AMD Ryzen 7 4700U vs Intel Core i5-8600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8600K and AMD Ryzen 7 4700U represent two distinct design philosophies: a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier and a mobile processor with a low TDP. Head-to-head benchmark results show a split decision, with each CPU winning three of the six recorded tests. The i5-8600K leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core and both Geekbench tests, while the Ryzen 7 4700U dominates Cinebench R15 and edges out the Intel part in R23 single-core. The overall average benchmark score slightly favors the Intel part, 2807 to 2722, and its percentile ranking is 51 versus 50.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head tests reveal a clear pattern of strengths. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 4700U scores 1094.5 against the i5-8600K's 867, a 20.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows an even larger gap: 180 versus 122, a 32.2% lead for the Ryzen. These are the largest margins in the entire comparison, indicating that the Ryzen holds a decisive edge in this older workload.

The i5-8600K reverses the trend in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 8611 versus 7378, a 16.7% lead. In R23 single-core, the Ryzen wins by a hair, 1220.5 to 1215, a 0.5% margin. This is the closest result of the six tests, effectively a tie. Geekbench multi-core goes to the Intel part, 5997 to 5189, a 15.6% lead. Geekbench single-core also favors Intel, 1514 to 1268, a 19.4% advantage.

The data shows that the Ryzen's wins are concentrated in Cinebench R15, while the Intel part dominates Geekbench and the multi-threaded R23 test. The single-core R23 result is essentially a dead heat, with the Ryzen ahead by less than 1%. Notably, the Ryzen has two more cores (8 versus 6), yet it loses the R23 multi-core test by a substantial margin, suggesting that core count alone does not determine performance in every scenario.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the six head-to-head benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 4700U wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R15 single-core, and Cinebench R23 single-core. The i5-8600K wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Geekbench multi-core, and Geekbench single-core. This split means the choice depends on the specific workload.

For applications that resemble Cinebench R15, the Ryzen offers a substantial performance advantage, with margins of 20.8% and 32.2% in multi-core and single-core respectively. For Geekbench-style tasks and the multi-threaded R23 test, the Intel part is clearly ahead, with leads of 15.6% to 19.4%. The single-core R23 test is too close to call, with a 0.5% difference.

The Ryzen's wins in R15 and R23 single-core suggest it handles legacy single-threaded workloads well, while the Intel part excels in modern multi-threaded and Geekbench scenarios. The i5-8600K also holds a higher average benchmark score (2807 versus 2722) and a higher percentile (51 versus 50), indicating a slight overall edge in the database's aggregate metrics.

The Verdict

The i5-8600K is the better choice for users who prioritize Geekbench performance and the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Its average benchmark score of 2807 exceeds the Ryzen's 2722, and its percentile ranking of 51 is one point higher. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, a feature absent on the Ryzen, which may appeal to users who adjust clock settings.

The Ryzen 7 4700U, on the other hand, is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, making it suitable for laptops, while the i5-8600K is a desktop part with a 95 W TDP. The Ryzen wins in Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core, but loses in Geekbench. For users who rely on legacy Cinebench R15 benchmarks, the Ryzen is the clear winner. For modern workloads that resemble Geekbench or R23 multi-core, the i5-8600K is superior.

The tie in wins means that the decision should be based on the specific application mix. If the workload is dominated by Cinebench R15, the Ryzen offers a significant performance advantage. If the workload involves Geekbench or multi-threaded R23 tasks, the i5-8600K is the stronger performer. The i5-8600K's higher average score and percentile give it a slight overall edge, but the Ryzen's low TDP and mobile form factor make it a compelling option for portable systems.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has 8 cores, while the Intel Core i5-8600K has 6 cores.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-8600K boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U boosts to 4.10 GHz.

Q: Which CPU has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-8600K has a TDP of 95 W, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-8600K has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has 8 MB.

Q: Which CPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-8600K has 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU is newer?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U was released on January 5, 2020, while the Intel Core i5-8600K was released on October 4, 2017.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The i5-8600K uses Intel's Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the Ryzen 7 4700U uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture (codename Renoir) on a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Ryzen has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel part does not have transistor or die size data recorded.

Cache structures differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Ryzen's L2 cache is 512 KB per core, double the i5-8600K's 256 KB per core. The i5-8600K has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, 1 MB more than the Ryzen's 8 MB. The Ryzen's memory bandwidth is higher at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, though both support dual-channel DDR4.

PCIe support differs: the i5-8600K provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen supports PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count specified. Integrated graphics also differ: the Intel part has UHD Graphics 630, while the Ryzen has Radeon Graphics 448SP. The Ryzen is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the i5-8600K is a desktop part with a 95 W TDP. The Ryzen is built on the Zen 2 architecture, while the i5-8600K uses Coffee Lake.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two CPUs:

• Cores: 6 (Intel) vs 8 (AMD)
• Threads: 6 (Intel) vs 8 (AMD)
• Base clock: 3.60 GHz (Intel) vs 2.00 GHz (AMD)
• Boost clock: 4.30 GHz (Intel) vs 4.10 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 95 W (Intel) vs 15 W (AMD)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 vs AMD Socket FP6
• Architecture: Coffee Lake vs Zen 2 (Renoir)
• Process node: 14 nm (Intel) vs 7 nm (AMD)
• Foundry: Intel vs TSMC
• Transistors: Not recorded vs 9,800 million
• Die size: Not recorded vs 156 mm²
• L2 cache: 256 KB per core vs 512 KB per core
• L3 cache: 9 MB shared vs 8 MB shared
• Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 3 (lane count not specified)
• Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 630 vs Radeon Graphics 448SP
• Market segment: Desktop vs Mobile
• Production status: End-of-life vs Active
• Release date: 2017-10-04 vs 2020-01-05
• Launch MSRP: $257 vs not recorded
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes vs No
• Part number: SR3QU vs 100-000000083

Both CPUs support DDR4 memory with dual-channel bus, have 64 KB L1 cache per core, and do not support ECC memory. The i5-8600K's launch MSRP of $257 is the only price information recorded in the database.