AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS vs Intel Core i5-1240P Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part relies on a hybrid architecture to reach those numbers, whereas AMD uses a conventional 6-core design.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P records an average benchmark score of 3202, placing it at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS scores 3122 on average, which puts it at the 52nd percentile. The Intel part is roughly 2.6% higher in aggregate score.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 9392, beating the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS (9131) by 2.9%. This is the largest multi-core advantage for Intel in the recorded head-to-head tests.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 1656, ahead of the Intel Core i5-1240P (1566.5) by 5.4%. The results show that the older Cinebench version favors the AMD chip.

Q: What are the manufacturing process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS uses a 6 nm process from TSMC. The smaller process node gives AMD a potential efficiency advantage in the underlying silicon.

Q: Do both processors support PCIe Gen 4?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-1240P and the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. They also both lack ECC memory support and use a dual-channel memory bus.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-1240P is built on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-P codename, and uses Intel's 10 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS is based on Zen 3+ with the Rembrandt codename, fabricated on TSMC's 6 nm node. This process difference is significant: the AMD chip packs its 6 cores into a die size of 208 mm², while the Intel chip's 12-core hybrid design occupies a slightly larger die of 217 mm².

The core configurations differ fundamentally. Intel's Alder Lake design uses a hybrid arrangement with performance and efficiency cores, totaling 12 cores and 16 threads. AMD's Zen 3+ design is a traditional 6-core, 12-thread layout. The cache hierarchies reflect these design choices: Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 12 MB L3 cache. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but a larger shared 16 MB L3 cache.

Memory support also differs. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but AMD specifies a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Intel part.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel includes Iris Xe with 80 execution units, while AMD includes Radeon 660M graphics. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both target the mobile market segment. The Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FP7.

Clock speeds show a notable split. The Intel chip has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The AMD chip has a much higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and a slightly higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The thermal design power also differs: Intel lists 28 W, while AMD lists 35 W. This means the AMD chip draws more power at base operation but also starts from a significantly higher base frequency.

The release dates are not directly comparable in the database: the Intel chip has a recorded release date of February 22, 2022, while the AMD chip's release date is not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results show a split decision, with each processor winning two of the four recorded tests. The Intel Core i5-1240P takes the two newer Cinebench versions, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS takes the two older ones.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 9392 against AMD's 9131, a 2.9% advantage. This is the only multi-core test where Intel wins, and the margin is modest. The result suggests that in the most recent rendering workload, the 12-core Intel design with its hybrid architecture manages to edge out the 6-core AMD chip despite the latter's higher boost clock.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip wins more decisively: 1600 versus 1465, a 9.2% lead. This is the largest delta in either direction across all four tests. The single-core performance of the Intel Alder Lake architecture appears to be a clear strength, likely driven by the high-performance cores and the 4.40 GHz boost clock.

The older Cinebench R15 tests tell a different story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS scores 1656 versus Intel's 1566.5, a 5.4% advantage. This is the largest multi-core win for either chip. The AMD part's higher base clock of 3.30 GHz may contribute to its stronger showing in this workload, which is shorter and less dependent on sustained boost behavior.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip wins again: 235 versus 226, a 3.8% lead. The margin here is smaller than the R23 single-core result, but it still favors the AMD part. This creates an interesting inversion: the two chips trade wins across the older and newer Cinebench generations, with Intel dominating in R23 and AMD dominating in R15.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall balance. The Intel chip's average of 3202 is slightly higher than AMD's 3122, and the percentile rankings are close: 53rd for Intel versus 52nd for AMD. The nearest rivals in the database also show how tight this comparison is: Intel's closest rival is the Intel Core i3-13100T with a delta of 0.1%, while AMD's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U with a delta of -0.1%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock differs substantially: Intel runs at 1700 MHz, while AMD runs at 3.30 GHz. The boost clocks are closer: Intel at 4.40 GHz and AMD at 4.50 GHz.

The thermal design power differs by 7 W: Intel at 28 W and AMD at 35 W. The process nodes are different: Intel uses 10 nm from its own foundry, while AMD uses 6 nm from TSMC. The die sizes are close: Intel at 217 mm² and AMD at 208 mm².

Cache configurations differ across all levels. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 12 MB L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a larger shared 16 MB L3. The L3 cache advantage goes to AMD by 4 MB, but Intel has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. The memory bandwidth is listed for AMD at 76.8 GB/s, but no figure is given for Intel. Both use dual-channel memory buses and neither supports ECC.

The sockets differ: Intel uses Intel BGA 1744, while AMD uses AMD Socket FP7. The integrated graphics differ: Intel has Iris Xe 80EU, while AMD has Radeon 660M. The architectures are distinct: Alder Lake for Intel and Zen 3+ for AMD. The codenames also differ: Alder Lake-P for Intel and Rembrandt for AMD.

The part numbers differ as well: Intel's is SRLD9, while AMD's is 100-000000546100-000000562. The AMD chip belongs to the 6000 series. The release date is recorded only for Intel: February 22, 2022.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1240P wins in scenarios that stress the latest Cinebench R23 workloads. Its 9.2% lead in R23 single-core is the standout result, making it the better choice for lightly threaded tasks that rely on the newest instruction paths and single-core performance. The 2.9% lead in R23 multi-core also suggests that modern multi-threaded rendering workloads slightly favor the Intel chip, despite its lower base clock and higher core count.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS wins in Cinebench R15 workloads, both multi-core and single-core. Its 5.4% lead in R15 multi-core and 3.8% lead in R15 single-core indicate that older rendering workloads, which are less sensitive to architectural differences in newer instruction sets, run better on the AMD part. The higher base clock of 3.30 GHz likely contributes to this advantage in shorter, less sustained workloads.

For users running a mix of older and newer Cinebench versions, the results are closely balanced: each chip wins one multi-core and one single-core test. The overall average benchmark score favors Intel by a small margin (3202 versus 3122), and the percentile rankings are nearly identical (53rd versus 52nd).

The AMD chip's larger 16 MB L3 cache and higher boost clock make it a reasonable choice for workloads that benefit from larger cache footprints and higher peak frequencies. The Intel chip's hybrid core design and 12-core count give it an edge in heavily threaded modern workloads where the efficiency cores can contribute, as demonstrated by the R23 multi-core result.

In practical terms, the Intel Core i5-1240P is preferable for users who prioritize the latest rendering benchmarks and single-core responsiveness in modern applications. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS is preferable for users running older software versions or workloads that respond to higher base clocks and the larger L3 cache. The two chips are close in overall standing, and the choice depends on the specific workload mix.