AMD Ryzen 5 5625U vs Intel Core i7-8700B Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U and Intel Core i7-8700B are evenly matched contenders, each securing three benchmark victories in a direct comparison. Both processors feature six cores and twelve threads, yet they deliver divergent performance profiles that hinge on the specific workload and generation of the test. The data reveals a fascinating split: AMD dominates in older Cinebench R15 tests, while Intel takes the lead in newer Cinebench R23 and Geekbench multi-core metrics, with single-core performance being closely contested.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic disparity appears in the Cinebench R15 tests, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U posts a decisive victory. In the multi-core R15 benchmark, AMD scores 1447 against Intel's 1005, translating to a substantial 44% advantage. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided, with AMD's 223 outpacing Intel's 141 by a remarkable 58.2%. These are not marginal differences; they represent a generational leap in per-core efficiency, suggesting the Zen 3 architecture delivers significantly better performance in this particular benchmark version.

However, the narrative flips entirely when examining Cinebench R23 results. The Intel Core i7-8700B reclaims the multi-core crown with a score of 9977, beating AMD's 8290 by 16.9%. This is a substantial reversal, indicating that Intel's higher base and boost clocks (3.20 GHz and 4.60 GHz versus AMD's 2.30 GHz and 4.30 GHz) become more impactful in the newer, more demanding workload. The single-core R23 result is much closer, with Intel ahead by only 2.1% (1408 versus 1379), showing that the raw clock speed advantage matters at the margin but does not dominate.

Geekbench results further complicate the picture. In multi-core testing, Intel wins again with 5936 against AMD's 5718, a modest 3.7% margin. Yet in single-core Geekbench, AMD reverses the trend, scoring 1521 versus Intel's 1443, a 5.4% victory. This mixed bag suggests that neither processor is universally superior; instead, their strengths are workload-dependent.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 3096 and Intel at 3086, a difference of just 0.3%. Both processors sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs, and they appear as nearest rivals to each other, with Intel's Xeon W-2133 and E5-1660 v3 also within a hair's breadth. The data implies that in aggregate, these are equivalent performers, but the distribution of wins reveals distinct personalities.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the clear victor in legacy and single-threaded workloads. Its overwhelming margins in Cinebench R15, which is an older benchmark, suggest that it excels in applications that are less optimized for multi-core scaling or that rely on efficient instruction execution per cycle. The single-core Geekbench win reinforces this, pointing to strong per-thread performance that can benefit everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications. This makes the 5625U a compelling choice for office productivity, web browsing, and software that does not heavily utilize all available cores.

The Intel Core i7-8700B, conversely, demonstrates its strength in modern, heavily threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is its most significant win, and it also edges out AMD in Geekbench multi-core. This suggests that Intel's higher sustained clock speeds and potentially better power delivery in a desktop form factor allow it to maintain performance under sustained multi-threaded loads. Creative professionals working with video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation, where Cinebench R23-like workloads are common, would likely favor the Intel part. The near-tie in R23 single-core (2.1% difference) indicates that for most single-threaded tasks, users would struggle to notice a difference, but the multi-core advantage in newer tests is tangible.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is built on the Zen 3 architecture using a 7 nm process node from TSMC, packing 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-8700B uses the older Coffee Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm node, with a smaller die size of 154 mm² and no transistor count listed in the data. This process advantage is likely a major factor in AMD's impressive Cinebench R15 efficiency, as the smaller node allows for lower power consumption and potentially higher instructions per clock.

Cache configurations also differ notably. AMD provides 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while Intel offers only 256 KB of L2 per core and 12 MB of shared L3. This larger cache hierarchy on the AMD side could explain its superiority in certain latency-sensitive workloads, as more data can be stored closer to the cores. The memory bandwidth figures corroborate this, with AMD supporting 51.2 GB/s versus Intel's 42.7 GB/s, though both use dual-channel DDR4.

Another critical distinction is the market segment and power envelope. The 5625U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, while the 8700B is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. This 50-watt difference is enormous, yet the AMD chip still manages to compete and even win in several benchmarks. This speaks to the architectural efficiency of Zen 3, though the Intel part's higher power budget likely enables its sustained multi-core performance. The 5625U uses an AMD Socket FP6, while the 8700B uses Intel BGA 1440, and both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. AMD also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not, and the integrated graphics differ: Radeon Vega 7 on AMD versus UHD Graphics 630 on Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win Cinebench R15 but lose Cinebench R23?

A: The data shows AMD wins R15 multi-core by 44% and single-core by 58.2%, but loses R23 multi-core by 16.9% and single-core by 2.1%. This suggests the newer R23 workload favors Intel's higher clock speeds, while R15 benefits from AMD's architectural efficiency.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance tier overall?

A: Yes, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 3096 and Intel at 3086, a 0.3% difference. Both sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has a TDP of 15 W, making it a mobile-class chip, while the Intel Core i7-8700B has a 65 W TDP and is a desktop processor.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR4, but AMD has a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s compared to Intel's 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-8700B has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

• Base Clock: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is 2.30 GHz; Intel Core i7-8700B is 3.20 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is 4.30 GHz; Intel Core i7-8700B is 4.60 GHz
• TDP: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is 15 W; Intel Core i7-8700B is 65 W
• Socket: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U uses AMD Socket FP6; Intel Core i7-8700B uses Intel BGA 1440
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U uses 7 nm (TSMC); Intel Core i7-8700B uses 14 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has 10,700 million; Intel Core i7-8700B has no listed data
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is 180 mm²; Intel Core i7-8700B is 154 mm²
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has 512 KB per core; Intel Core i7-8700B has 256 KB per core
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has 16 MB shared; Intel Core i7-8700B has 12 MB shared
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is 51.2 GB/s; Intel Core i7-8700B is 42.7 GB/s
• ECC Memory: Supported on AMD Ryzen 5 5625U; not supported on Intel Core i7-8700B
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 7 on AMD; UHD Graphics 630 on Intel
• Market Segment: Mobile for AMD; Desktop for Intel
• Production Status: Active for AMD; End-of-life for Intel
• Release Date: 2022-01-05 for AMD; 2018-04-02 for Intel
• Launch MSRP: None for AMD; $303 for Intel

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced recommendation. For users prioritizing legacy application compatibility or single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the clear winner, evidenced by its 44% and 58.2% leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, respectively, alongside its 5.4% Geekbench single-core victory. Its 15 W TDP also makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile devices, and the inclusion of ECC memory support adds value for specific professional use cases.

For those running modern, multi-threaded workloads like 3D rendering or video encoding, the Intel Core i7-8700B is the stronger choice, with a 16.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 3.7% advantage in Geekbench multi-core. The higher base and boost clocks contribute to this, and the desktop form factor with 65 W TDP allows for sustained performance. However, given that the Intel part is end-of-life and the AMD chip is active, the latter offers a more future-proof option. The near-identical average scores suggest that for general mixed use, users will not notice a dramatic difference, but the specific workload profile should dictate the selection.