AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H by a razor-thin margin. The 5600X averages 21,771 points, while the 4800H averages 21,749 points — a difference of just 0.1%. Both CPUs sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How big is the single-threaded performance gap?

A: The 5600X wins decisively in single-threaded tests. Its 3DMark single-thread score of 917 beats the 4800H's 721 by 27.2%, and the Geekbench single-core gap is even larger at 49.7% (1,989 vs 1,329). Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 22.9% advantage (1,541 vs 1,253.5).

Q: Does the 4800H win any benchmarks despite having more cores?

A: Yes. The 4800H wins 5 of the 23 head-to-head tests. It leads in 3DMark 16-thread (5,876 vs 5,582, a 5% edge), 3DMark max-thread (5,841 vs 5,588, a 4.3% edge), PassMark data compression (269,334 vs 252,306, a 6.3% edge), PassMark extended instructions (17,035 vs 16,991, a 0.3% edge), and PassMark random string sorting (29,181 vs 26,256, a 10% edge).

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark win for either CPU?

A: The 5600X dominates in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 134 versus the 4800H's 33 — a massive 306.1% advantage. The 4800H's largest win is PassMark random string sorting at 10% ahead.

Q: Are these CPUs from the same generation?

A: No. The 5600X is from the 5000 series using Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer), released November 2020. The 4800H is from the 4000 series using Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Renoir), released January 2020.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the 4800H has integrated graphics — Radeon Graphics with 448 SP. The 5600X has no integrated graphics, meaning it requires a discrete GPU to output video.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of AMD's design philosophy. The 5600X uses Zen 3 (Vermeer) architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process with 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The 4800H uses older Zen 2 (Renoir) architecture, also on 7 nm TSMC, but packs 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die — more than double the transistor count and die area.

The cache configuration differs substantially. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, but the L3 cache tells a different story. The 5600X has 32 MB of L3 cache, while the 4800H has only 8 MB (shared). This 4x difference in L3 cache is a primary driver of the 5600X's strong single-threaded performance, as Zen 3's unified cache design reduces memory latency.

The 4800H compensates with more raw compute resources: 8 cores and 16 threads versus the 5600X's 6 cores and 12 threads. However, those extra cores run on the older Zen 2 architecture at lower clock speeds — a 2.90 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost versus the 5600X's 3.70 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost.

Platform support differs as well. The 5600X uses AMD Socket AM4 with PCIe Gen 4 (20 lanes from the CPU), while the 4800H uses AMD Socket FP6 with PCIe Gen 3. The 5600X supports ECC memory and has an unlocked multiplier; the 4800H has neither. Memory support on the 4800H includes DDR4 and LPDDR4, while the 5600X is limited to DDR4 — both run dual-channel at 51.2 GB/s.

The 4800H is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP and integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP. The 5600X is a desktop part rated at 65 W TDP with no integrated graphics. The 4800H's transistor count is inflated by its integrated GPU and larger die, which also explains its higher transistor density despite the same process node.

Where Each One Wins

The 5600X is the clear choice for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. Its 27.2% lead in 3DMark single-thread, 49.7% lead in Geekbench single-core, and 35.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core make it the better pick for everyday responsiveness, older games, and applications that rely heavily on one or two cores. The 306.1% advantage in PassMark find prime numbers suggests integer-heavy single-threaded tasks are dramatically faster.

The 5600X also wins most multi-threaded tests despite having fewer cores. It leads Cinebench R23 multi-core by 6.3% (11,838 vs 11,135.5), Geekbench multi-core by 41.3% (9,173 vs 6,490), PassMark multi-thread by 20% (21,858 vs 18,222), and PassMark physics by 74.5% (1,316 vs 754). This confirms Zen 3's IPC improvements overcoming the 4800H's two-core advantage.

The 4800H wins in specific workloads that leverage its 8-core/16-thread configuration. 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests favor the 4800H by 5% and 4.3% respectively, suggesting heavy multi-threaded rendering or physics simulations can benefit. PassMark data compression (6.3% ahead) and random string sorting (10% ahead) are also wins for the 4800H, likely due to its higher thread count.

