AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS vs Intel Core i7-9700E Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700E and AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS represent two very different approaches to CPU design, separated by process node, architecture generation, and market segment. The Intel part is a desktop Coffee Lake processor from 2019, built on 14 nm and aimed at mainstream desktops, while the AMD chip is a mobile Rembrandt processor from the 6000 series, built on 6 nm and designed for laptops. Despite these differences, their average benchmark scores are close: the Intel Core i7-9700E averages 3197 across its recorded tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS averages 3122. That places the Intel chip at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, versus the 52nd percentile for the AMD chip. The head-to-head tests, however, tell a more nuanced story, with each processor winning exactly two of the four shared benchmarks. The following analysis walks through the recorded data to clarify where each chip stands and who should consider it.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct use cases. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS is the stronger choice for anyone prioritizing single-thread performance and older multi-threaded workloads, as it wins decisively in Cinebench R15 both single-core and multi-core. Its 35 W TDP also makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency matters. The Intel Core i7-9700E, meanwhile, wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core by a meaningful margin, indicating an advantage in sustained, modern multi-threaded rendering tasks. Its 65 W TDP and desktop socket suggest it belongs in a conventional desktop tower where cooling and power delivery are less constrained. For a laptop buyer, the AMD chip is the logical pick based on the recorded benchmark wins and lower power envelope. For a desktop user running modern multi-core workloads, the Intel chip offers the higher multi-core score. Neutral database analysis shows that neither chip dominates outright; the choice hinges on workload type and platform preference.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and foundries. The Intel Core i7-9700E uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, built on TSMC's 6 nm process. This process difference is significant: the smaller node typically allows higher transistor density and better power efficiency, which is consistent with the AMD chip's lower 35 W TDP versus the Intel chip's 65 W TDP.

Core counts differ as well. The Intel part has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, while the AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, with simultaneous multithreading enabled. That gives the AMD chip more logical threads (12 versus 8) but fewer physical cores. Cache layouts also diverge. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 per core, whereas the AMD chip doubles that to 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is larger on the AMD side: 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared on Intel.

Memory support differs fundamentally. The Intel chip uses DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, yielding a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with a much higher 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. This nearly doubles the theoretical memory throughput, which can matter in bandwidth-sensitive workloads. PCIe capabilities also differ: the Intel chip offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. That gives the AMD platform more and faster expansion lanes.

Integrated graphics are distinct as well. The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD chip features Radeon 660M. The die sizes reflect their different designs: the Intel chip measures 180.3 mm², and the AMD chip measures 208 mm², despite having fewer cores. The AMD chip is socketed into AMD Socket FP7, a mobile platform, whereas the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151 for desktops. The Intel part is marked end-of-life in the database, while the AMD part is listed as active production. The Intel chip has a recorded launch MSRP of $323, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The shared benchmark suite includes four tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS wins the first two; the Intel Core i7-9700E wins the latter two.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 1656 against the Intel chip's 1069. That is a 35.4% advantage for AMD, a substantial lead in this older multi-threaded test. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a similar pattern: AMD scores 235 versus Intel's 150, a 36.2% difference. These are large deltas, indicating that the AMD chip's architecture delivers significantly better performance per core in this workload, likely due to its higher base clock (3.30 GHz versus 2.60 GHz), higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz), and newer process node.

The picture reverses in Cinebench R23. In multi-core, the Intel Core i7-9700E scores 10613 against the AMD chip's 9131, giving Intel a 16.2% lead. This is a notable swing: the AMD chip that was 35% ahead in R15 multi-core falls behind by 16% in R23 multi-core. The single-core R23 test is much closer: Intel scores 1498, AMD scores 1465, a 2.3% edge for Intel. These results suggest that the Intel chip scales better in the newer Cinebench version, possibly due to its higher core count (8 versus 6) and more mature driver or instruction scheduling for that workload.

The head-to-head tally ends at 2 wins each. The AMD chip's wins are larger in magnitude (35.4% and 36.2% versus 16.2% and 2.3%), but the Intel chip wins the more modern multi-core test. Average benchmark scores from the full database place the Intel chip slightly higher (3197 versus 3122), a difference of about 2.4%, but the percentile ranking is nearly identical (53rd versus 52nd). This indicates that, across all recorded tests, the two processors perform at a similar overall level despite their divergent strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E scores 10613 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS scores 9131. Intel leads by 16.2%.

Q: How much faster is the AMD chip in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS scores 1656 versus the Intel Core i7-9700E's 1069, a 35.4% advantage for AMD.

Q: Do the two processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which chip supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-9700E supports DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the TDP ratings of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700E has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, slightly higher than the Intel Core i7-9700E's 4.40 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS is the clear winner in Cinebench R15, both multi-core and single-core, with leads of 35.4% and 36.2% respectively. This indicates that for older software or workloads that resemble Cinebench R15's rendering model, the AMD chip offers a substantial performance advantage. Its higher base clock (3.30 GHz) and boost clock (4.50 GHz) likely contribute to this. Additionally, its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for laptops, where thermal limits are tighter. The chip's DDR5 support and 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth also provide an edge in memory-intensive tasks, even though the benchmark data does not directly measure memory performance.

The Intel Core i7-9700E wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core by 16.2%, a significant margin in a more modern rendering benchmark. This suggests that for current multi-threaded applications, the Intel chip's 8 physical cores provide an advantage over the AMD chip's 6 cores, despite the AMD chip having 12 threads. The Intel chip also edges out a narrow 2.3% win in Cinebench R23 single-core, indicating that its per-core performance in newer tests is slightly better. The Intel chip's desktop platform, with a 65 W TDP and Intel Socket 1151, targets users who build or upgrade desktops. Its DDR4 support and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth are older but still functional for mainstream workloads.

In terms of overall database standing, the Intel chip has a slightly higher average benchmark score (3197 versus 3122) and a marginally better percentile rank (53rd versus 52nd). The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the Intel Core i3-13100T with an average score of 3198 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E-2136 at 3193 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3202 (-0.2% delta). For the AMD chip, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 3 5425U at 3124 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Core i3-13100TE at 3111 (0.4% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U at 3096 (0.8% delta). These figures show that both chips sit within a tight performance cluster, with neither having a decisive overall edge.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several key differences between the two processors. The Intel Core i7-9700E has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ: 2.60 GHz for Intel, 3.30 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 4.40 GHz and AMD at 4.50 GHz. TDP ratings are 65 W for Intel and 35 W for AMD. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP7. Architecture names differ: Coffee Lake versus Zen 3+, with process nodes of 14 nm (Intel) and 6 nm (TSMC for AMD). The foundry for Intel is Intel, while AMD uses TSMC. Die sizes are 180.3 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD. Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3: Intel has 256 KB L2 per core and 12 MB shared L3, while AMD has 512 KB L2 per core and 16 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD, with bandwidths of 42.7 GB/s and 76.8 GB/s respectively. PCIe capabilities are Gen 3 with 16 lanes for Intel and Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 for Intel and Radeon 660M for AMD. The market segments are Desktop for Intel and Mobile for AMD. Production status differs: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $323, while AMD has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.