AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE vs Intel Core i9-9900KF Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9900KF and AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE are both 8-core, 16-thread desktop processors, but they come from different design philosophies and eras. The Intel chip is a 14 nm Coffee Lake-R part aimed at high-frequency desktop performance, while the AMD chip is a 7 nm Zen 2 Renoir part built for efficiency with integrated graphics. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear pattern: the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE wins every single head-to-head test, and the margins are remarkably consistent. This analysis examines the numbers, what they imply for real-world use, and where each processor still holds an advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE finishes ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900KF. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD chip scores 1685 against Intel's 1541, a difference of 8.5%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: AMD scores 237, Intel scores 217, a margin of 8.4%. These are not small variations; they represent a consistent performance lead for the AMD part.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The multi-core result has AMD at 7023 and Intel at 6422, a delta of 8.6%. Single-core R20 shows AMD at 991 versus Intel's 906, again an 8.6% gap. The Cinebench R23 results repeat the same story: AMD leads multi-core with 16722 against 15292, and single-core with 2360 against 2158. In every case, the percentage difference is between 8.4% and 8.6%, indicating a systematic advantage for the AMD architecture in these workloads rather than a test-specific quirk.

What does this mean in practical terms? For a user running Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE completes the render approximately 9% faster than the Intel chip. That is a tangible difference for content creators who rely on CPU rendering. The single-core results are equally important: AMD's 2360 in R23 single-core versus Intel's 2158 shows that the Zen 2 core design, despite a lower boost clock, delivers better per-thread performance. The AMD chip has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Intel part boosts to 5.00 GHz, yet AMD still wins single-threaded tests. This suggests the IPC (instructions per clock) advantage of Zen 2 outweighs the raw frequency advantage of Coffee Lake.

The consistency of the margin across all tests is noteworthy. Whether the workload scales across all 16 threads or only uses one, the AMD chip maintains roughly the same lead. This is unlike some comparisons where a processor might win multi-threaded tests but lose single-threaded ones. Here, the data shows AMD is simply faster in every measured scenario. The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this: AMD's average is 4836, while Intel's is 4652. That is a 4% overall advantage for AMD, though the head-to-head tests show a larger gap of around 8.5%, suggesting the Cinebench suite is particularly favorable to the AMD architecture.

It is also worth examining where each processor sits relative to its own peer group. The Intel Core i9-9900KF has a percentile ranking of 58 among all CPUs, with an average score of 4652. Its nearest rivals in the database are other Intel parts: the Core i9-10900F averages 4664 (0.3% ahead), the Core i9-11900T averages 4685 (0.7% ahead), and the Core i9-10900 averages 4614 (0.8% behind). This shows the 9900KF is closely matched with newer Intel processors, sitting right in the middle of that pack. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE, by contrast, has a percentile ranking of 59 and an average score of 4836. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS at 4827 (0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X at 4807 (0.6% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G at 4879 (0.9% ahead). The AMD chip is competitive with much more expensive and power-hungry parts like the Ryzen 9 3950X, which is remarkable given the 4700GE's 35 W TDP.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE is the faster processor in every benchmark the database records. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 8.4% to 8.6%. For anyone choosing between these two purely on performance, the AMD chip is the clear winner. There is no workload category in the recorded data where the Intel Core i9-9900KF takes the lead.

However, the choice is not entirely one-sided. The Intel chip has a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz and a larger L3 cache at 16 MB shared, compared to AMD's 4.30 GHz boost and 8 MB L3. These specifications might matter in scenarios not covered by the Cinebench suite, such as certain legacy applications or games that are highly sensitive to cache size. The database does not include gaming benchmarks, so the verdict must be limited to what the measurements show. In CPU rendering and single-threaded compute tasks, AMD wins.

The Intel Core i9-9900KF also holds a different market position. It was released in January 2019 with a launch MSRP of $488, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE has no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part is marked as end-of-life, whereas the AMD chip is still in active production. For a buyer looking at new hardware today, the AMD chip is the more current option. For someone with an existing Intel Socket 1151 motherboard, the 9900KF could be an upgrade path, but the data shows it would be a slower one than switching to AMD.

