AMD Ryzen 7 5700U vs Intel Core i7-9700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700 and AMD Ryzen 7 5700U are a study in contrasts, and the benchmark data reflects that split personality. On one hand, they post nearly identical average benchmark scores—18180 for the Intel and 18176 for the AMD—placing them side-by-side in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. On the other hand, they achieve that parity through completely different strengths, making the choice between them a matter of workload rather than raw performance. The data shows a 10-7 split in benchmark wins favoring the Intel, but the AMD’s victories are often by larger margins, creating a nuanced picture for builders.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in the Cinebench suite, where the two processors trade blows based on the workload version. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-9700 takes a commanding 29.5% lead, scoring 11200 against the Ryzen 7 5700U’s 8650. The single-core R23 result follows a similar pattern, with Intel ahead by 25.7% (1581 vs 1258). However, the story flips in the older Cinebench R15 tests. There, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U wins multi-core by 23.8% (1480 vs 1128) and single-core by 15.4% (188 vs 159). This suggests the newer R23 test favors the Intel’s higher boost clocks, while R15 rewards the AMD’s threading advantages.

Geekbench results reinforce the Intel’s lead in general-purpose performance. The i7-9700 posts a 27.7% higher multi-core score (6800 vs 5323) and a 22.1% higher single-core score (1560 vs 1278). PassMark’s single-thread test also goes to Intel, albeit by a narrower 7.7% margin (2756 vs 2560). The Intel also wins the physics test by a substantial 31.8% (820 vs 622), indicating stronger per-core execution in simulation-style loads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, however, dominates in specific throughput tasks. The largest margin of the entire comparison is in PassMark data encryption, where AMD wins by 65.6% (12549 vs 4322). Data compression also favors AMD by 17.1% (218853 vs 181411). Integer math shows a 33.1% AMD advantage (60037 vs 40138), and the multithreaded PassMark score goes to AMD by 15.4% (15623 vs 13223). The random string sorting result is effectively a tie, with AMD edging ahead by just 0.5% (23608 vs 23482).

The Intel counters with wins in extended instructions (7.2% ahead), floating-point math (3.1% ahead), and prime number finding (65.5% ahead). Interestingly, the 3DMark tests only exist for the AMD, showing scores of 4330 for 16 threads, 3685 for 8 threads, 2357 for 4 threads, 1345 for 2 threads, and 715 for a single thread—these have no Intel counterpart in the data.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental split is desktop versus mobile design philosophy. The Intel Core i7-9700 is a desktop part built on Intel’s 14 nm process, using the Coffee Lake architecture and fitting into Socket 1151. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its TDP is 65 watts, reflecting a power-hungry desktop design. The die size is 180.3 mm².

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is a mobile processor built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, using the Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Lucienne) and fitting into Socket FP6. It also has 8 cores, but doubles the threads to 16 through simultaneous multithreading. Its base clock is 1800.00 MHz, boosting to 4.30 GHz. The TDP is dramatically lower at 15 watts, and the die is smaller at 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Intel has 256 KB of L2 per core versus the AMD’s 512 KB per core. The L3 cache also favors Intel in total size: 12 MB shared versus 8 MB shared on the AMD. Memory bandwidth goes the other way, with the AMD rated at 51.2 GB/s against Intel’s 42.7 GB/s.

PCIe lanes differ too: the Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD offers Gen 3 with 12 lanes. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics are also different—Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics 512SP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9700 wins in scenarios that favor high boost clocks and strong single-core execution. The Cinebench R23 results, both multi-core and single-core, point to this strength. The Geekbench scores, with Intel leading by over 20% in both tests, further confirm that the i7-9700 is better suited for applications that rely on per-core performance, such as gaming, general desktop responsiveness, and lightly-threaded productivity tools. The physics test win by 31.8% suggests it handles simulation and physics calculations more efficiently. The prime number finding result, where Intel leads by 65.5%, indicates a clear edge in workloads that depend on raw integer calculation per core.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U wins in heavily threaded, throughput-oriented tasks. Its 16 threads give it a clear advantage in data encryption, where it leads by 65.6%, and integer math, where it leads by 33.1%. Data compression also favors the AMD by 17.1%, and the PassMark multithread score shows a 15.4% advantage. These results indicate that the Ryzen 7 5700U is the better choice for server-like workloads, batch processing, virtual machines, and any application that can leverage more than 8 threads. The 3DMark tests, while only available for the AMD, show it scaling from 715 single-thread to 4330 max-threads, indicating good thread scaling in graphics-related compute tasks.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference lies in thread count: the Intel offers 8 threads, while the AMD offers 16. This explains the AMD’s wins in multithreaded benchmarks. The clock speeds also differ, with the Intel having a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs 4.30 GHz) and a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 1800.00 MHz). The TDP difference is stark—65 watts for Intel versus 15 watts for AMD—which reflects the desktop versus mobile design intent.

The process node favors AMD at 7 nm versus Intel’s 14 nm, and the foundry differs (TSMC vs Intel). The die size is smaller on the AMD (156 mm² vs 180.3 mm²), and the AMD lists 9,800 million transistors while the Intel does not provide that figure. L2 cache is larger per core on AMD (512 KB vs 256 KB), but L3 cache is larger on Intel (12 MB vs 8 MB). Memory bandwidth is higher on AMD (51.2 GB/s vs 42.7 GB/s). PCIe lanes are more numerous on Intel (16 vs 12). The Intel has a launch MSRP of $333; the AMD has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel is end-of-life, released in April 2019, while the AMD is active, released in January 2021.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700 consistently wins single-core tests. It leads by 25.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core, 22.1% in Geekbench single-core, and 7.7% in PassMark single-thread tests.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U’s extra threads help in real benchmarks?

A: Yes, in certain workloads. The AMD wins PassMark multithread by 15.4% and data encryption by 65.6%, showing a clear advantage in heavily threaded tasks.

Q: Which processor is better for gaming?

A: Based on the data, the Intel Core i7-9700 has the edge. Its wins in Cinebench R23 single-core, Geekbench single-core, and PassMark single-thread suggest better per-core performance, which typically benefits gaming.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The Intel Core i7-9700 averages 18180, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U averages 18176, a difference of only 4 points.

Q: What is the TDP difference and why does it matter?

A: The Intel is rated at 65 watts, while the AMD is rated at 15 watts. This reflects the Intel’s desktop design and the AMD’s mobile design, meaning the AMD is suited for battery-powered devices.

Q: Which CPU has more cache?

A: It depends on the level. The AMD has more L2 cache (512 KB per core vs 256 KB), but the Intel has more L3 cache (12 MB shared vs 8 MB shared).

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on platform and workload. The Intel Core i7-9700 is the pick for desktop builders who need maximum single-core performance. Its wins in Cinebench R23, Geekbench, and PassMark single-thread tests make it the better option for gaming, general desktop use, and applications that rely on high clock speeds. The 10 benchmark wins out of 17, including decisive leads in physics and prime number finding, support this. It is an end-of-life part, but for a Socket 1151 system, it delivers strong per-core results.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U is the pick for mobile users or those who prioritize multithreaded throughput. Its 16 threads drive substantial wins in encryption, integer math, compression, and the PassMark multithread test. If a workload can use more than 8 threads, the AMD’s 15-watt TDP and 7 nm process make it a highly efficient choice for sustained parallel work. The near-identical average benchmark scores (18176 vs 18180) mean that in overall terms, neither CPU is “faster”—they are simply faster at different things. Choose the Intel for per-core speed, the AMD for parallel throughput.