AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 8600G and Intel Core i5-14490F are both six-core-plus desktop processors aimed at different priorities. The data in the database shows a clear split: the Intel part wins the vast majority of head-to-head tests, while the AMD part takes a few narrow victories. The i5-14490F holds a higher overall percentile ranking (86th vs. 76th), and its average benchmark score of 38,149 dwarfs the Ryzen’s 24,089. That gap is large, but the details matter more than the aggregate.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14490F wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The most lopsided result is in PassMark physics, where Intel scores 2,093 against the Ryzen 5 8600G’s 1,450, a 30.7% advantage. Floating point math follows a similar pattern: Intel posts 66,558 versus 47,919, a 28% lead. Those two tests are the strongest evidence of the Intel part’s computational advantage.

Integer math also favors Intel, with 87,844 versus 77,042, a 12.3% edge. Data compression shows a bigger gap: Intel scores 340,026, while AMD manages 293,306, a 13.7% difference. Prime number finding is another clear Intel win, 122 versus 96, a 21.3% margin. Multithread performance in PassMark lands at 28,662 for Intel and 25,294 for AMD, an 11.8% gap.

The Cinebench results tell a consistent story. Across R15, R20, and R23, the Intel i5-14490F leads in both single-core and multi-core tests by 6.5% to 6.7%. For example, Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel at 23,000 and AMD at 21,503, a 6.5% difference. Single-core R23 is 3,247 versus 3,035, also 6.5%. The margins are uniform across all three Cinebench versions, which suggests a steady clock-for-clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Data encryption is closer: Intel wins 18,225 versus 17,181, a 5.7% margin. Random string sorting is nearly a tie, with Intel at 35,608 and AMD at 35,067, only 1.5% apart.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins exactly three head-to-head tests. PassMark extended instructions is its largest victory: 22,610 versus 21,731, a 4% lead. That test typically measures AVX-512 or similar wide instruction throughput, and the Zen 4 architecture handles it well. The other two wins are essentially ties in single-thread PassMark: both the single_thread and singlethread tests show AMD at 3,878 and Intel at 3,873, a 0.1% margin. These are so close that they fall within run-to-run noise, but the recorded data lists AMD as the winner.

The 3DMark results appear only for the AMD part in the database, so no direct comparison is possible for those tests. The i5-14490F has no 3DMark entries, and the head-to-head table omits them entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design schools. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G uses a Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors. It is built on the Phoenix codename and fits into the 8000 series. The Intel Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake architecture (specifically Raptor Lake-R) on a 10 nm Intel process, with a die size of 215 mm². The transistor count is not recorded for Intel.

Core counts differ significantly. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 10 cores and 16 threads. That four-core difference explains much of the multi-threaded performance gap. The Intel part uses a hybrid design, though the database does not list performance-core versus efficiency-core counts. The AMD part is monolithic, with all cores running the same architecture. The base clock is 4.30 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel, but both boost to 5.00 GHz. This explains why single-thread scores are so close, the boost clocks match, while the Intel part’s higher core count drives its multi-thread wins.

Cache layout differs as well. AMD provides 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The larger L3 cache on Intel likely helps in compression and physics workloads, where the database shows large Intel margins.

Memory support is another split. AMD supports only DDR5, dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. This means the Intel part can be paired with cheaper or older DDR4 memory, while the AMD part requires DDR5. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe lanes differ. AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has a newer PCIe standard but fewer lanes. The AMD part includes integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while the Intel part has no integrated graphics (N/A). This is a major practical difference for buyers who need a display output without a discrete GPU.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, making overclocking possible. The Intel part is locked. The AMD part uses Socket AM5, while Intel uses Socket 1700. Release dates are close: AMD on 2024-01-07, Intel on 2023-12-31. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of $229; no MSRP is recorded for the Intel part.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-14490F as the stronger processor for multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. Its win count (14 vs. 3), higher percentile (86 vs. 76), and higher average score (38,149 vs. 24,089) all support that conclusion. The physics test shows a 30.7% lead, and floating point math shows 28%. Anyone running rendering, simulations, or heavy number crunching should prefer the Intel part based on these measurements.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins only in extended instructions (by 4%) and by a hair in single-thread PassMark (0.1%). Its real value lies elsewhere: it includes integrated graphics, which the Intel part lacks. For a system without a discrete GPU, the AMD part can output video at all. The Intel part cannot, so it requires a separate graphics card.

The Intel part also has a higher core count (10 vs. 6), which directly explains its multi-core advantages. The AMD part has a higher base clock (4.30 GHz vs. 2.50 GHz), but the equal boost clock (5.00 GHz) keeps single-thread scores nearly tied. Neither part supports ECC memory. The AMD part is unlocked, the Intel part is locked.

For a pure performance comparison, the Intel i5-14490F is the clear winner in the database. The only reasons to choose the AMD part are its integrated graphics, its lower launch MSRP of $229, or a preference for the AM5 platform. The data does not show any scenario where the AMD part outperforms Intel in a meaningful workload except extended instructions. That single 4% win is too narrow to change the overall verdict.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The recorded data shows a near tie. PassMark single-thread scores are 3,878 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G and 3,873 for the Intel Core i5-14490F, a 0.1% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads with 3,247 versus 3,035, a 6.5% margin. The boost clocks are identical at 5.00 GHz, but Intel’s architecture posts higher Cinebench scores.

Q: Why does the Intel part win so many multi-threaded tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has 6 cores and 12 threads. That four-core advantage shows up in every multi-threaded benchmark. For example, PassMark multithread scores 28,662 for Intel versus 25,294 for AMD, an 11.8% gap, and Cinebench R23 multi-core is 23,000 versus 21,503, a 6.5% gap.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The AMD part includes a Radeon 760M integrated GPU. The Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics (N/A in the database). This means the AMD part can run a display without a separate graphics card, while the Intel part requires one.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory. Intel’s memory bandwidth is not recorded, while AMD’s is listed as 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-14490F is locked. This is a notable difference for users who plan to push clock speeds manually.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G sits in the 76th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core i5-14490F sits in the 86th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 24,089 and 38,149, respectively.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14490F wins in every Cinebench test (R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core) by 6.5% to 6.7%. It also wins PassMark data compression (13.7% lead), data encryption (5.7%), find prime numbers (21.3%), floating point math (28%), integer math (12.3%), multithread (11.8%), physics (30.7%), and random string sorting (1.5%). These are all compute-heavy or memory-latency-sensitive workloads. The Intel part is the choice for rendering, physics simulation, compression, and any task that scales with core count.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins PassMark extended instructions by 4%, which points to wide vector instruction handling. It also wins the two PassMark single-thread tests by 0.1%, though that is effectively a tie. Its real advantage is not in the benchmark table but in features: it has integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while Intel has none. It also has a higher base clock (4.30 GHz vs. 2.50 GHz) and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, whereas Intel uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The AMD part is unlocked, has a launch MSRP of $229, and uses the AM5 socket.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 8600G | Intel Core i5-14490F |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 (Phoenix) | Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-R) |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die size | 178 mm² | 215 mm² |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| L1 cache per core | 64 KB | 80 KB |

| L2 cache per core | 1 MB | 1.25 MB |

| L3 cache (shared) | 16 MB | 24 MB |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 760M | N/A |

| ECC memory | No | No |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $229 | Not recorded |

| Release date | 2024-01-07 | 2023-12-31 |

| Part number | 100-000001237 | SRN35 |