AMD Ryzen 5 5600U vs Intel Core i7-9850H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits the two processors across six benchmark runs, with AMD taking four wins and Intel taking two. The margin of victory tells a more nuanced story than the win count alone.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U dominates in Cinebench R15. In the multicore test, it scores 1321 against the Intel Core i7-9850H's 925, a 30% advantage. The single-core gap is even wider: 223 versus 130, a 41.7% lead for AMD. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they establish the Ryzen 5 5600U as the clear winner in legacy Cinebench workloads.

The picture shifts in Cinebench R23. Here Intel strikes back with a multicore score of 9182 versus AMD's 7792.5, a 17.8% advantage. This is a substantial reversal. The same test's single-core result narrows considerably: AMD leads 1371 to 1296, but only by 5.5%. So while AMD wins the single-core R23 contest, the margin is nowhere near the 41.7% gap seen in R15.

Geekbench results are closer still. Intel edges out AMD in multicore, 6087 to 6043, a razor-thin 0.7% margin. AMD wins single-core Geekbench, 1567 to 1449, a 7.5% lead. These near-parity results suggest that in some modern workloads, the two processors are effectively interchangeable, while in others the architecture generation gap becomes decisive.

Looking at the aggregate picture, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U holds a higher average benchmark score of 3053 against Intel's 2934. The percentile rankings agree: AMD sits at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs, Intel at the 51st. The database places AMD's nearest rivals within 0.5% of its average score, while Intel's nearest rivals cluster within 0.8%. These are tightly grouped results, but the cumulative data favors AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different manufacturing eras and design philosophies. Intel's Core i7-9850H uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR refresh, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. AMD's Ryzen 5 5600U uses Zen 3, codenamed Cezanne-U, fabricated on a 7 nm node at TSMC. The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 7 nm, which helps explain the power and efficiency gap.

Both processors have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the core count is identical. The cache hierarchy differs. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. AMD matches the L1 size at 64 KB per core but doubles L2 to 512 KB per core and provides a larger 16 MB shared L3. The additional L2 and L3 capacity gives AMD more on-die data to work with, which can reduce memory traffic in cache-sensitive workloads.

The transistor counts reflect the different designs. AMD lists 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. Intel's die size is 149 mm², with no transistor count recorded in the database. Despite the smaller die, Intel's 14 nm process packs fewer transistors into a smaller area, while AMD's 7 nm process achieves a higher transistor density across a larger die.

Memory bandwidth also favors AMD. Both support dual-channel DDR4, but AMD's memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel's 42.7 GB/s, an 8.5 GB/s gap. Both lack ECC support. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 for both, though AMD specifies 8 lanes from the CPU only, while Intel does not break down lane allocation in the database.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel pairs the CPU with UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 7. No benchmark scores for these iGPUs appear in the database, so the comparison must rest on the CPU-side metrics alone.

Power envelopes are starkly different. Intel's TDP is 45 W, while AMD's is 15 W. That is a threefold difference in thermal design power. The clock speeds reflect this: Intel boosts to 4.60 GHz with a 2.60 GHz base, while AMD boosts to 4.20 GHz with a 2.30 GHz base. Intel's higher boost clock helps it win the R23 multicore test, but the power cost is substantial.

Release timing also differs. Intel launched on April 22, 2019, and is marked end-of-life. AMD launched on January 11, 2021, and remains active. The two-year gap explains some of the architectural advantages AMD enjoys.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to distinct strengths. AMD's Ryzen 5 5600U wins in R15 multicore by 30%, R15 single-core by 41.7%, R23 single-core by 5.5%, and Geekbench single-core by 7.5%. Intel's Core i7-9850H wins R23 multicore by 17.8% and Geekbench multicore by 0.7%.

The single-core story is consistent: AMD wins every single-core benchmark recorded. The margins range from 5.5% to 41.7%, with the largest gap in the oldest test. This suggests AMD's Zen 3 architecture delivers better per-thread performance across generations of Cinebench and Geekbench.

The multicore story is split by workload. In R15, AMD leads by a wide margin. In R23, Intel leads by a wide margin. In Geekbench, Intel barely edges ahead. The R23 result is particularly interesting because it is the newest Cinebench version in the database, and it shows Intel's higher boost clock and 45 W power budget translating into sustained multicore throughput.

For use cases, the pattern suggests AMD handles older legacy workloads and single-threaded tasks more efficiently, while Intel holds an advantage in the newer R23 multicore test. The Geekbench multicore near-tie (0.7% for Intel) means general-purpose multitasking would likely feel similar on both, unless the workload is specifically R23-like.

The power envelope matters for real-world deployment. AMD's 15 W TDP versus Intel's 45 W TDP is a threefold difference. In thermally constrained mobile chassis, the lower power draw gives AMD more headroom for sustained operation without throttling, though the benchmark data alone does not measure thermal behavior directly.

The Verdict

The recorded data favors the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U on balance. It wins four of six head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average benchmark score (3053 versus 2934), and ranks at the 52nd percentile versus Intel's 51st. The single-core wins are consistent across every test, and the R15 margins are decisive.

Intel's case rests on two multicore wins. The R23 multicore victory by 17.8% is the single largest Intel margin, and the Geekbench multicore win, while tiny at 0.7%, still counts. For users running modern Cinebench R23 multicore workloads specifically, the Core i7-9850H delivers more throughput.

AMD's case is broader. Beyond the four benchmark wins, the 15 W TDP versus 45 W makes the Ryzen 5 5600U far more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power and thermals constrain performance. The larger L2 cache (512 KB per core versus 256 KB), larger L3 (16 MB versus 12 MB), higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s), and 7 nm process all reinforce the efficiency story.

The database suggests AMD is the better pick for most buyers, especially those prioritizing single-threaded performance, power efficiency, and overall average scores. Intel remains the choice for workloads that specifically resemble Cinebench R23 multicore, where its 17.8% lead is real and measurable. Given that Intel is end-of-life while AMD remains active, the long-term support picture also favors AMD, though that is a production status observation, not a benchmark claim.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U wins 4 of the 6 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-9850H wins 2.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD scores 223 versus Intel's 130, a 41.7% advantage.

Q: Does Intel win any multicore tests?

A: Yes, Intel wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 9182 against AMD's 7792.5, a 17.8% lead, and Geekbench multicore with 6087 versus 6043, a 0.7% lead.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both have 6 cores and 12 threads. The differences lie in cache, process node, and power envelope, not core count.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850H has a TDP of 45 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U averages 3053, while the Intel Core i7-9850H averages 2934.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9850H | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U |

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

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-HR | Cezanne-U |

| Process node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 10,700 million |

| Die size | 149 mm² | 180 mm² |

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

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only) |

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

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

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Part number | SRFCN | 100-000000287 |