AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 vs Intel Core i5-1240P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the two processors across the six Cinebench workloads, with each taking wins in different areas. The Intel Core i5-1240P dominates the older R15 and R20 suites, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 strikes back in the newer R23 tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-1240P posts a score of 1566.5 against the AMD's 1151, a 26.5% advantage. The single-core gap is even larger in relative terms: 226 versus 162, putting Intel 28.3% ahead. These are the two biggest margins in the head-to-head set, and they establish the Intel part as the clear leader in this generation of the benchmark.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel lead narrows but remains decisive. The multi-core result is 5632 for Intel against 4796 for AMD, a 14.8% difference. The single-core test shows the same 14.8% delta, with Intel scoring 795 versus AMD's 677. The consistency of that 14.8% figure across both R20 tests suggests a uniform clock-for-clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The tables turn in Cinebench R23. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 scores 11420 in multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-1240P manages 9392. That is a 21.6% win for AMD, a striking reversal given the Intel part's earlier dominance. In single-core R23, the two are nearly tied: AMD at 1612 and Intel at 1600, a razor-thin 0.8% margin in AMD's favor. The single-core R23 result is notable because it shows the Zen-based AMD design holding its own against Alder Lake's hybrid architecture when the workload is light, while the multi-core R23 result suggests that sustained all-core loads favor AMD's higher 65W TDP envelope.

Across all six tests, the Intel Core i5-1240P wins four, with wins in R15 multi-core, R15 single-core, R20 multi-core, and R20 single-core. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 wins two: R23 multi-core and R23 single-core. The average benchmark score in the database puts the AMD at 3303, slightly ahead of the Intel's 3202, which reflects the weight of the newer R23 tests in the overall metric.

Looking at the rival positioning, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 sits at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, with its average score of 3303 matching the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G exactly (0% delta) and edging out the Intel Core i5-11400T by 0.2% (3309 versus 3303). The Intel Core i5-11400T is effectively a dead heat, while the Intel Core i5-11500T trails by 0.5% and the Intel Xeon E-2374G trails by 0.8%. The Intel Core i5-1240P also sits at the 53rd percentile, with an average of 3202, placing it just 0.1% behind the Intel Core i3-13100T (3198) and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-9700E (3197). It edges the Intel Xeon E-2136 by 0.3% and leads the Intel Atom P5342 by 0.5%. Both processors occupy the same percentile band, meaning their overall standings in the database are functionally equivalent despite the different workload profiles.

The Verdict

The data does not deliver a single winner; it delivers two distinct winners for two different contexts. The Intel Core i5-1240P is the stronger performer in the legacy Cinebench R15 and R20 suites, with margins ranging from 14.8% to 28.3%. For anyone running software that scales like those earlier tests, the Intel part is the clear choice. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 wins the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core test by a substantial 21.6%, and it edges out the Intel in R23 single-core by 0.8%. For modern multi-threaded workloads that stress sustained all-core execution, the AMD part holds the advantage.

The Intel Core i5-1240P is a mobile processor with a 28W TDP and 12 cores (16 threads), while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 is a desktop part with a 65W TDP and 6 cores (12 threads). The power envelope difference likely explains the R23 multi-core reversal: the AMD desktop chip can sustain higher clocks under a heavier thermal budget, while the Intel mobile chip may be throttling under prolonged load. The Intel part still wins four of six tests, but the two that matter most for modern rendering workloads belong to AMD.

The user should pick the Intel Core i5-1240P for older software, single-threaded responsiveness, and scenarios where a 28W mobile part is required. The user should pick the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 for modern multi-core rendering, sustained all-core loads, and desktop builds where the 65W TDP and AM4 socket fit the platform. The 53rd percentile ranking for both reinforces that neither is a top-tier part; they are mid-pack performers with different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 wins: Cinebench R23 multi-core (11420 versus 9392, a 21.6% lead). This is the most demanding benchmark in the set and the one most representative of current rendering and productivity workloads. It also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by a hair (1612 versus 1600, 0.8%). The AMD part's higher 65W TDP allows it to maintain performance over long runs, which the R23 multi-core result reflects. It supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel part, which matters for workstation reliability. It has a larger L3 cache at 16 MB shared versus Intel's 12 MB shared, and it offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, though the Intel part's multiplier is locked.

Intel Core i5-1240P wins: Cinebench R15 multi-core (1566.5 versus 1151, 26.5% ahead), R15 single-core (226 versus 162, 28.3% ahead), R20 multi-core (5632 versus 4796, 14.8% ahead), and R20 single-core (795 versus 677, 14.8% ahead). The Intel part has more cores (12 versus 6) and more threads (16 versus 12), which helps in lightly threaded legacy suites. It runs on a 28W TDP, making it suitable for thin mobile designs. It includes integrated Iris Xe 80EU graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4. The Intel part also features PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), and its boost clock reaches 4.40 GHz compared to AMD's 3.90 GHz.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 scores 11420, which is 21.6% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1240P's 9392.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P wins four of the six tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, R15 single-core, R20 multi-core, and R20 single-core. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 wins the two R23 tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel part leads by 28.3% in R15 single-core (226 versus 162) and by 14.8% in R20 single-core (795 versus 677). In R23 single-core, the AMD part leads by 0.8% (1612 versus 1600).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-1240P does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-1240P has integrated graphics, specifically Iris Xe 80EU. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 has no integrated GPU listed.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) generation, using a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-1240P uses the Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-P) on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 217 mm² and no transistor count listed in the database. The process node difference (12 nm versus 10 nm) explains some of the efficiency gap, though the Intel part's much lower 28W TDP versus AMD's 65W TDP is the dominant factor in thermal behavior.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD part has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel design compensates for the smaller L3 with larger per-core L2, which can help in latency-sensitive single-threaded work. The AMD part's larger L3 (16 MB versus 12 MB) may benefit workloads with large shared data sets.

Memory support also separates the two. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core i5-1240P supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel. The Intel part includes PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part's PCIe configuration is not listed in the database. The AMD part supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not. The Intel part has integrated Iris Xe 80EU graphics, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics listed, making a discrete GPU mandatory for the AMD desktop build.

The socket and market segments differ completely. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 uses AMD Socket AM4, targets the desktop segment, and has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-1240P uses Intel BGA 1744, targets mobile, and has a locked multiplier. The AMD release date is 2018-09-18, while the Intel release date is 2022-02-22. The Intel part's base clock is listed as 1700.00 MHz with a 4.40 GHz boost, while the AMD part has a 3.40 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The Intel's higher boost clock aligns with its single-core wins in R15 and R20, while the AMD's lower boost but higher TDP aligns with its R23 multi-core win. Both are marked as Active in production status, and both sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are comparable mid-range performers with opposite workload tendencies.