AMD Ryzen 7 4700U vs Intel Core i5-9500F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U and the Intel Core i5-9500F, with each processor taking decisive victories in different workload types. Across the six shared benchmark tests, the AMD part wins four, while the Intel part wins two, but the margin of victory tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U dominates in the Cinebench R15 tests. In the multicore run, it scores 1094.5 against Intel's 852, a 28.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: AMD scores 180 versus Intel's 120, a full 50% lead. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it suggests the older Coffee Lake architecture struggles in this particular workload despite its higher boost clock.

The Cinebench R23 multicore test flips the script. Here, the Intel Core i5-9500F scores 8453 against AMD's 7378, giving Intel a 12.7% lead. This is the biggest win for either side in absolute points, and it indicates that the Intel chip can leverage its higher sustained power envelope in longer rendering workloads. In R23 single-core, however, AMD edges ahead again with 1220.5 versus 1193, a slim 2.3% margin.

The Geekbench results are remarkably close in multicore. AMD scores 5189, Intel scores 5185, a difference of just 0.1%. This is effectively a tie, and it highlights how the two processors converge on overall throughput in certain mixed workloads. Geekbench single-core, by contrast, goes decisively to Intel: 1504 versus 1268, a 15.7% advantage. This is Intel's second largest win and shows that the 4.40 GHz boost clock on the i5-9500F carries real weight in lightly threaded tasks.

The average benchmark score places the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U at 2722 against Intel's 2670, a modest overall edge of about 1.9%. Both processors sit at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy similar mid-pack territory. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 (2724, -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-11390H (2715, 0.2%), the Intel Xeon D-1577 (2715, 0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U (2713, 0.3%). The Intel i5-9500F's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700T (2668, 0.1%), the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 (2664, 0.2%), the Intel Core i7-1365UE (2677, -0.3%), and the Intel Core i7-9750HF (2662, 0.3%). Both chips are clustered tightly with their peers, with no rival exceeding a 0.3% delta.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U wins four of the six head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-9500F wins two.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U leads by 50%, scoring 180 versus Intel's 120.

Q: Is there any test where the two processors are nearly identical?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multicore the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U scores 5189 and the Intel Core i5-9500F scores 5185, a difference of only 0.1%.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500F scores 1504 in Geekbench single-core, compared to 1268 for the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U, a 15.7% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500F leads with 8453 against 7378 for the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U, a 12.7% margin.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has an average benchmark score of 2722, while the Intel Core i5-9500F has an average of 2670.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node, while the Intel Core i5-9500F uses Intel's 14 nm node. This process gap is reflected in the transistor density and power characteristics. The AMD chip integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, whereas the Intel part has no listed transistor count or die size in the database. The AMD processor belongs to the 4000 series, uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, and fits the AMD Socket FP6. The Intel processor uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake Refresh generation and fits Intel Socket 1151.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U provides 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-9500F provides 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading, so core count equals thread count for both. The AMD chip runs at a base clock of 2000 MHz with a 4.10 GHz boost clock. The Intel chip runs at a base clock of 3000 MHz with a 4.40 GHz boost clock. The Intel part has both a higher base and higher boost frequency, which helps explain its strong single-core results.

Cache configurations also differ. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-9500F has the same 64 KB L1 per core but only 256 KB of L2 per core and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip therefore has twice the L2 cache per core, while the Intel chip has 1 MB more L3 overall.

Memory support is similar in type but different in bandwidth. Both support DDR4 and dual-channel memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U lists 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i5-9500F lists 42.7 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the Intel part specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part does not list a lane count.

The most striking architectural difference is integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors (listed as 448SP). The Intel Core i5-9500F has no integrated graphics at all, as indicated by the null value in the database. This means the AMD chip can drive a display on its own, while the Intel part requires a discrete GPU for any video output.

Power and market positioning are also divergent. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U has a TDP of 15 watts and targets the mobile segment. The Intel Core i5-9500F has a TDP of 65 watts and targets the desktop segment. The AMD chip remains in active production, while the Intel chip is marked as end-of-life. The AMD part released on January 5, 2020, while the Intel part released on April 22, 2019.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data does not crown a single overall winner; it identifies two different tools for two different jobs. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U is the stronger performer in legacy single-threaded and multithreaded workloads. Its 50% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 28.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore are substantial. It also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 2.3% and Geekbench multicore by 0.1%.

The Intel Core i5-9500F is the stronger performer in newer rendering workloads and in Geekbench single-core. Its 12.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore shows it can sustain higher throughput over longer rendering sessions, and its 15.7% lead in Geekbench single-core demonstrates superior lightly threaded responsiveness.

Users who prioritize short-duration rendering tasks, older benchmark suites, integrated graphics capability, and mobile deployment should lean toward the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U. Users who prioritize modern multicore rendering, the highest possible single-core Geekbench scores, and desktop deployment with a discrete GPU should lean toward the Intel Core i5-9500F. The average benchmark scores are close, 2722 versus 2670, so neither chip is a runaway choice. The decision rests on which benchmark categories matter most for the intended workload.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ in the database.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | Intel Core i5-9500F |

|---|---|---|

| Series | 4000 series | Not listed |

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base clock | 2000 MHz | 3000 MHz |

| Boost clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 7 (Zen 2 (Renoir)) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |

| Process node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 156 mm² | Not listed |

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 8 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics 448SP | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2020-01-05 | 2019-04-22 |

| Part number | 100-000000083 | Not listed |

Fields that are identical between the two processors include L1 cache (64 KB per core), memory support (DDR4), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC memory support (false), multiplier unlock status (false), and PCIe generation (Gen 3).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U wins in four benchmark categories. Its most dominant area is Cinebench R15 single-core, where it leads by 50%. It also wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 28.5%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 2.3%, and Geekbench multicore by 0.1%. These results suggest the AMD chip is particularly strong in older rendering workloads and in mixed multithreaded productivity tasks. The 28.5% multicore margin in R15 is notable given that the Intel chip has a 65 W TDP versus AMD's 15 W TDP, meaning the AMD processor achieves this lead while consuming far less power. The integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP also gives the AMD part an advantage in systems that do not include a discrete GPU, as the Intel part cannot output video without one.

The Intel Core i5-9500F wins in two benchmark categories. Its strongest area is Cinebench R23 multicore, where it leads by 12.7%, followed by Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 15.7%. The R23 multicore win is the largest absolute point difference in the set, 1075 points, and indicates the Intel chip handles sustained modern rendering workloads better. The Geekbench single-core win aligns with its higher 4.40 GHz boost clock, which exceeds the AMD chip's 4.10 GHz boost. The Intel part also has 1 MB more L3 cache and a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, which contributes to its responsiveness in short, single-threaded operations.

The overall picture is one of workload-specific strengths. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U is the choice for mobile systems, for workloads that rely on the Cinebench R15 suite, and for scenarios where integrated graphics are required. The Intel Core i5-9500F is the choice for desktop systems with a discrete GPU, for modern Cinebench R23 rendering workloads, and for applications where Geekbench single-core performance is the priority. Both processors sit at the 50th percentile in the database and have average scores within 52 points of each other, so the practical differences will depend heavily on the software being run.