AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS vs Intel Core i7-6850K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS edges ahead with an average benchmark score of 3122, versus 3079 for the Intel Core i7-6850K. That is a difference of roughly 1.4%, placing both chips at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded Cinebench R23 rendering?

A: The Intel Core i7-6850K wins this test with a score of 9672, which is 5.9% higher than the Ryzen 5 6600HS’s 9131. Despite being an older desktop part, Intel’s six-core Broadwell-E design holds a clear lead in this heavy all-core workload.

Q: What about single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 6600HS dominates in single-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1465 versus 1365 for the Intel chip, a 6.8% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the gap is far larger: 235 versus 137, a 41.7% lead for AMD.

Q: Are both processors six-core, twelve-thread parts?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i7-6850K and the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS feature 6 cores and 12 threads. However, they differ dramatically in process node (14 nm Intel versus 6 nm TSMC) and power envelope (140 W versus 35 W TDP).

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i7-6850K provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 6600HS offers 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). Intel has double the lane count, but AMD’s lanes are the newer Gen 4 specification.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 6600HS include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it features a Radeon 660M iGPU. The Intel Core i7-6850K has no integrated graphics listed in the data, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS is the clear winner for single-threaded workloads and short, lightly threaded tasks. Its 41.7% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (235 vs. 137) is staggering, and it maintains a 6.8% edge in Cinebench R23 single-core (1465 vs. 1365). For everyday responsiveness, office work, and any application that relies heavily on a single core, the Ryzen part is decisively faster. Its 4.50 GHz boost clock versus 3.80 GHz on the Intel chip explains much of this advantage.

The Intel Core i7-6850K wins the most demanding multi-threaded rendering test in the data set. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 9672, beating the Ryzen’s 9131 by 5.9%. This suggests that for sustained, all-core rendering workloads—like long video encodes or 3D scene renders—the older Intel part still holds its own. However, the Ryzen wins the other multi-core test (Cinebench R15 multi-core) by a massive 41.2% margin (1656 vs. 974), which complicates the picture. The R15 result likely reflects the Ryzen’s much higher boost frequency and newer architecture, while the R23 result may favor Intel’s larger 15 MB L3 cache and higher sustained power delivery. In practice, the Ryzen is the better all-rounder for multi-core work, but the Intel chip is not obsolete in this category.

For platform expansion, the Intel Core i7-6850K wins big with 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes on the Ryzen. That matters for users running multiple GPUs or high-bandwidth add-in cards. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Ryzen 5 6600HS is locked. Conversely, the Ryzen wins on memory technology, supporting DDR5 (dual-channel) versus DDR4 (quad-channel) on Intel, though both deliver identical theoretical memory bandwidth at 76.8 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-6850K is built on Broadwell-E, the high-end desktop variant of Intel’s 14 nm process, manufactured in-house. It uses the older Broadwell architecture with 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 6600HS is based on AMD’s Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, fabricated by TSMC on a 6 nm process. The AMD chip’s die size is 208 mm²; transistor count is not listed in the data. The process node advantage alone—6 nm versus 14 nm—explains a large part of the Ryzen’s superior efficiency and clock headroom.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the Ryzen 5 6600HS doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core. L3 cache is 15 MB shared on Intel versus 16 MB shared on AMD, a modest but real difference. The Intel part uses a quad-channel memory bus with DDR4 support, while the Ryzen uses a dual-channel DDR5 bus. Both achieve 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Ryzen integrates a Radeon 660M GPU, which the Intel chip lacks entirely.

The Intel part is a desktop processor on Socket 2011-3, with a 140 W TDP and unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 5 6600HS is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP7, with a 35 W TDP and a locked multiplier. The Ryzen’s production status is active, while the Intel chip is end-of-life. The Intel part was released on May 30, 2016, with a launch MSRP of $617. The Ryzen’s release date and MSRP are not provided.

Specification Differences

• Base clock: Intel Core i7-6850K runs at 3.60 GHz; AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS at 3.30 GHz.
• Boost clock: Intel boosts to 3.80 GHz; AMD boosts to 4.50 GHz.
• TDP: Intel draws 140 W; AMD draws 35 W.
• Process node: Intel uses 14 nm; AMD uses 6 nm.
• L2 cache: Intel has 256 KB per core; AMD has 512 KB per core.
• L3 cache: Intel has 15 MB shared; AMD has 16 MB shared.
• Memory support: Intel supports DDR4 (quad-channel); AMD supports DDR5 (dual-channel).
• PCIe: Intel offers 40 Gen 3 lanes; AMD offers 20 Gen 4 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: Intel has none; AMD has Radeon 660M.
• Socket: Intel uses Socket 2011-3; AMD uses Socket FP7.
• Multiplier: Intel is unlocked; AMD is locked.
• Market segment: Intel is desktop; AMD is mobile.
• Production status: Intel is end-of-life; AMD is active.
• Part number: Intel is SR2PC; AMD is 100-000000546100-000000562.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1656 against the Intel’s 974. That is a 41.2% deficit for the Intel part—an enormous margin that highlights how far mobile processors have come. The Ryzen’s 4.50 GHz boost clock and Zen 3+ architecture tear through short all-core bursts, while the Intel chip’s lower clock speed and older design hold it back.

Even more lopsided is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen scores 235 versus 137 for Intel, a 41.7% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in the entire data set, and it underscores the generational gap in instructions-per-clock and frequency. For any single-threaded task from the R15 era, the Ryzen is nearly 1.7 times faster.

The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1465 versus 1365, a 6.8% edge. The margin narrows considerably in this newer test, suggesting that Intel’s Broadwell core is relatively stronger in modern single-threaded workloads than in older ones. Still, AMD takes the win.

The Intel Core i7-6850K’s sole victory is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 9672 against the Ryzen’s 9131, a 5.9% advantage. This is the only benchmark in the head-to-head set where Intel leads, and it is a meaningful one for sustained rendering tasks. The Intel part’s 15 MB L3 cache and 140 W TDP likely contribute to its ability to maintain high all-core throughput in this longer workload, while the Ryzen’s 35 W mobile power envelope may cause it to throttle back.

Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS wins three of the four head-to-head benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 3122 versus 3079 for Intel. The Intel chip’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X, scores 3068 (0.3% lower), while the Ryzen 5 6600HS’s closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U, scores 3124 (0.1% higher). Both chips sit in a tight performance cluster, but the Ryzen’s single-core dominance and efficiency make it the stronger overall choice for most workloads.