AMD Ryzen 7 5700U vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8700 and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U are separated by more than just their release dates; they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The i7-8700 is a desktop part from Intel's Coffee Lake generation, while the 5700U is a mobile processor built on AMD's Zen 2 architecture. The benchmark data shows a split decision, with each processor claiming victories in different workloads, making the choice highly dependent on the intended use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the divergence between older and newer Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 7 5700U wins decisively with a score of 1480 against Intel's 1091, a 26.3% advantage. However, in Cinebench R23 multicore, the tables turn completely: the i7-8700 scores 10829 versus 8650 for the AMD part, giving Intel a 25.2% lead. This pattern repeats in single-core tests, where the i7-8700 wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1528 versus 1258 (21.5% ahead), but the 5700U takes Cinebench R15 single-core with 188 versus 153 (18.6% ahead). The discrepancy suggests the two chips respond very differently to the newer benchmark's workload characteristics.

Geekbench results side firmly with Intel. The i7-8700 scores 6519 in multicore and 1538 in single-core, compared to 5323 and 1278 for the 5700U. Intel leads by 22.5% in multicore and 20.3% in single-core. These are significant margins that indicate the older desktop chip retains a clear edge in general-purpose computing tasks as measured by Geekbench's mixed workload.

The Passmark suite paints a different picture, favoring the AMD processor in most heavy compute tasks. The 5700U wins integer math 60037 to 44881 (a 25.2% margin), floating-point math 33151 to 27839 (16% ahead), and data encryption 12549 to 4488 (a massive 64.2% lead). The AMD chip also wins data compression 218853 to 187009 (14.6% ahead), extended instructions 13519 to 12432 (8% ahead), and the Passmark multithread score 15623 to 12756 (18.4% ahead).

Intel does manage some Passmark wins. The i7-8700 takes the physics test 732 to 622 (17.7% ahead), find prime numbers 35 to 29 (20.7% ahead), and random string sorting 23963 to 23608 (a narrow 1.5% margin). In single-threaded Passmark, Intel edges out a win with 2629 versus 2560, a 2.7% difference. The final tally of wins is remarkably close: Intel claims 9 benchmark victories, while AMD takes 8, perfectly illustrating the divided nature of the performance data.

Architecture Differences

The foundational difference lies in the manufacturing process and core design. The Intel i7-8700 uses a 14 nm process manufactured by Intel itself, while the Ryzen 7 5700U uses a 7 nm process from TSMC. The Intel chip features 6 cores and 12 threads, whereas the AMD part packs 8 cores and 16 threads. This gives the 5700U a 33% advantage in both core and thread count, which likely contributes to its strong Passmark multithread performance.

Clock speeds tell a complementary story. The i7-8700 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the 5700U has a much lower base clock of 1.80 GHz but boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Intel part's higher base clock helps explain its single-core wins in Geekbench and Cinebench R23, despite having fewer cores. The thermal design power (TDP) is drastically different: the i7-8700 is rated at 65 watts, while the 5700U is rated at just 15 watts. This 50-watt gap reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning, though benchmark scores show the low-power AMD part can still outperform in many threaded workloads.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache doubles from 256 KB per core on Intel to 512 KB per core on AMD. The L3 cache is larger on Intel at 12 MB shared, compared to 8 MB shared on AMD. Memory bandwidth favors the AMD chip at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for Intel, despite both using dual-channel DDR4 memory. The 5700U also has a smaller PCIe footprint with 12 Gen 3 lanes, while the i7-8700 offers 16 Gen 3 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ as well. Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics 512SP. Both have the same transistor count for L1 cache, but the AMD chip has a much larger overall transistor count at 9,800 million, compared to Intel's unspecified count. Die sizes are nearly identical at 154 mm² for Intel and 156 mm² for AMD, which is notable given the process node difference.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel i7-8700 is the clear winner in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads that prioritize raw clock speed. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1538 versus 1278 (20.3% ahead) and Cinebench R23 single-core win by 21.5% make it the better choice for applications that rely on one or two threads. The physics test win (732 versus 622) and find prime numbers victory (35 versus 29) further reinforce this pattern. The 4.60 GHz boost clock gives it an edge in latency-sensitive tasks that cannot take advantage of multiple cores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U dominates in parallel compute and data-heavy workloads. Its 8 cores and 16 threads translate directly into wins in integer math (25.2% ahead), data encryption (64.2% ahead), and the Passmark multithread test (18.4% ahead). Data compression also favors AMD by 14.6%, and floating-point math by 16%. These results suggest the 5700U is better suited for encryption, compression, and number-crunching tasks that scale well with core count. The Cinebench R15 multicore win (26.3% ahead) shows that in some older workloads, the extra cores provide a decisive advantage.

