AMD Ryzen 5 5625U vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U and the Intel Core i7-9700E reveals a split personality, with each processor dominating in different workloads. The recorded data shows six head-to-head benchmark tests, with the AMD chip winning four and the Intel chip taking two.

The most dramatic divergence appears in the Cinebench R15 tests. In the multicore run, the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U scores 1447 against the Intel Core i7-9700E's 1069, a 35.4% advantage. That is a substantial margin, suggesting the AMD processor's thread count advantage is heavily leveraged in this older rendering workload. The single-core R15 test is even more lopsided: AMD scores 223 versus Intel's 150, a 48.7% lead. This is a striking result, as single-core performance is often considered a stronghold for Intel's higher clock speeds, yet the data shows the AMD Zen 3 architecture decisively outperforming the Coffee Lake part here.

However, the tables turn completely in the Cinebench R23 tests. The Intel Core i7-9700E scores 10613 in multicore, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U manages 8290, meaning Intel is ahead by 21.9%. This is a remarkable reversal from the R15 results. The newer R23 workload appears to scale better with the Intel processor's eight physical cores, even though it lacks hyper-threading. In single-core R23, Intel also wins, scoring 1498 against AMD's 1379, a 7.9% margin. This suggests that while AMD wins in the older R15 test, Intel's higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 4.30 GHz, combined with its architecture, gives it the edge in the more modern rendering benchmark.

The Geekbench results are much closer, with AMD taking both wins by narrow margins. In multicore, AMD scores 5718 versus Intel's 5661, a 1% difference. In single-core, AMD scores 1521 versus Intel's 1497, a 1.6% lead. These are tight races, indicating that in general-purpose compute tasks, the two processors are nearly equivalent, with AMD holding a slight but consistent advantage.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U sits at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 3096. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-2133 and Intel Core i7-8700B, both within 0.3% of its score. The Intel Core i7-9700E, meanwhile, holds the 53rd percentile with an average score of 3197, placing it just ahead of the AMD chip in overall ranking. Its closest rival is the Intel Core i3-13100T, with a 0% delta. This means that despite the Ryzen 5's head-to-head wins, the Intel part is slightly higher in the aggregate database standings, a nuance worth investigating.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U wins four out of six tests, including both Geekbench tests and both Cinebench R15 tests. The Intel Core i7-9700E wins the two Cinebench R23 tests.

Q: How large is the AMD processor's single-core advantage in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U scores 223 in Cinebench R15 single-core, compared to the Intel Core i7-9700E's 150, a 48.7% lead. This is the largest margin in any benchmark between the two.

Q: Does the Intel processor ever win by a significant margin?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core i7-9700E scores 10613 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U's 8290, a 21.9% difference. This is the only test where Intel wins by more than 8%.

Q: How close are the Geekbench scores?

A: Very close. In multicore, AMD scores 5718 and Intel scores 5661, a 1% difference. In single-core, AMD scores 1521 and Intel scores 1497, a 1.6% difference. Both tests are within the margin of a tight race.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has an average benchmark score of 3096, while the Intel Core i7-9700E has an average score of 3197. The Intel chip holds a 53rd percentile rank versus AMD's 52nd.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This 0.10 GHz difference may contribute to Intel's wins in the R23 tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the clear winner in legacy and general-purpose workloads. Its 35.4% and 48.7% victories in Cinebench R15 multicore and single-core, respectively, point to a processor that excels in older rendering tasks and applications that leverage its 12 threads. The Geekbench results, with AMD leading by 1% in multicore and 1.6% in single-core, further cement its position as the better choice for everyday computing, web browsing, and productivity tasks that rely on responsiveness and quick single-thread execution. The data suggests that the Zen 3 architecture, with its 7 nm process and efficient design, provides a robust platform for mixed workloads where both core count and per-thread performance matter.

The Intel Core i7-9700E, by contrast, takes the crown in more demanding, modern threaded workloads. Its 21.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is a decisive statement. This benchmark is known to stress sustained multicore performance, and the Intel chip's eight physical cores, running at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and boosting to 4.40 GHz, appear to handle this load more effectively than the AMD chip's six cores with simultaneous multithreading. The 7.9% win in R23 single-core is also notable, indicating that for the latest generation of rendering and content creation software, Intel's Coffee Lake architecture still has an edge. Users who run heavy video encodes, 3D renders, or scientific simulations in modern software would likely favor the Intel part.

