AMD Ryzen 7 2700 vs Intel Core i5-1038NG7 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two processors along predictable architectural lines. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 takes three of the four head-to-head benchmarks, and it does so by a wide margin in every multi-threaded test. The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 wins exactly one test, Geekbench single-core, and that win is substantial enough to define its entire use case.

For heavily parallel workloads, the Ryzen 7 2700 is the clear choice. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 1551 against Intel's 750, a 51.6% deficit for the i5-1038NG7. That is more than double the rendering output. Cinebench R20 and R23 results were not recorded for the Ryzen 7 2700 in this database, but the pattern from R15 and Geekbench multi-core is unambiguous. In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen 7 2700 scores 6475 versus 4919, a 24% gap. That margin reflects the core count difference: eight physical cores and sixteen threads on AMD versus four cores and eight threads on Intel.

Single-threaded performance tells a different story. The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 wins Geekbench single-core with 1354 points against AMD's 1094, a 23.8% advantage. That is a decisive lead for a mobile chip with a lower boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 4.10 GHz). The Ice Lake architecture's superior instructions-per-clock clearly offsets the frequency disadvantage. However, in Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part still wins, scoring 161 against Intel's 105, a 34.8% gap. That result is anomalous compared to Geekbench, and it suggests the two benchmark suites stress different aspects of the single-thread pipeline. What is consistent is that Intel's only head-to-head win is in Geekbench single-core, and that win is large.

The average benchmark scores in the database put both chips at the 48th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part averages 2398 points, while the AMD part averages 2320 points. The nearest rivals for Intel include the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 (2409, 0.5% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U (2413, 0.6% ahead), plus the Intel Core i5-8600T (2383, 0.6% behind). For AMD, the nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E-2134 (2319, 0% delta), Intel Core i7-8809G (2307, 0.6% behind), and Intel Core i5-10400H (2303, 0.7% behind). The percentiles are identical, but the shape of performance is opposite: AMD leans on multi-thread throughput, Intel leans on single-thread responsiveness.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple split. Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 if your workload scales across cores: video rendering, 3D scene compilation, batch photo processing, software builds, or any task that saturates all threads. The 51.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the 24% lead in Geekbench multi-core are not marginal; they are category-defining. The chip also has an unlocked multiplier, so the recorded 65 W TDP and 4.10 GHz boost clock are starting points, not limits.

Choose the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 if single-thread latency is the priority and you need integrated graphics. The 23.8% Geekbench single-core win is the only head-to-head victory, but it is a meaningful one for everyday responsiveness, legacy applications, and lightly threaded games. The Iris Plus integrated graphics mean no discrete GPU is required, which is a practical advantage for compact systems. The chip is also a mobile part with a 28 W TDP, so it fits in thin-and-light chassis where the AMD desktop part cannot go. That said, the Ryzen 7 2700's single-core deficit in Geekbench is steep, and the Cinebench R15 single-core result is even worse for Intel, so pure single-thread workloads are not universally better on the Intel side.

The production status differs: the Ryzen 7 2700 is listed as active, while the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 is end-of-life. For new builds, that favors AMD for availability. The launch MSRP for the Intel part was $320, and for the AMD part it was $299, but the database records no current street pricing, and no pricing analysis is included here.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The AMD score of 1551 versus Intel's 750 produces a delta of 51.6% in AMD's favor. That is more than double the output, and it directly reflects the 8-core, 16-thread configuration against the 4-core, 8-thread configuration. The Ryzen 7 2700 also wins Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 161 against 105, a 34.8% delta. This is notable because it contradicts the Geekbench single-core result, where Intel wins by a similar magnitude.

In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen 7 2700 scores 6475, and the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 scores 4919. The delta is 24% in AMD's favor. This is a smaller gap than Cinebench R15 multi-core, which suggests the Geekbench workload is less core-scalable or that memory bandwidth plays a role. The AMD part has a 16 MB shared L3 cache and 512 KB L2 per core, while the Intel part has a 6 MB shared L3 and 256 KB L2 per core. The larger cache hierarchy on AMD likely helps in the multi-threaded Geekbench test.

The only Intel win is Geekbench single-core. The i5-1038NG7 scores 1354, and the Ryzen 7 2700 scores 1094. The 23.8% delta is Intel's best result and the only positive delta in the head-to-head set. This win comes despite Intel's lower boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 4.10 GHz) and lower TDP (28 W versus 65 W). The 10 nm Ice Lake process and Sunny Cove cores deliver higher instructions-per-clock than AMD's 12 nm Zen+ architecture. The L1 cache configuration also differs: Intel has 80 KB per core, AMD has 96 KB per core, but that does not translate into a single-thread advantage for AMD.

The head-to-head tally is 3 wins for AMD, 1 win for Intel. The average benchmark scores in the database are close (2398 for Intel, 2320 for AMD), but the distribution is lopsided. AMD's wins are in the tests that matter most for content creation, while Intel's single win is in the test that matters most for snappy UI and lightly threaded code.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1551 against Intel's 750, a 51.6% lead. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 6475 against 4919, a 24% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins Geekbench single-core with 1354 points against AMD's 1094, a 23.8% advantage. That is the only head-to-head win for Intel.

Q: What is the core and thread count for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 includes Iris Plus integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel part averages 2398 points, and the AMD part averages 2320 points. Both sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel average is slightly higher, but the AMD part wins the multi-threaded tests by large margins.

Q: Which chip is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the design spectrum. The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 is a mobile chip built on Intel's 10 nm process with the Ice Lake-U architecture, specifically the Sunny Cove core generation. It uses a 28 W TDP, fits the Intel BGA 1344 socket, and has a die size of 123 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 is a desktop chip built on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process with the Zen+ architecture, specifically Pinnacle Ridge. It uses a 65 W TDP, fits the AMD Socket AM4, and has a die size of 213 mm² with 4,800 million transistors.

The core counts diverge sharply. Intel offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads. That is the primary driver of the multi-threaded benchmark gap. The cache hierarchy also differs. Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. AMD has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has more than twice the L3 cache and double the L2 per core, which helps in multi-threaded workloads that reuse data.

Clock speeds favor AMD on paper. The Ryzen 7 2700 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Despite the lower frequencies, Intel wins Geekbench single-core, which shows that the 10 nm process and newer core design deliver more work per clock cycle in that test. The Cinebench R15 single-core result is the opposite, with AMD winning 161 to 105, so the architectural advantage is not consistent across all single-threaded benchmarks.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, with dual-channel buses. Intel records a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while AMD records 46.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe generation is Gen 3 for both, but AMD specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only, while Intel does not list a lane count. The Intel part integrates Iris Plus graphics, which is absent on the AMD part. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; Intel's is not. The release dates are far apart: the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 launched on April 18, 2018, and the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 launched on May 3, 2020. The Intel part is now end-of-life, while the AMD part remains active in production.