There is no clean sweep in either direction. Intel wins random string sorting by a slim 1.5% margin, while AMD wins extended instructions by 8%. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the i7-8700 averages 18223, and the 5700U averages 18176, a difference of less than 0.3%. Both chips sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which chip wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700 wins the most recent single-thread tests, taking Geekbench single-core (1538 versus 1278, 20.3% ahead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1528 versus 1258, 21.5% ahead). The AMD part wins Cinebench R15 single-core (188 versus 153, 18.6% ahead).

Q: How do the chips compare on Passmark multithread?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U wins Passmark multithread with a score of 15623 versus 12756 for Intel, an 18.4% margin.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s, compared to 42.7 GB/s for the Intel Core i7-8700.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, both the Intel Core i7-8700 and the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U do not support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i7-8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for Intel and 1.80 GHz for AMD, with boost clocks of 4.60 GHz and 4.30 GHz respectively. The TDP is 65 watts for Intel and 15 watts for AMD. The i7-8700 uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the 5700U uses the AMD Socket FP6. The process node is 14 nm for Intel and 7 nm for AMD, with Intel as the foundry for the former and TSMC for the latter. The AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors versus an unspecified count for Intel. Die size is similar at 154 mm² for Intel and 156 mm² for AMD. L2 cache is 256 KB per core for Intel and 512 KB per core for AMD, while L3 cache is 12 MB shared for Intel and 8 MB shared for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for Intel and 51.2 GB/s for AMD. PCIe lanes are 16 for Intel and 12 for AMD. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 for Intel and Radeon Graphics 512SP for AMD. The market segment is Desktop for Intel and Mobile for AMD. Production status is End-of-life for Intel and Active for AMD. The i7-8700 has a launch MSRP of $303, while the 5700U has no listed MSRP. The i7-8700 was released on 2017-10-04, and the 5700U on 2021-01-11.

The Verdict

The data presents a genuine trade-off rather than a clear winner. The Intel Core i7-8700 is the better choice for users who prioritize single-thread performance and the latest Cinebench and Geekbench results. Its 20-22% leads in Geekbench single-core and multicore, along with a 25.2% win in Cinebench R23 multicore, make it the stronger option for general desktop productivity, legacy applications, and workloads that favor higher clock speeds. The 65-watt TDP and desktop socket indicate it belongs in a full-sized system where power draw is not a primary concern.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the better pick for workloads that scale with core count and for mobile applications. Its 64.2% lead in data encryption and 25.2% lead in integer math are substantial, and the 18.4% win in Passmark multithread shows its 8-core advantage in action. The 15-watt TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where thermal and power constraints are severe. Users who regularly perform data compression, encryption, or heavy parallel math will see tangible benefits from the AMD chip.

The near-identical average benchmark scores (18223 versus 18176) and same 72nd percentile ranking mean that for mixed everyday use, neither chip offers a compelling overall advantage. The choice comes down to the specific workload distribution. If the user's software is single-threaded or uses the latest benchmark optimizations, the i7-8700's higher clock speeds win out. If the software is highly threaded and benefits from more cores, the 5700U's 8-core design delivers better results. The i7-8700 is end-of-life, while the 5700U remains active, which may factor into platform longevity decisions. Ultimately, the benchmark data supports picking the i7-8700 for desktop-centric single-thread performance and the 5700U for mobile or heavily threaded parallel compute.