput in this particular test, likely due to its higher 65W TDP and 4.60 GHz boost clock. The i7-8700B also edges out the Ryzen in Cinebench R23 single-core (1408 vs 1371, a 2.7% lead), a surprising result given AMD's dominance in the R15 single-core test. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions suggests that the i7-8700B performs better in the newer R23 workload, while the Ryzen excels in the older R15 workload. The data clearly indicates a workload-dependent split: AMD for R15 and Geekbench, Intel for R23.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different manufacturing and design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-8700B uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel itself. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process node, fabricated by TSMC. This process difference is significant: the AMD chip packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not listed, but its die size is 154 mm². The smaller process node gives AMD a potential efficiency advantage, which is reflected in the TDP: the i7-8700B is rated at 65W, while the Ryzen 5 5600U is rated at just 15W.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the Ryzen 5 5600U has 512 KB L2 per core (double Intel's 256 KB) and 16 MB shared L3 (vs Intel's 12 MB). This larger cache hierarchy likely contributes to AMD's strong single-core performance in R15 and Geekbench. Memory bandwidth also favors AMD: 51.2 GB/s vs Intel's 42.7 GB/s, though both support dual-channel DDR4. The memory support is identical (DDR4), and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ, with Intel offering 16 lanes (Gen 3) and AMD offering 8 lanes (Gen 3), a notable difference for expansion but less relevant for mobile use. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 7. The Ryzen 5 5600U is a mobile part (Socket FP6, Cezanne-U codename), while the i7-8700B is a desktop part (Intel BGA 1440). The Intel chip was released in April 2018 and is end-of-life, while the AMD chip was released in January 2021 and is still active.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i7-8700B if your priority is the Cinebench R23 multi-core workload. The data shows a commanding 28% lead over the Ryzen 5 5600U, and it also wins the R23 single-core test by 2.7%. This makes it the stronger choice for newer, heavily threaded rendering tasks that use the Cinebench R23 engine. The i7-8700B's 65W TDP and 4.60 GHz boost clock support sustained high performance in this test. However, its overall benchmark profile is older, with a 52nd percentile ranking, and it is end-of-life, meaning no further support or updates.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U if you need a more versatile, efficient processor that wins the majority of benchmark comparisons. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 23.9% and single-core by 36.8%, and it wins both Geekbench tests (multi-core by 1.8%, single-core by 7.9%). Its 15W TDP is dramatically lower than Intel's 65W, making it far more suitable for laptops and power-constrained devices. The Ryzen 5 5600U is also active in production, ensuring ongoing availability. The data does not show a clear overall winner in terms of average score (3086 vs 3053, a negligible difference), but the Ryzen's superior efficiency and four-of-six win count make it the more balanced recommendation for general use. The Intel part is only preferable in the specific Cinebench R23 scenario.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: Both the Intel Core i7-8700B and AMD Ryzen 5 5600U have exactly 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U wins Cinebench R15 single-core (223 vs 141) and Geekbench single-core (1567 vs 1443), but the Intel Core i7-8700B wins Cinebench R23 single-core (1408 vs 1371). There is no single winner across all single-core tests.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B has a TDP of 65W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has a TDP of 15W. The AMD part is rated for significantly lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-8700B has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel memory buses. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, compared to the Intel Core i7-8700B's 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor is more energy-efficient based on the data?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U, with its 15W TDP and 7 nm process node, is far more energy-efficient than the Intel Core i7-8700B with its 65W TDP and 14 nm node, despite having a similar average benchmark score.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-8700B scores 9977 against the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U's 7792.5. This is a 28% lead for Intel, and it is the single largest margin in any test. This result is surprising given the Ryzen's strong showing elsewhere, and it suggests that the i7-8700B's higher power envelope (65W vs 15W) and boost clock (4.60 GHz vs 4.20 GHz) allow it to sustain heavy multi-threaded loads in this specific benchmark. The i7-8700B also wins Cinebench R23 single-core, but by a much smaller margin: 1408 vs 1371, a 2.7% lead. This narrow victory shows that the Ryzen is competitive in single-threaded R23, but Intel edges it out.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U's biggest win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 223 against Intel's 141. This 36.8% lead is substantial and indicates a massive IPC advantage for Zen 3 in this older workload. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 23.9% (1321 vs 1005), showing consistency in the R15 test suite. In Geekbench, the Ryzen wins both tests: multi-core by 1.8% (6043 vs 5936) and single-core by 7.9% (1567 vs 1443). The Geekbench multi-core difference is small, but the single-core lead is meaningful, further reinforcing AMD's strength in everyday and legacy applications. Overall, the head-to-head data shows a clear pattern: AMD dominates the older and more common benchmarks (R15 and Geekbench), while Intel wins the newer Cinebench R23 tests, particularly multi-core.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every major specification category. The Intel Core i7-8700B is built on a 14 nm process node by Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U is built on a 7 nm process node by TSMC. The AMD chip has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not listed but its die size is 154 mm². The base clock differs significantly: Intel runs at 3.20 GHz, while AMD runs at 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with Intel at 4.60 GHz and AMD at 4.20 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: Intel is rated at 65W, AMD at 15W.

The cache configurations differ in L2 and L3: Intel has 256 KB L2 per core and 12 MB shared L3, while AMD has 512 KB L2 per core and 16 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 51.2 GB/s vs Intel's 42.7 GB/s, though both use dual-channel DDR4. PCIe lanes differ: Intel provides 16 lanes (Gen 3), AMD provides 8 lanes (Gen 3). The integrated graphics are different: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, AMD uses Radeon Vega 7. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Intel BGA 1440, AMD uses AMD Socket FP6. The market segments differ: Intel is desktop, AMD is mobile. Production status also differs: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. The release dates are far apart: Intel in April 2018, AMD in January 2021. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $303; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.