The verdict is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE outperforms the Intel Core i9-9900KF in all measured tests. Users who prioritize raw compute performance should choose the AMD chip. The only reason to select the Intel part would be platform compatibility or a specific need for its higher boost clock and larger L3 cache, but those advantages do not translate into wins in the recorded benchmarks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 16722 compared to Intel's 15292, an 8.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any single-core test?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE leads in all single-core tests as well. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 2360 versus Intel's 2158, a margin of 8.6%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE has an average benchmark score of 4836, while the Intel Core i9-9900KF averages 4652. The AMD chip also has a slightly higher percentile ranking at 59 versus 58.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Core i9-9900KF has a TDP of 95 W. This means the AMD chip consumes significantly less power for its higher performance.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i9-9900KF has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE is built on a 7 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core i9-9900KF uses Intel's 14 nm process. The AMD chip also has a smaller die size at 156 mm² versus 180.3 mm².

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their specifications. The Intel Core i9-9900KF has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE runs at 3.10 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. Despite the Intel chip's higher clocks, the AMD chip wins all benchmarks, indicating the Zen 2 architecture delivers more instructions per clock.

Power consumption is another major difference. The Intel part has a TDP of 95 W, while the AMD part is rated for just 35 W. This is a threefold difference in thermal design power, making the AMD chip far more efficient. The socket also differs: Intel uses Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket AM4. Memory bandwidth shows AMD ahead at 51.2 GB/s versus Intel's 42.7 GB/s, both using dual-channel DDR4. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but Intel offers 16 lanes from the CPU while AMD lists only "Gen 3" without a lane count.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both have 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 256 KB per core on Intel and 512 KB per core on AMD. The L3 cache is 16 MB shared on Intel, while AMD has 8 MB. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache does not help it win any benchmark in the database. The AMD chip has more transistors at 9,800 million versus Intel's unspecified count, and a smaller die at 156 mm² versus 180.3 mm².

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is significant. The Intel Core i9-9900KF is based on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-R refresh, manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE uses Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. This process advantage explains much of the efficiency gap: the AMD chip delivers higher performance at less than half the TDP.

The core designs are fundamentally different. Zen 2 uses a chiplet design with a separate I/O die, though the Renoir APU integrates everything into a single monolithic die for the 4700GE. The Intel chip uses a traditional monolithic design as well, but the underlying microarchitecture is older. The AMD chip has a larger L2 cache per core at 512 KB versus Intel's 256 KB, which helps feed the execution units more effectively. The smaller L3 cache on AMD, 8 MB versus 16 MB, does not hurt its benchmark performance in the recorded tests.

Memory bandwidth is another architectural differentiator. The AMD chip supports 51.2 GB/s, which is 20% higher than Intel's 42.7 GB/s. This is notable because both use dual-channel DDR4, meaning the AMD memory controller is more efficient at extracting bandwidth. The AMD chip also includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, which is a significant feature absent from the Intel part. This makes the 4700GE a complete system on a chip, while the 9900KF requires a discrete GPU.

The production status tells a story of lifecycle. The Intel chip is end-of-life and was released in January 2019 with a launch MSRP of $488. The AMD chip is active and was released in July 2020. The AMD part also benefits from a smaller process node, which typically allows for better transistor density and lower power draw. The data shows that the architectural advantages of Zen 2, combined with the 7 nm process, translate directly into better benchmark results.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE wins every benchmark category. There are no tests in the database where the Intel Core i9-9900KF comes out ahead. This means for Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core, the AMD chip is the better performer. Users running CPU rendering workloads should choose the AMD part. The margins are consistent, so the choice is clear regardless of which specific Cinebench version is used.

The Intel chip's advantages are not visible in the benchmark scores but exist in other specifications. Its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz could benefit lightly threaded workloads that are not captured in the database, such as certain older games or single-threaded applications that are frequency-bound. The larger 16 MB L3 cache might also help in cache-sensitive scenarios. However, these are speculative advantages because the recorded data shows AMD winning even the single-core tests, which are typically frequency-sensitive. The Intel chip also has a higher TDP of 95 W, which could theoretically allow for sustained performance in a system with robust cooling, but the data does not show this translating into benchmark wins.

The AMD chip wins in efficiency as well. With a 35 W TDP and higher scores, it delivers more performance per watt. It also has integrated graphics, making it suitable for systems without a discrete GPU. The Intel chip requires a separate graphics card, which adds cost and power consumption. For compact or low-power builds, the AMD chip is clearly superior. For a user with an existing Socket 1151 motherboard looking for an upgrade, the Intel chip remains an option, but the data suggests it is a slower one.

In summary, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE dominates the benchmark comparison. It wins all six head-to-head tests, has a higher average score, and does so while consuming less power. The Intel Core i9-9900KF retains value only for platform compatibility or specific cache and frequency scenarios that are not represented in the recorded measurements. The data is decisive: AMD is the faster and more efficient processor.