AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U vs Intel Core i7-870 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload type, though the sample set is limited. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U dominates the only directly comparable multi-threaded test, the Cinebench R15 multicore benchmark, where it scores 624 against the Intel Core i7-870's 271. That is a margin of 56.6 percent in AMD's favor, and it is the sole head-to-head result recorded in the database. The Intel part has no winning benchmark in the direct comparison set.

The Intel Core i7-870 does have its own set of recorded results, but they are all from the Cinebench family and are not mirrored by the AMD chip. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7-870 scores 1132; in R20 singlecore it scores 159; in R23 multicore it scores 2697; and in R23 singlecore it scores 380. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U, meanwhile, has Cinebench R15 singlecore at 142, and Geekbench results of 2202 multicore and 819 singlecore. Because the two CPUs share only one test in the database, the use-case split must be inferred from that single common metric plus the respective average scores.

The average benchmark scores are close: the AMD chip averages 947 across its recorded tests, while the Intel chip averages 928. That is a 2.0 percent gap overall, placing both parts at the 25th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Neither part is a performance outlier in its generation, but the AMD chip's average is buoyed by its strong multicore result, while the Intel chip's average is dragged down by its weak multicore showing.

For workloads that resemble Cinebench R15 multicore, namely heavily threaded rendering or content creation tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the clear choice. For workloads that resemble the Intel chip's singlecore results, the database does not contain a direct comparison, but the Intel part's R20 singlecore score of 159 and R23 singlecore score of 380 suggest it holds its own in lightly threaded tasks. The AMD chip's R15 singlecore score of 142 is lower, but the tests are different generations and are not directly comparable.

In practical terms, the data supports the AMD chip for multi-threaded productivity and the Intel chip for legacy single-threaded tasks, though the absence of shared single-core benchmarks means that conclusion rests on inference rather than direct measurement.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-870 is a desktop part from the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, built on Intel's 45 nm process node. It was released in September 2009 and is now end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is a mobile part from the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process node. It was released in April 2019 and remains active in production.

The transistor counts reflect the generational gap. The Intel chip packs 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The AMD chip packs 4,940 million transistors on a smaller 210 mm² die, thanks to the denser 12 nm process. The AMD part has more than six times the transistor count on a smaller physical footprint, which explains its ability to deliver significantly higher multicore throughput despite a much lower power envelope.

The power difference is stark. The Intel chip has a 95 W TDP and targets the desktop socket 1156. The AMD chip has a 15 W TDP and targets the mobile socket FP5. That is a 6.3x difference in thermal design power, and it speaks to the intended deployment: the Intel part assumes a desktop chassis with active cooling, while the AMD part is designed for thin-and-light laptops where heat dissipation is limited.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has more L1 and L2 per core, which helps feed its wider Zen+ execution units, while the Intel chip has twice the L3 capacity, which can reduce latency for data shared across cores.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip uses DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD chip uses DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part also integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics listed. PCIe support differs as well: the Intel chip offers Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD chip offers Gen 3.

Neither part supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel chip's boost clock is 3.60 GHz against a base clock of 2.93 GHz. The AMD chip's boost clock is 3.70 GHz against a base clock of 2.10 GHz. The AMD part has a higher top boost frequency, but a much lower base frequency, reflecting its power-constrained mobile design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records exactly one shared benchmark between these two CPUs: Cinebench R15 multicore. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U scores 624, while the Intel Core i7-870 scores 271. The delta is 56.6 percent in AMD's favor, which is a significant margin for two quad-core, eight-thread parts. The AMD chip more than doubles the Intel chip's score in this render test.

This result is consistent with the architectural differences. The AMD chip's Zen+ cores are more efficient per clock, its process node is four generations newer, and its higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz gives it a slight frequency edge. The Intel chip's older Nehalem design, despite its larger L3 cache and higher base clock of 2.93 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, cannot keep pace in a fully threaded workload. The 45 nm process and the older microarchitecture simply do not deliver the same instructions per clock as Zen+.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The AMD chip averages 947, which places it 0.1 percent ahead of the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T and the Intel Xeon X5560, both of which score 946. It is also 0.1 percent ahead of the AMD Phenom II X6 1045T at 946 and 0.2 percent ahead of the Intel Core i3-1110G4 at 945. The Intel Core i7-870 averages 928, which places it 0.1 percent ahead of the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927, 0.2 percent ahead of the Intel Core i3-4350T at 926, and 0.4 percent ahead of the Intel Celeron G6900TE at 925. It trails the Intel Core i7-4600U at 931 by 0.4 percent.

Neither chip is far from its nearest rivals in average score, which means the 2.0 percent gap between the two parts is small in absolute terms. But the Cinebench R15 multicore result is not small: it shows the AMD chip delivering well over twice the multi-threaded performance of the Intel chip. That single result dominates the comparison.

In single-threaded performance, the database offers no direct comparison. The Intel chip's R20 singlecore score of 159 and R23 singlecore score of 380 stand alone, as do the AMD chip's R15 singlecore score of 142 and Geekbench singlecore score of 819. Without a shared test, the data cannot confirm which part wins in lightly threaded workloads. The Intel chip's higher base clock suggests it may hold an advantage in sustained single-threaded tasks, but that is inference, not measurement.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U averages 947 across its recorded tests, while the Intel Core i7-870 averages 928. That is a 2.0 percent difference in AMD's favor.

Q: How much faster is the AMD chip in multi-threaded rendering?

A: In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U scores 624, which is 56.6 percent ahead of the Intel Core i7-870's score of 271.

Q: Do both chips have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.93 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD chip has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The Intel chip has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD chip has 4 MB of shared L3. However, the AMD chip has more L1 and L2 per core: 96 KB and 512 KB per core, respectively, versus 64 KB and 256 KB per core on the Intel chip.

Q: What are the TDPs of the two parts?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 has a 95 W TDP and is a desktop part on socket 1156. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a 15 W TDP and is a mobile part on socket FP5.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-870 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: How do the production statuses differ?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 is end-of-life, with a release date in September 2009. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is still active in production, with a release date in April 2019.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split along workload and platform lines. For any multi-threaded workload that resembles Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the definitive winner. Its score of 624 versus 271 is a 56.6 percent advantage, and its higher average benchmark score of 947 versus 928 confirms that it is the stronger overall performer in the recorded measurements.

The Intel Core i7-870 cannot match the AMD chip in the only shared benchmark, and its 95 W TDP makes it unsuitable for mobile deployments. The AMD chip's 15 W TDP, combined with integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics and DDR4 memory support, makes it the only viable option for a laptop or any power-constrained chassis. The Intel chip's desktop socket 1156 and lack of integrated graphics limit it to a desktop build with a discrete GPU.

That said, the Intel chip is not without merit. Its 8 MB of L3 cache, higher base clock of 2.93 GHz, and older but proven Nehalem architecture may still serve legacy single-threaded workloads. Its R20 singlecore score of 159 and R23 singlecore score of 380 are respectable for a 2009 part. But the database does not provide a shared single-threaded test, so any claim of Intel superiority in that domain is not supported by direct measurement.

The practical recommendation is straightforward. Buyers who need multi-threaded performance in a mobile form factor should choose the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U. Buyers who are constrained to a legacy desktop platform with socket 1156 and who prioritize single-threaded tasks may consider the Intel Core i7-870, but they should be aware that it is end-of-life and cannot match the AMD chip in rendering workloads. The AMD part wins the head-to-head comparison on the only shared benchmark and on average score, and it does so while consuming 15 W instead of 95 W. The verdict is clear: the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the stronger processor in this matchup.