AMD Ryzen 5 6600U vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U wins only 2. The Intel chip takes single-core, multi-core, and most specialized workloads; the AMD chip wins only in data compression and integer math.

Q: How big is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V leads by 33.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1950 vs 1456.5) and by 36.5% in PassMark single-thread (4274 vs 3132). In Cinebench R15 single-core, the lead is 29.4% (301.5 vs 233). These are substantial margins for applications that rely on one or two fast threads.

Q: Does the AMD chip have any advantages in compute workloads?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 5 6600U wins PassMark integer math by 28.7% (61723 vs 44019) and PassMark data compression by 7.4% (201364 vs 186521). These wins suggest the AMD part has strengths in specific integer-heavy and data-compression tasks, despite losing most other benchmarks.

Q: What about multi-threaded rendering performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V leads in multi-core Cinebench tests by 6% in R15 (1583 vs 1493) and by 11.1% in R23 (10178 vs 9159.5). It also wins PassMark multithread by 16.4% (19810 vs 17026). So for rendering workloads, Intel is consistently ahead, though the margin is not enormous.

Q: How do the two chips compare in floating-point and physics workloads?

A: The Intel chip dominates heavily. It wins PassMark floating-point math by 75.2% (59536 vs 33991) and PassMark physics by 98.4% (1637 vs 825). The physics gap is nearly 2-to-1, which indicates a major advantage in simulation and physics-heavy tasks.

Q: What is the overall average benchmark score difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has an average benchmark score of 23219, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U scores 22897. That puts the Intel chip about 1.4% higher overall. Both CPUs sit at the 76th percentile among all CPUs, so they are in the same performance tier despite the individual benchmark swings.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is built on Lunar Lake architecture using a 3 nm process node from TSMC. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The chip draws a 30 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 2833 socket. Memory support is LPDDR5X on a dual-channel bus, delivering 136.5 GB/s of bandwidth. The integrated graphics are Arc 140V. The CPU supports PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U uses Zen 3+ architecture under the Rembrandt codename, fabricated on a 6 nm process node from TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The TDP is much lower at 15 W, and it uses the AMD Socket FP7. Memory support is DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth — notably less than the Intel chip. The integrated graphics are Radeon 660M. The AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The AMD die size is listed at 208 mm².

The cache layouts differ significantly. Intel provides 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has a much larger per-core L2 cache, while the AMD chip has more total L3. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The core/thread counts tell a different story: Intel has 8 cores and 8 threads (no simultaneous multithreading), while AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads (with SMT). This means the AMD chip can process more threads concurrently despite having fewer physical cores. Yet the Intel chip still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, which points to higher per-core efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V dominates the head-to-head results. The largest single win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 195 versus AMD's 51 — a 282.4% advantage. This is an extreme outlier that shows Intel's massive lead in prime-number computation. Physics also favors Intel heavily: 1637 vs 825, a 98.4% delta. Floating-point math goes to Intel by 75.2% (59536 vs 33991).

The single-core Cinebench results consistently favor Intel. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads by 33.9% (1950 vs 1456.5). In R15 single-core, the gap is 29.4% (301.5 vs 233). PassMark single-thread shows a 36.5% lead (4274 vs 3132). These are not marginal differences; the Intel core is substantially faster per thread.

Multi-core Cinebench results also go to Intel, but with smaller margins. In R23 multi-core, Intel scores 10178 versus 9159.5, an 11.1% lead. In R15 multi-core, Intel leads by 6% (1583 vs 1493). PassMark multithread shows Intel ahead by 16.4% (19810 vs 17026). The AMD chip's extra threads (12 vs 8) do not overcome Intel's per-core advantage.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U takes two wins. In PassMark integer math, AMD scores 61723 versus Intel's 44019, a 28.7% lead. In PassMark data compression, AMD scores 201364 versus 186521, a 7.4% lead. These are meaningful wins in specific workloads, but they are isolated. Elsewhere, Intel wins data encryption by 10.6% (14141 vs 12783), extended instructions by 16.9% (15613 vs 13356), and random string sorting by 6.5% (22622 vs 21241).