For gaming, the 5600X's single-thread dominance and larger L3 cache make it the stronger contender. For content creation that scales well beyond 6 cores, the 4800H's extra threads can close the gap, but the data shows the 5600X still leads in most multi-core benchmarks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | AMD Ryzen 7 4800H |

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

| Series | 5000 series | 4000 series |

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Vermeer | Renoir |

| Transistors | 4,150 million | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | 156 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, LPDDR4 |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Graphics 448SP |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $299 | None |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 5600X wins 18 of 23 direct comparisons, and the margins tell a clear story about architecture versus core count. In 3DMark single-thread, the 5600X scores 917 against the 4800H's 721 — a 27.2% advantage that carries into every single-threaded test. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 35.1% gap (254 vs 188), and PassMark single-thread shows a 29.5% gap (3,364 vs 2,597).

The Geekbench results are the most lopsided. The 5600X's single-core score of 1,989 beats the 4800H's 1,329 by 49.7%, and the multi-core score of 9,173 beats 6,490 by 41.3%. This suggests the 4800H's Zen 2 architecture is at a significant disadvantage in workloads that Geekbench measures, possibly due to memory latency or branch prediction.

In Cinebench, the 5600X leads multi-core by a smaller margin. R15 multi-core shows 1,968 vs 1,854 (6.1% ahead), and R23 multi-core shows 11,838 vs 11,135.5 (6.3% ahead). The 4800H's two extra cores help it stay competitive, but the 5600X's higher clocks and IPC still win out.

PassMark tests reveal workload-specific strengths. The 5600X wins integer math by 11.2% (71,161 vs 63,999), floating point math by 5.8% (39,487 vs 37,312), physics by 74.5% (1,316 vs 754), and multi-thread by 20% (21,858 vs 18,222). The 4800H counters with wins in data compression (269,334 vs 252,306), random string sorting (29,181 vs 26,256), and extended instructions (17,035 vs 16,991), though the latter is a marginal 0.3% edge.

The 3DMark thread scaling tests show the 4800H's ceiling. At 16 threads, it scores 5,876 versus the 5600X's 5,582 (5% ahead), and at max threads it scores 5,841 versus 5,588 (4.3% ahead). However, at 2 threads the 5600X wins by 26.2% (1,793 vs 1,421), and at 4 threads by 22.8% (3,363 vs 2,739). The 8-thread test is nearly identical: 4,811 vs 4,789, a 0.5% edge for the 5600X.

The most extreme outlier is PassMark find prime numbers. The 5600X scores 134, dwarfing the 4800H's 33 — a 306.1% difference. This test likely stresses single-thread integer performance and cache efficiency, areas where Zen 3's redesign delivered massive gains.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X as the stronger overall processor. It wins 18 of 23 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 0.1% edge in average score (21,771 vs 21,749), and delivers decisive single-threaded advantages that matter for everyday use and gaming. The 49.7% Geekbench single-core lead and 35.1% Cinebench R15 single-core lead are not incremental — they represent a generational leap.

The 4800H's wins are real but narrow. Its 5% and 4.3% leads in 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests, plus its 10% win in random string sorting, indicate workloads that scale perfectly across 8 cores can offset the 5600X's IPC advantage. For users running heavily threaded compression or sorting tasks, the 4800H is competitive.

However, the 5600X's performance in multi-core tests despite having two fewer cores is remarkable. Leading Cinebench R23 multi-core by 6.3% and PassMark multi-thread by 20% with 6 cores against 8 means the Zen 3 architecture is doing substantially more work per clock. The 74.5% physics benchmark lead further reinforces this.

Choose the 5600X if you need the best single-threaded performance, plan to game, or want desktop flexibility with an unlocked multiplier and PCIe Gen 4. Choose the 4800H if you need integrated graphics, require 8 cores for specific multi-threaded workloads that favor its wins, or are building in a mobile form factor where its 45 W TDP matters. The 5600X is the better all-around processor; the 4800H is a specialized alternative with a narrower set of advantages.