AMD Ryzen 7 1800X vs Intel Core i7-8700B Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8700B and AMD Ryzen 7 1800X represent two distinct design philosophies from the same 14 nm era, and the benchmark data shows a clear split between older and newer test methodologies. The Intel chip wins four of the six head-to-head comparisons, including the more modern Cinebench R23 and Geekbench tests, while the AMD chip takes the two Cinebench R15 tests. Both processors sit at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close, with the Intel at 3086 and the AMD at 3068. This near-identical overall placement masks a fundamental divergence: the Ryzen 7 1800X leverages its two additional cores to dominate in a legacy multi-threaded workload, while the Core i7-8700B uses its higher clock speeds to pull decisively ahead in single-threaded and newer multi-threaded tests.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced choice rather than a clear winner. For users running workloads that resemble Cinebench R15’s multi-threaded rendering, the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X is the stronger option, delivering a 37.9% higher score. Conversely, the Intel Core i7-8700B is the pick for anyone whose software is sensitive to single-core performance or uses newer instruction sets, as it wins the R23 single-core test by 49.9% and the Geekbench single-core test by 26.6%. The Intel chip also holds a 12.2% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core, suggesting that its architecture scales better with modern workloads. Given that the Ryzen 7 1800X carries a launch MSRP of $499 and the Core i7-8700B a launch MSRP of $303, the data does not support the AMD chip for most modern use cases; the Intel part is both faster in the majority of tests and was cheaper at launch. The Ryzen 7 1800X only makes sense for a specific legacy multi-threaded scenario where its 8-core, 16-thread configuration can be fully utilized.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate that the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X wins purely on raw core count in an older rendering workload. Its 8 cores and 16 threads produce a 1618 score in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 61% higher than the Intel’s 1005. It also edges out the Intel chip in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 160.8 versus 141, a 12.3% lead. This suggests that early Ryzen software optimization favored the AMD design. However, the Intel Core i7-8700B dominates in every other measured category. In Cinebench R23, the Intel chip scores 9977 versus 8891, a 12.2% margin, revealing that the newer test rewards the Intel architecture’s efficiency. The single-core gap is even more pronounced in R23, at 49.9%, and in Geekbench single-core, at 26.6%. Even in Geekbench multi-core, the Intel part wins with 5936 against 5661, a 4.9% margin, despite having two fewer cores. The Intel chip’s wins are spread across more tests and appear more relevant to contemporary software, while the AMD chip’s wins are concentrated in a single benchmark family.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs are built on the same 14 nm process node but by different foundries, with Intel using its own fabs and AMD using GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-8700B is a Coffee Lake part with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X is a Zen (Summit Ridge) part with 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD chip has a larger die at 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors, compared to the Intel’s 154 mm² die size. Cache configurations also differ significantly: the Intel chip offers 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3, while the AMD chip provides 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB of L3 cache. Clock speeds tell the opposite story: the Intel part has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost of 4.60 GHz, whereas the AMD part runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock likely explains its single-core dominance. The Intel part includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the AMD chip has none. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not. The Intel part is locked (multiplierUnlocked: false) and uses the BGA 1440 socket, while the AMD chip is unlocked and uses Socket AM4. Both support dual-channel DDR4 with identical 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1800X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8700B has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win Cinebench R15 but lose Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD chip scores 1618 in R15 multi-core versus Intel’s 1005, a 37.9% lead. However, in R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 9977 versus AMD’s 8891, a 12.2% advantage. The data suggests that the R23 workload is less sensitive to raw core count and more responsive to the Intel architecture’s higher clock speeds and efficiency.

Q: Is the Intel chip always faster in single-core tests?

A: No, the AMD chip wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 160.8 versus Intel’s 141, a 12.3% margin. However, the Intel chip wins the newer R23 single-core test by 49.9% and Geekbench single-core by 26.6%.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B includes UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X has no integrated graphics.

Q: Are these CPUs overclockable?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1800X has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i7-8700B does not (multiplierUnlocked: false).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1618 against the Intel’s 1005, a massive 37.9% delta. This is the only test where the AMD chip shows a commanding lead, and it highlights the benefit of its two extra cores in a workload that scales well with thread count. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R15 single-core, but by a much smaller margin: 160.8 versus 141, a 12.3% delta. These two wins give the AMD part a 2-0 lead in the older Cinebench R15 suite. The Intel Core i7-8700B responds with its own dominant performance in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1408 against 939, a 49.9% delta — the largest margin of the entire comparison. This single-core advantage is reinforced in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel chip scores 1443 versus 1140, a 26.6% delta. In multi-core tests, the Intel chip wins Cinebench R23 with 9977 versus 8891, a 12.2% delta, and Geekbench multi-core with 5936 versus 5661, a 4.9% delta. The pattern is clear: the AMD chip’s wins are large but confined to one benchmark generation, while the Intel chip wins four tests, including both Geekbench subtests and the more recent Cinebench R23 suite.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification difference is core count: the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X offers 8 cores and 16 threads, compared to the Intel Core i7-8700B’s 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds also diverge sharply, with the Intel part boosting to 4.60 GHz versus the AMD’s 4.00 GHz, while the AMD has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. The TDP reflects this: the AMD chip is rated at 95 W, while the Intel chip is rated at 65 W. The socket types are incompatible, with the Intel using BGA 1440 and the AMD using AM4. The cache hierarchy differs, with the AMD providing 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core plus 16 MB L3, while the Intel provides 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core plus 12 MB L3. The die size and transistor count also differ, with the AMD at 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors versus the Intel at 154 mm² and no listed transistor count. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD has none. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel is locked. The production status differs, with the AMD listed as Active and the Intel as End-of-life. The release dates are also different, with the AMD launching in March 2017 and the Intel in April 2018. The launch MSRP was $499 for the AMD and $303 for the Intel.