AMD Ryzen 5 5625U vs Intel Core i7-6850K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U and Intel Core i7-6850K deliver nearly identical average benchmark scores, but they achieve parity through opposite strategies. The Ryzen 5 5625U wins 4 of 6 head-to-head tests, leveraging its modern Zen 3 architecture and high boost clock to dominate single-threaded and legacy multi-threaded workloads. The Core i7-6850K wins 2 tests, using its quad-channel memory and higher sustained power envelope to pull ahead in modern multi-core workloads like Cinebench R23 and Geekbench multi-core. The data shows a 52nd percentile ranking for both CPUs against all processors, with the Ryzen 5 5625U scoring 3096 on average versus 3079 for the Core i7-6850K. For users prioritizing responsiveness in everyday tasks and older software, the Ryzen 5 5625U is the clear choice. For those running heavily threaded modern applications that scale with memory bandwidth, the Core i7-6850K holds an edge, though it is end-of-life and consumes far more power.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split decision. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the superior processor for general-purpose use, office productivity, and any workload that relies on single-core speed. It leads the Core i7-6850K by 62.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core, by 25% in Geekbench single-core, and by 48.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. These are decisive margins that translate directly to snappier application launches and faster response in lightly threaded software.

However, the Intel Core i7-6850K is not obsolete in every respect. It wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 9672 versus 8290 for the AMD chip, a 14.3% advantage. It also wins Geekbench multi-core with 6629 versus 5718, a 13.7% lead. These wins indicate that in sustained, heavily threaded modern workloads, the Intel part's higher 140W TDP and quad-channel memory configuration provide a tangible benefit. The Core i7-6850K also offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 16, making it more suitable for multi-GPU or high-expansion desktop builds.

The verdict is straightforward: choose the Ryzen 5 5625U for a mobile or power-efficient system where single-core performance and modern architecture matter most. Choose the Core i7-6850K only if your specific workload is dominated by multi-threaded applications that benefit from its memory bandwidth and you are building a desktop with high expansion needs. The Ryzen chip is active production; the Intel chip is end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Barcelo, using a 7 nm process at TSMC. It contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-6850K uses the Broadwell architecture, codenamed Broadwell-E, on Intel's 14 nm process. It contains 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The process node difference is significant: the 7 nm AMD chip is denser and more power-efficient, while the 14 nm Intel chip is physically larger but holds fewer transistors.

Both CPUs feature 6 cores and 12 threads, but cache configurations differ. The Ryzen 5 5625U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-6850K has the same 64 KB L1 per core, but only 256 KB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's larger L2 cache and slightly larger L3 cache contribute to its single-core performance advantage.

The memory subsystem is a major differentiator. The Ryzen 5 5625U supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and supports ECC memory. The Core i7-6850K supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s but does not support ECC. The Intel chip's quad-channel interface provides 50% more theoretical bandwidth, which explains its multi-core wins in modern benchmarks.

The Ryzen 5 5625U includes integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics, while the Core i7-6850K has no integrated graphics. The AMD chip is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 2011-3. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking; the AMD chip does not. The Ryzen 5 5625U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core i7-6850K has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz but a lower boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a pattern of AMD dominance in older and single-threaded tests, with Intel winning the modern multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 5625U scores 1447 against 974 for the Core i7-6850K, a 48.6% win. This is a massive margin, suggesting that the Ryzen chip's Zen 3 architecture extracts far more performance per clock in this legacy benchmark. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip scores 223 against 137, a 62.8% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights the generational leap in single-threaded efficiency.

The Cinebench R23 results reverse the narrative. The Core i7-6850K scores 9672 in multi-core versus 8290 for the Ryzen 5 5625U, a 14.3% win for Intel. This newer workload appears to scale better with the Intel chip's quad-channel memory bandwidth. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 5 5625U wins but by a razor-thin margin: 1379 versus 1365, a 1% delta. This shows that in modern single-threaded workloads, the two chips are nearly identical, despite the older Intel architecture.

Geekbench results follow the same split. The Core i7-6850K wins multi-core with 6629 against 5718, a 13.7% lead. The Ryzen 5 5625U wins single-core with 1521 against 1217, a 25% advantage. Across all six tests, the Ryzen 5 5625U wins four and the Core i7-6850K wins two. The average benchmark score is 3096 for the AMD chip and 3079 for the Intel chip, a difference of less than 1%. The nearest rivals for each CPU confirm their comparable standing: the Ryzen 5 5625U sits within 0.5% of chips like the Intel Xeon W-2133 and Core i7-8700B, while the Core i7-6850K is within 0.3% of the same Intel Xeon W-2133 and AMD Ryzen 7 1800X.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U wins all three single-core benchmarks. It leads by 62.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core (223 vs 137), by 25% in Geekbench single-core (1521 vs 1217), and by 1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1379 vs 1365).

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-6850K ever faster than the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U?

A: Yes. The Core i7-6850K wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 9672 versus 8290 (a 14.3% advantage) and Geekbench multi-core with 6629 versus 5718 (a 13.7% advantage). These are the only two tests it wins out of six.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. However, the Ryzen 5 5625U has 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i7-6850K has 256 KB of L2 per core and 15 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-6850K does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Core i7-6850K has a quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Ryzen 5 5625U has a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. This gives the Intel chip a 50% bandwidth advantage.

Q: Which CPU is currently in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is marked as Active production. The Intel Core i7-6850K is marked as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U wins in all scenarios where single-core speed or legacy multi-core performance matters. Its 62.8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 25% lead in Geekbench single-core make it the better choice for web browsing, document editing, and any application that relies on a single fast core. Its 48.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core also means older multi-threaded software will run significantly faster on the AMD chip. The Ryzen 5 5625U is also the only option with integrated graphics, making it suitable for systems without a discrete GPU. Its active production status and 15W TDP make it ideal for laptops and compact builds where power efficiency is critical.

The Intel Core i7-6850K wins in modern multi-threaded workloads that can exploit its quad-channel memory bandwidth. Its 14.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 13.7% lead in Geekbench multi-core indicate that contemporary rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing tasks will run faster on the Intel chip. The Core i7-6850K also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 16 for the AMD chip, making it the better foundation for multi-GPU setups, high-speed NVMe arrays, or other expansion-heavy desktop configurations. Its unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, which can further extend its multi-core lead, though its 140W TDP demands robust cooling.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every physical and platform specification. The Ryzen 5 5625U uses a 7 nm process at TSMC with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Core i7-6850K uses a 14 nm process at Intel with 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The AMD chip has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Intel chip has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The TDP is 15W for the AMD part versus 140W for the Intel part.

The Ryzen 5 5625U is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP6, while the Core i7-6850K is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 2011-3. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The Intel chip supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

The PCIe configuration differs significantly: the Ryzen 5 5625U provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7-6850K provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics; the Intel chip has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 5625U has a locked multiplier, while the Core i7-6850K has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part was released on 2022-01-05 and is active; the Intel part was released on 2016-05-30 and is end-of-life. The Core i7-6850K has a launch MSRP of $617; the Ryzen 5 5625U has no listed launch MSRP. The part numbers are 100-000000583 for AMD and SR2PC for Intel.