AMD Ryzen 7 4700G vs Intel Core i9-9900KS Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all six comparative benchmark runs. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G wins every single head-to-head test, though the margins are relatively narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 1724 against the Intel Core i9-9900KS at 1657, a 3.9% deficit for Intel. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: AMD at 243, Intel at 233, again a 4.1% gap. These are not dramatic swings, but they are uniform.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G posts 7186 in multicore while the Intel Core i9-9900KS manages 6907, a 3.9% difference. In single-core R20, AMD scores 1014 versus Intel's 974, another 3.9% margin. The newest Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: AMD delivers 17111 multicore and 2415 single-core, while Intel records 16446 and 2321 respectively. The delta remains fixed at 3.9% for both R23 tests. This consistency across workloads and across Cinebench versions suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Intel chip does have a broader set of benchmark results in the database, including 3DMark tests where the AMD part has no recorded scores. In 3DMark single-thread, Intel scores 841; in 2-thread, 1670; in 4-thread, 3276; in 8-thread, 5787; in 16-thread, 7376; and in max-thread, 7360. Geekbench results for Intel show 9771 multicore and 1715 single-core. These numbers cannot be directly compared to AMD since the Ryzen 7 4700G lacks matching entries, but they provide context for the Intel chip's overall profile. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: AMD sits at 4949, Intel at 4738, a difference of roughly 4.5%.

Both processors land at the 59th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That is an important data point: despite the AMD chip winning every direct comparison, the two are statistically peers in the broader landscape. The Intel Core i9-9900KS sits near the Intel Core i7-6950X (average score 4734, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i9-10900E (4708, delta 0.6%), the AMD EPYC 7252 (4772, delta -0.7%), and the Intel Xeon W-1290E (4775, delta -0.8%). The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G, meanwhile, is bracketed by the Intel Xeon W-1290 (4932, delta 0.3%), the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 (4967, delta -0.4%), the Intel Core i5-12600HE (4980, delta -0.6%), and the Intel Core i7-1375PRE (4985, delta -0.7%). The gap between the Intel chip's nearest rivals and the AMD chip's nearest rivals is modest, but it consistently places the AMD part in slightly faster company.

The most striking observation is the uniform 3.9% delta across R20 and R23, with R15 multicore also at 3.9% and R15 single-core slightly wider at 4.1%. This is not a case of one chip winning on multithreading while the other wins on single-thread responsiveness. The AMD chip is ahead in both domains, and by nearly identical amounts. The data implies an efficiency advantage that scales with the workload rather than a peak-performance advantage that only appears under specific conditions.

FAQ

Q: Which processor performs better in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G scores 17111, while the Intel Core i9-9900KS scores 16446. The AMD chip leads by 3.9%.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap similar to the multicore gap?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 2415 against Intel's 2321, also a 3.9% difference. The R15 single-core gap is slightly larger at 4.1%, with AMD at 243 and Intel at 233.

Q: How do the two processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Intel chip's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-6950X with a delta of 0.1% and an average score of 4734. The AMD chip's closest rival is the Intel Xeon W-1290 with a delta of 0.3% and an average score of 4932. Both CPUs sit at the 59th percentile overall.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-9900KS have any benchmark wins in the head-to-head data?

A: No. The head-to-head results list zero wins for the Intel chip and six wins for the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G across the available Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G has an average benchmark score of 4949, while the Intel Core i9-9900KS has an average of 4738. The AMD chip holds a lead of approximately 4.5% in this aggregate metric.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-9900KS and the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G have unlocked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-9900KS uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-R refresh, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 180 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 7 nm process with a die size of 156 mm². The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 7 nm, which helps explain why the AMD chip achieves comparable or better performance while drawing far less power.

Both chips have 8 cores and 16 threads, so thread count is not a differentiator. The cache layouts, however, diverge sharply. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. AMD also uses 64 KB of L1 per core but doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core, then halves the shared L3 to 8 MB. The total cache picture is therefore a trade-off: Intel has more L3, AMD has more L2. The transistor count tells the story of integration density: AMD packs 9,800 million transistors into its 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not listed in the database.

Clock speeds reveal the Intel chip's strategy. The Core i9-9900KS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, both higher than the Ryzen 7 4700G's 3.60 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. Yet the AMD chip wins every benchmark despite the lower clocks. This points to instructions-per-clock efficiency from the Zen 2 architecture as the decisive factor. The thermal design power figures reinforce this: Intel is rated at 127 W, AMD at just 65 W. The AMD chip delivers superior benchmark scores while consuming less than half the thermal envelope.