The use-case split is therefore clear. For a general-purpose machine, whether for office work, light content creation, or as a mobile workstation, the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the stronger performer, as evidenced by its wins in Geekbench and R15. For a desktop system dedicated to current-generation rendering and heavily threaded production tasks, the Intel Core i7-9700E's R23 results make it the preferable option. The data does not support one processor being universally superior; it depends entirely on the software generation and workload types.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several fundamental specification points. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads. This means AMD relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach 12 threads, whereas Intel runs with only one thread per core. The base clocks differ as well: AMD runs at 2.30 GHz, Intel at 2.60 GHz. On the boost side, AMD reaches 4.30 GHz, while Intel boosts slightly higher to 4.40 GHz.

The thermal design power is a major differentiator. The AMD chip has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 65 watts. This 50-watt gap reflects their intended market segments, with AMD being a mobile part and Intel being a desktop part. The sockets confirm this: AMD uses the FP6 socket (mobile), while Intel uses Socket 1151 (desktop). The AMD processor is marked as "Active" in production, while the Intel chip is "End-of-life."

Memory support is also different. Both support DDR4 and dual-channel memory, but AMD has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while Intel has 42.7 GB/s. Additionally, the AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), so expansion capabilities are similar.

The integrated graphics differ as well. AMD uses Radeon Vega 7, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 630. The release dates are separated by nearly three years: AMD launched on 2022-01-05, while Intel launched on 2019-04-22. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $323, which is stated once here for reference.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Barcelo, and belongs to the 5000 series. It is fabricated on a 7 nm process node by TSMC, with a die size of 180 mm² and a transistor count of 10,700 million. The Intel Core i7-9700E, in contrast, uses the Coffee Lake architecture (specifically Coffee Lake Refresh), fabricated on a 14 nm process by Intel, with a die size of 180.3 mm² and no transistor count listed in the database.

The cache hierarchies are notably different. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip also has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the AMD chip has twice as much L2 cache per core and 4 MB more L3 cache, which likely contributes to its strong single-core performance in the R15 tests.

The process node difference is a major factor. AMD's 7 nm process allows for higher transistor density and better power efficiency, which explains how the Ryzen 5 5625U delivers competitive performance at a 15-watt TDP versus Intel's 65 watts. The Intel chip's 14 nm process is older, but its desktop-oriented design with more physical cores and higher clocks offsets this in certain workloads. The AMD chip's memory bandwidth advantage of 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s also reflects the newer memory controller design on the Zen 3 architecture.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, if nuanced, verdict. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the better choice for mobile and general-purpose computing. Its 48.7% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 35.4% lead in multicore demonstrate its superiority in legacy applications. Its wins in Geekbench, though narrow, show consistent strength in everyday tasks. The fact that it achieves this at a 15-watt TDP, versus Intel's 65 watts, makes it an exceptional fit for laptops and power-constrained systems. The ECC memory support also gives it an edge in reliability-focused workloads. Its 4 wins in head-to-head benchmarks, despite a lower average benchmark score, indicate that its performance profile is better suited to a wider range of common tasks.

The Intel Core i7-9700E is the better choice for desktop users running modern, heavily threaded software. Its 21.9% win in Cinebench R23 multicore is the decisive metric here. For users who prioritize current-generation rendering, video editing, or scientific computing, the Intel chip's eight physical cores and higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz deliver tangible benefits. Its higher average benchmark score of 3197 and 53rd percentile ranking also suggest that, in aggregate, it is the more powerful processor. However, its 65-watt TDP and end-of-life production status make it less appealing for new, power-sensitive builds.

Ultimately, the choice hinges on the workload generation and platform. For a modern mobile device or a general-purpose desktop where older software is common, the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the data-backed pick. For a stationary desktop dedicated to the latest rendering tasks, the Intel Core i7-9700E wins. The database does not declare a single victor; it presents two distinct performance profiles, and the user's needs dictate the correct selection.