The overall benchmark score comparison shows Intel at 23219 average, with nearest rival Intel Core i9-11900F at 23254 (0.2% lower) and AMD EPYC 4124P at 23167 (0.2% higher). The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U averages 22897, with nearest rival AMD Ryzen 5 2600X at 22823 (0.3% higher) and AMD Ryzen 5 7535U at 22791 (0.5% higher). Both chips sit in the same performance neighborhood overall.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has 8 cores and 8 threads; the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel's base clock is 3.30 GHz versus AMD's 2.90 GHz, and Intel's boost clock is 5.10 GHz versus AMD's 4.50 GHz. Intel's TDP is 30 W, double AMD's 15 W. This means the Intel chip consumes more power to deliver its performance.

The process node is a major difference: Intel uses 3 nm, AMD uses 6 nm, both from TSMC. The socket differs (Intel BGA 2833 vs AMD Socket FP7). Memory support is LPDDR5X for Intel and DDR5 for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 136.5 GB/s for Intel versus 76.8 GB/s for AMD — a 78% difference in bandwidth. The PCIe support also differs: Intel offers Gen 5 with 4 lanes, AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

Cache configurations are distinct. Intel's L1 is 192 KB per core, L2 is 2.5 MB per core, and L3 is 12 MB shared. AMD's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 512 KB per core, and L3 is 16 MB shared. This means Intel has far more L2 cache per core but less total L3. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses Arc 140V, AMD uses Radeon 660M.

The AMD chip has a listed die size of 208 mm², while Intel's die size is not provided. Neither CPU has ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The release date for Intel is September 2024; AMD's release date is not listed. Both are mobile market segment parts with active production status.

The Verdict

The data points clearly in one direction: the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is the faster processor in the vast majority of tests. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, with particularly large margins in single-core performance, physics, floating-point math, and prime-number computation. The 33.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and the 36.5% lead in PassMark single-thread are decisive for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600U is not without merit. It wins integer math by 28.7% and data compression by 7.4%. Its lower 15 W TDP means it uses half the power of the Intel chip (30 W). For workloads that are specifically integer-heavy or compression-focused, the AMD part is competitive. However, the overall average benchmark score favors Intel (23219 vs 22897), and both CPUs sit at the same 76th percentile.

The Intel chip's higher memory bandwidth (136.5 GB/s vs 76.8 GB/s) likely contributes to its wins in data encryption and extended instructions. Its smaller process node (3 nm vs 6 nm) helps with efficiency per core, though the higher TDP shows the tradeoff. The AMD chip's larger L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB) does not translate into broad benchmark wins.

For most users, the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is the better choice based purely on performance data. The AMD chip makes sense only if power consumption is the top priority and the specific workloads are integer math or data compression. Otherwise, the Intel part's comprehensive benchmark dominance makes it the clear pick.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core Ultra 9 288V wins in: single-core workloads of all types (Cinebench R15 and R23, PassMark single-thread), multi-core rendering (Cinebench R15 and R23, PassMark multithread), physics simulation (98.4% lead), floating-point math (75.2% lead), prime number finding (282.4% lead), data encryption (10.6% lead), extended instructions (16.9% lead), and random string sorting (6.5% lead). This makes it the superior choice for rendering, scientific computing, encryption, and general productivity.

AMD Ryzen 5 6600U wins in: integer math (28.7% lead) and data compression (7.4% lead). These wins point to specific use cases like integer-heavy database operations, compression utilities, and certain data-processing tasks. The AMD chip also has a 15 W TDP versus Intel's 30 W, which is half the power draw — relevant for battery-constrained mobile designs. Its 12 threads versus Intel's 8 threads could benefit workloads that scale with thread count, though the benchmark data shows Intel still wins multithread tests.

The practical split: choose the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V for general performance, creative work, and anything that benefits from high single-core speed. Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 6600U for power-sensitive designs and specialized integer/compression workloads where its wins matter more than the overall benchmark deficit.