AMD Ryzen 7 2800H vs Intel Core i5-7600K Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database records a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Ryzen 7 2800H wins every single-core and multi-core comparison, with deltas ranging from 19.5% to 19.6% in its favor. The Intel Core i5-7600K does not win a single recorded test. The Ryzen 7 2800H posts an average benchmark score of 2002, placing it at the 45th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core i5-7600K averages 1976 with a 44th percentile ranking. These are close overall scores, but the head-to-head results show a consistent and substantial advantage for the AMD part in the Cinebench suite.

The Core i5-7600K is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, higher base and boost clocks, and a 91-watt TDP. The Ryzen 7 2800H is a mobile processor with a 15-watt TDP, a lower clock speed, and an integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 GPU. Despite the Intel part’s higher clock speeds and desktop-class power envelope, the AMD processor outperforms it in every recorded Cinebench test. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 2800H delivers superior rendering performance per test, and the fact that it does so while consuming far less power makes the results particularly notable. Anyone selecting between these two processors based purely on the recorded benchmarks should favor the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H, especially for multi-threaded workloads where the 8-thread advantage becomes decisive.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different market segments and architectural generations. The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H belongs to the 2000 series, uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, and is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, and a TDP of 15 watts. The processor uses the AMD Socket FP5 platform and includes 128 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports dual-channel DDR4 memory and integrates a Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics solution. The part is not multiplier unlocked.

The Intel Core i5-7600K uses the Kaby Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.80 GHz, a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and a TDP of 91 watts. The socket is Intel Socket 1151. Cache configuration differs notably: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part supports DDR4 memory with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and it provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are HD 630. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, and the part number is recorded as SR32V.

The most significant architectural difference is threading. The AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading, providing 8 threads from 4 cores, while the Intel part offers only 4 threads from its 4 cores. This directly explains the consistent multi-core deltas in the benchmark data. Clock speeds favor Intel on paper: 3.80 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost versus 3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz for AMD. However, the recorded Cinebench scores show that the AMD architecture delivers higher performance despite lower clocks. The TDP difference is extreme: 15 watts for the AMD mobile part versus 91 watts for the Intel desktop part. The AMD processor achieves its results within a fraction of the power budget.

Cache sizes differ per core: AMD allocates more L1 and L2 per core (128 KB and 512 KB respectively) while Intel provides 64 KB and 256 KB. Intel’s L3 is larger at 6 MB shared versus AMD’s 4 MB shared. The die size for AMD is recorded at 246 mm², while Intel’s die size is not listed. Both processors lack ECC memory support. The AMD part is a mobile segment product, while the Intel part targets desktops. Release dates also differ, with the Intel part launching earlier and the AMD part later.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded head-to-head comparisons all come from the Cinebench suite, spanning three versions: R15, R20, and R23. In every single test, the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H wins by a margin of roughly 19.5% to 19.6%. The consistency of these deltas across different Cinebench versions and across single-core versus multi-core tests is striking.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H scores 697 against 583 for the Intel Core i5-7600K, a 19.6% advantage. In R15 single-core, AMD scores 98 versus 82, a 19.5% delta. The R20 multi-core test shows AMD at 2907 versus Intel at 2432, again a 19.5% gap. R20 single-core gives AMD 410 versus Intel 343, also 19.5%. R23 multi-core has AMD at 6922 and Intel at 5792, a 19.5% difference. Finally, R23 single-core records AMD at 977 and Intel at 817, a 19.6% delta.

These numbers indicate that the AMD processor is not just faster in one specific workload, but maintains a nearly identical relative advantage across the entire Cinebench family. The multi-core tests show a larger absolute gap: 114 points in R15, 475 points in R20, and 1130 points in R23. The single-core gaps are smaller in absolute terms but proportionally identical: 16 points in R15, 67 points in R20, and 160 points in R23.

The Intel Core i5-7600K also has recorded Geekbench scores in the database: 4239 multi-core and 1522 single-core. No corresponding Geekbench scores are recorded for the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H, so a direct comparison in that benchmark is not possible from the available data. The absence of Geekbench data for the AMD part limits the comparison to Cinebench results alone.

