AMD Ryzen 7 170 vs Intel Core i5-14600 Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-14600 wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database, taking all 11 comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 170. The Intel part posts an average benchmark score of 44,889, which places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 averages 43,689, sitting at the 88th percentile. Those percentile rankings are close, but the actual workload deltas are anything but.

The i5-14600 is the pick for anyone building a desktop system where raw compute throughput matters most. It is a desktop part with 14 cores, 20 threads, and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Ryzen 7 170 is a mobile chip with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 4.75 GHz boost, so the comparison is really between a high-core-count desktop processor and a power-efficient mobile processor. The Intel part wins by margins ranging from 33.2% in single-threaded PassMark to a massive 216.3% in prime number generation.

The Ryzen 7 170 is not without merit, but its strengths do not show up in the benchmark suite used here. It has a 35 W TDP versus the Intel chip's 65 W TDP, and it integrates a Radeon 680M GPU versus the Intel UHD Graphics 770. For a compact, low-power mobile system, the AMD part is the sensible choice. But for every recorded compute benchmark, the Intel Core i5-14600 is the clear winner.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14600 wins everywhere the database records results. In multi-threaded workloads, the gap is especially large. The i5-14600 scores 35,848 in PassMark multithread, which is 72.7% ahead of the Ryzen 7 170's 20,760. That is a dominant margin, driven by the Intel part's 14 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads for the AMD chip.

Single-threaded performance also favors Intel, but by a smaller margin. The i5-14600 posts 4,167 in PassMark single-thread, 33.2% ahead of the Ryzen 7 170's 3,128. That is still a decisive win, but it shows the AMD Zen 3+ architecture is competitive in lightly threaded tasks. The gap grows again in floating-point math, where Intel leads by 90.7% (85,759 versus 44,979), and in integer math, where Intel leads by 46.8% (117,078 versus 79,738).

The Ryzen 7 170 has no recorded wins in any benchmark. Its advantages are qualitative: lower power draw, a newer process node, and a mobile form factor. If the use case is a thin-and-light laptop with long battery life, the Ryzen 7 170 is the appropriate part. If the use case is any kind of compute-heavy desktop work, the Intel i5-14600 is the only choice supported by the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-14600 is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, using the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename. It is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The die size is 257 mm².

The AMD Ryzen 7 170 is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC, using the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt-R codename. It is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP7, and it supports only DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The die size is 210 mm².

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has more cache at every level, which helps explain its performance advantage in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

PCIe support also differs. The Intel part offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Both support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part integrates UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD part integrates Radeon 680M.

The release dates are notable: the Intel part launched on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $255, while the AMD part launched on 2025-09-30 with no recorded MSRP. The AMD part is a much more recent design, but the older Intel architecture still dominates the benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 is significantly faster. It scores 35,848 in PassMark multithread, which is 72.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 170's 20,760.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 170 competitive in single-threaded performance?

A: It is closer, but still loses. The Intel part scores 4,167 in PassMark single-thread versus 3,128 for the AMD chip, a 33.2% advantage for Intel.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest recorded delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel i5-14600 scores 155 versus the Ryzen 7 170's 49, a 216.3% difference.

Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-14600 has a 65 W TDP. The AMD part consumes less power, which is expected for a mobile processor.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-14600 and the AMD Ryzen 7 170 support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-14600 wins all 11 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The biggest wins are in compute-heavy tests. In PassMark find prime numbers, Intel scores 155 against AMD's 49, a 216.3% advantage. This is a test that heavily favors the Intel architecture's integer execution capabilities and higher core count.

In PassMark physics, Intel scores 2,330 versus AMD's 890, a 161.8% lead. This test simulates physics calculations and is notoriously sensitive to core count and clock speed. The Intel part's 5.20 GHz boost clock and 20 threads give it a massive edge here.

In PassMark floating-point math, Intel scores 85,759 versus AMD's 44,979, a 90.7% win. This test measures SIMD and floating-point throughput, where the Intel part's larger cache and higher clocks pay off. The Intel part also wins data compression by 63.4% (434,620 versus 265,920) and random string sorting by 72.8% (48,043 versus 27,804), both tests that are sensitive to memory bandwidth and cache size.

The smallest win for Intel is in single-threaded performance. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4,167 versus AMD's 3,128, a 33.2% lead. This is still a decisive margin, but it shows that the AMD Zen 3+ core is not far behind in lightly threaded tasks. The Intel part also wins data encryption by 56% (25,082 versus 16,078), extended instructions by 41.8% (25,674 versus 18,107), and integer math by 46.8% (117,078 versus 79,738).

In multi-threaded PassMark, Intel scores 35,848 versus AMD's 20,760, a 72.7% lead. This is the most representative result for heavily threaded workloads like video rendering, software compilation, and scientific computing. The database records no benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 7 170 comes out ahead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i5-14600 has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 170 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.75 GHz. The AMD part has a higher base clock, but the Intel part has a much higher boost clock.

Power consumption differs significantly. The Intel part has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD part has a TDP of 35 W. This reflects their different market segments: the Intel part is for desktop systems, while the AMD part is for mobile systems. The AMD part uses a 6 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel part uses a 10 nm process at Intel.

Cache configuration is another major difference. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has more cache at every level.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Intel part has no recorded memory bandwidth figure.

PCIe support also differs. The Intel part offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the AMD part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ: the Intel part has UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD part has Radeon 680M. Both support ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The sockets are incompatible: the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP7. The Intel part has a die size of 257 mm², while the AMD part has a die size of 210 mm². The Intel part launched on 2024-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $255, while the AMD part launched on 2025-09-30 with no recorded MSRP.