Memory bandwidth also favors AMD. The Ryzen 7 4700G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel chip manages 42.7 GB/s under the same dual-channel configuration. Both support DDR4 memory and neither supports ECC. PCIe connectivity is identical on paper: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ: Intel includes UHD 630, AMD includes Radeon Vega 8. The AMD chip uses the AM4 socket, Intel uses Socket 1151. The Intel chip launched on 2019-10-27 with a launch MSRP of $513, while the AMD chip launched later on 2020-07-20 with no MSRP recorded in the database. Intel's production status is listed as end-of-life; AMD's is active. The Intel part number is SRG1Q, the AMD part number is 100-000000146.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G wins all six direct comparisons, with margins between 3.9% and 4.1%. It achieves this while running at lower clock speeds, consuming less power, and using a smaller die. The Intel Core i9-9900KS cannot claim a single head-to-head victory in the recorded tests. That said, the Intel chip does have a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz, and its 16 MB of shared L3 is double the AMD chip's 8 MB. The Intel chip also has a broader benchmark footprint in the database, including 3DMark and Geekbench scores, though no AMD equivalents exist for direct comparison.

For buyers who prioritize raw multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G is the data-backed choice. It leads consistently across R15, R20, and R23, and its 65 W TDP suggests it can be handled by a modest cooling solution. The Intel chip's 127 W TDP implies a more substantial cooling requirement. The AMD chip is also still in active production, while Intel's part is end-of-life, which could matter for system longevity and availability. The Intel chip does have the advantage of a confirmed launch MSRP of $513, but pricing comparisons are outside the scope of this analysis. Based strictly on the recorded benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G is the faster processor.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. Process node: Intel uses 14 nm, AMD uses 7 nm. Foundry: Intel fabricates its own chip, AMD uses TSMC. Die size: Intel is 180 mm², AMD is 156 mm². Transistor count: AMD lists 9,800 million, Intel does not list a figure. Base clock: Intel at 4.00 GHz, AMD at 3.60 GHz. Boost clock: Intel at 5.00 GHz, AMD at 4.40 GHz. TDP: Intel at 127 W, AMD at 65 W. Socket: Intel Socket 1151 versus AMD Socket AM4. Architecture: Coffee Lake versus Zen 2. Codename: Coffee Lake-R versus Renoir. Generation: Core i9 (Coffee Lake Refresh) versus Ryzen 7 (Zen 2 Renoir). L2 cache: 256 KB per core for Intel, 512 KB per core for AMD. L3 cache: 16 MB shared for Intel, 8 MB for AMD. Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s for Intel, 51.2 GB/s for AMD. Integrated graphics: UHD 630 for Intel, Radeon Vega 8 for AMD. Release date: Intel on 2019-10-27, AMD on 2020-07-20. Launch MSRP: Intel at $513, AMD not recorded. Production status: Intel end-of-life, AMD active. Part number: SRG1Q for Intel, 100-000000146 for AMD. The chips match on cores (8), threads (16), L1 cache (64 KB per core), memory support (DDR4), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (disabled on both), PCIe (Gen 3, 16 lanes), market segment (desktop), and unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700G wins in every benchmark category where direct comparison data exists. That includes Cinebench R15 multicore and single-core, Cinebench R20 multicore and single-core, and Cinebench R23 multicore and single-core. The AMD chip also wins on aggregate average benchmark score, 4949 versus 4738, and on efficiency metrics such as TDP, with 65 W versus 127 W. It further leads in memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s and in L2 cache capacity at 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core. The AMD chip is the winner in any scenario that involves these rendering workloads or power-constrained environments.

The Intel Core i9-9900KS does not win any direct benchmark comparison, but it does hold advantages in specific specification categories. Its boost clock of 5.00 GHz is the highest among the two, suggesting potential in lightly threaded workloads if the AMD chip's architectural efficiency does not compensate. Its 16 MB of L3 cache doubles the AMD chip's 8 MB, which could benefit certain cache-sensitive applications. The Intel chip also has a more extensive benchmark record in the database, including 3DMark and Geekbench scores, though these lack AMD counterparts for comparison. Its launch MSRP of $513 provides a reference point that the AMD chip lacks. For users who need the 5.00 GHz boost clock, the larger L3 cache, or the specific 3DMark and Geekbench performance profile, the Intel chip remains a viable option despite losing every head-to-head test. For everyone else, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G is the data-supported choice, offering superior benchmark scores across the board with a dramatically lower thermal footprint.