Considering the nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H, its average benchmark score of 2002 sits within a very tight cluster. The Intel Core i5-8400T averages 2001 with a 0% delta, the Intel Core i5-8400H averages 2003 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon D-1712TR averages 2004 with a -0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i5-8300H averages 2005 with a -0.2% delta. This places the Ryzen 7 2800H essentially at parity with these four processors in overall average score.

For the Intel Core i5-7600K, the nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-N305 at 1979 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 at 1973 with a 0.2% delta, the Intel Core i7-10810U at 1971 with a 0.3% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X at 1968 with a 0.4% delta. The Core i5-7600K’s average score of 1976 is about 1.3% lower than the Ryzen 7 2800H’s 2002, which is a modest overall difference despite the large head-to-head Cinebench deltas.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 697 in R15 versus 583, 2907 in R20 versus 2432, and 6922 in R23 versus 5792. The deltas are 19.5% to 19.6% in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7600K win in any single-core test?

A: No. The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H winning every single-core Cinebench test. In R15 single-core, AMD scores 98 versus 82; in R20, 410 versus 343; and in R23, 977 versus 817. All deltas are approximately 19.5% to 19.6%.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H has an average benchmark score of 2002, which places it at the 45th percentile. The Intel Core i5-7600K has an average score of 1976, at the 44th percentile. The AMD part is about 1.3% higher in average score.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i5-7600K has a TDP of 91 watts. The AMD part is a mobile processor, and the Intel part is a desktop processor.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7600K support overclocking?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-7600K has an unlocked multiplier, which means it is designed for overclocking. The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the Intel Core i5-7600K has data but the AMD processor does not?

A: Yes, the database includes Geekbench scores for the Intel Core i5-7600K: 4239 multi-core and 1522 single-core. No Geekbench scores are recorded for the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H wins in every recorded Cinebench test, which covers both single-core and multi-core workloads across three versions of the benchmark. The data shows a 19.5% to 19.6% advantage in each test, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This makes the AMD part the clear choice for rendering workloads, CPU-intensive productivity tasks, and any application that relies on Cinebench-style performance. The fact that the AMD processor achieves these results with a 15-watt TDP, compared to 91 watts for the Intel part, means it is particularly well-suited for power-constrained environments such as laptops and compact mobile systems. The 8 threads versus 4 threads configuration gives the AMD processor a structural advantage in multi-threaded applications, and the recorded scores confirm that this translates into real performance gains.

The Intel Core i5-7600K does not win any recorded head-to-head test. However, it does have advantages that appear in the specification data. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz are higher than the AMD part’s 3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, which could potentially close the performance gap in real-world usage, though the database does not record any overclocked benchmark results. The Intel part also has a larger L3 cache (6 MB versus 4 MB) and a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It is a desktop processor, so it fits into desktop platforms with the Intel Socket 1151. The integrated HD 630 graphics are present, though the AMD part’s Radeon RX Vega 11 is a different class of integrated solution.

For users who prioritize raw Cinebench performance and power efficiency, the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H is the superior choice based on the recorded data. For users who need a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and higher clock speeds out of the box, the Intel Core i5-7600K offers those features, but the benchmark data does not show it winning any recorded test. The Geekbench scores for the Intel part (4239 multi-core, 1522 single-core) provide additional data points, but with no comparable AMD Geekbench scores, a direct comparison there is not possible.

The Intel Core i5-7600K’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-N305, the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5, the Intel Core i7-10810U, and the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X, all with average scores within 0.4% of the Intel part. The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H’s nearest rivals are all Intel processors: the Core i5-8400T, Core i5-8400H, Xeon D-1712TR, and Core i5-8300H, all within 0.2% of the AMD part’s average score. This suggests that both processors sit in competitive performance tiers, but the head-to-head Cinebench results show a definitive winner in the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H.

In practical terms, the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering and productivity workloads, especially in mobile form factors where its 15-watt TDP is a major advantage. The Intel Core i5-7600K remains viable for desktop builds where overclocking is desired and where the higher clock speeds might benefit certain single-threaded applications, though the recorded single-core Cinebench scores do not support that expectation. Based strictly on the data in the database, the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H wins all six head-to-head tests, and that is the decisive factor.