AMD Ryzen 7 5800 vs AMD Ryzen 7 6800U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U and AMD Ryzen 7 5800 are both 8-core, 16-thread processors from AMD, but they target completely different worlds. The 6800U is a 6000 series mobile part built on Zen 3+ with a 15W TDP, while the 5800 is a 5000 series desktop part built on Zen 3 with a 65W TDP. The head-to-head benchmark data is strikingly one-sided: the 5800 wins all 15 shared tests, with margins ranging from a modest -6.7% in single-threaded Passmark to a crushing -52% in Cinebench R23 multicore. Yet the 6800U brings its own advantages in power efficiency, integrated graphics, and memory technology. This comparison explores what the recorded data says about each processor's strengths and where they fit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the head-to-head benchmark comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800 wins all 15 shared benchmark tests. The 6800U trails by margins from -6.7% in Passmark single-thread to -52% in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The 6800U supports DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The 5800 supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which has more L3 cache?

A: The 5800 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 6800U's 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both have integrated graphics?

A: No. The 6800U includes a Radeon 680M integrated GPU, while the 5800 has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The 6800U is rated at 15W, while the 5800 is rated at 65W.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different AMD generations and architectures. The 6800U is a 6000 series part built on Zen 3+, codenamed Rembrandt. The 5800 is a 5000 series part built on Zen 3, codenamed Vermeer. This architectural split drives most of the behavioral differences between them.

The manufacturing process differs as well. The 6800U uses a 6 nm process from TSMC, while the 5800 uses a 7 nm process. The die sizes reflect this divergence: the 6800U has a 208 mm² die, while the 5800 has a 74 mm² die. The 5800's die is much smaller, and the database records 4,150 million transistors for the 5800, while no transistor count is recorded for the 6800U.

Cache configuration is another major differentiator. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache, however, is split: the 6800U has 16 MB shared, while the 5800 has 32 MB shared. That is double the L3 capacity for the desktop part, which likely explains some of the 5800's dominance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support diverges sharply. The 6800U uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The 5800 uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The 6800U also lacks ECC support, while the 5800 supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics situation is notable. The 6800U includes a Radeon 680M iGPU, making it a self-contained mobile solution. The 5800 has no integrated graphics at all, which is typical for a desktop part that expects a discrete GPU.

The sockets and market segments differ completely. The 6800U uses AMD Socket FP7 and targets the mobile segment. The 5800 uses AMD Socket AM4 and targets the desktop segment. The 6800U has a locked multiplier, while the 5800 has an unlocked multiplier. The 5800 was released on 2021-01-11, while no release date is recorded for the 6800U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous. The Ryzen 7 5800 wins all 15 shared tests, and the 6800U does not take a single victory. The margins, however, vary widely by workload.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23. In multicore, the 5800 scores 21953 against the 6800U's 10546, a -52% delta. In singlecore, the 5800 scores 3099 against 1506, a -51.4% delta. These are the two biggest wins for the 5800 in the entire comparison.

Cinebench R15 shows a similar but smaller pattern. The 5800 leads multicore with 2212 versus 1776, a -19.7% delta, and singlecore with 312 versus 242, a -22.4% delta.

Passmark tests tell a consistent story. The 5800 wins data compression (316429 vs 244082, -22.9%), data encryption (20021 vs 15601, -22.1%), extended instructions (21297 vs 15935, -25.2%), find prime numbers (110 vs 57, -48.2%), floating point math (51588 vs 42246, -18.1%), integer math (92843 vs 77731, -16.3%), multithread (25823 vs 20350, -21.2%), physics (1141 vs 984, -13.8%), and random string sorting (32998 vs 25954, -21.3%).

The closest margin is in Passmark single-thread, where the 5800 scores 3393 against the 6800U's 3166, a -6.7% delta. This suggests that in lightly threaded, single-core workloads, the 6800U is much closer to the 5800 than in heavily threaded or cache-sensitive tasks.

The average benchmark scores reflect an interesting nuance. The 6800U has an average benchmark score of 27887, while the 5800 has 27535. The 6800U's average is slightly higher despite losing every head-to-head test, because the two processors have different benchmark suites recorded in the database. Both sit at the 79th percentile among all CPUs.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context. The 6800U sits near the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (avg 27896, delta 0), the Intel Core i9-10900K (27872, delta 0.1), the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340 (27932, delta -0.2), and the Intel Core i5-12600KF (27799, delta 0.3). The 5800 sits near the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (27507, delta 0.1), the Intel Core i5-12600K (27578, delta -0.2), the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (27578, delta -0.2), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (27636, delta -0.4).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The 6800U has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The 5800 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The 5800 starts higher but boosts slightly lower.

TDP is a major differentiator. The 6800U is rated at 15W, while the 5800 is rated at 65W. This thermal gap explains the 6800U's suitability for thin-and-light laptops and the 5800's need for a desktop cooling solution.

The process node differs: 6 nm for the 6800U, 7 nm for the 5800. The die size differs: 208 mm² for the 6800U, 74 mm² for the 5800. The 5800 has 4,150 million transistors recorded, while the 6800U has no transistor count in the database.

L3 cache differs: 16 MB shared for the 6800U, 32 MB shared for the 5800. Memory support differs: DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s for the 6800U, DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s for the 5800. ECC support differs: false for the 6800U, true for the 5800.

The integrated graphics differ: Radeon 680M for the 6800U, none for the 5800. The socket differs: FP7 for the 6800U, AM4 for the 5800. The market segment differs: Mobile for the 6800U, Desktop for the 5800. The multiplier is locked on the 6800U and unlocked on the 5800. The release date is recorded only for the 5800: 2021-01-11.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is one-sided: the Ryzen 7 5800 wins every single shared test. There is no workload in the head-to-head set where the 6800U comes out ahead. The 5800's largest advantages are in Cinebench R23 multicore (-52%), Cinebench R23 singlecore (-51.4%), and Passmark find prime numbers (-48.2%). Its smallest advantage is in Passmark single-thread (-6.7%).

The 6800U, however, has strengths that the benchmark suite does not capture directly. It is a mobile part with a 15W TDP, which makes it suitable for laptops and other power-constrained devices. It includes a Radeon 680M integrated GPU, so it can drive a display without a discrete graphics card. It supports DDR5 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, a newer and faster memory standard than the 5800's DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. It is built on a 6 nm process, which is more advanced than the 5800's 7 nm process.

The 5800, by contrast, is a desktop part with a 65W TDP. It has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU. It supports DDR4 memory and ECC. It has double the L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), which likely contributes to its strong performance in cache-sensitive workloads like Cinebench and Passmark.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Ryzen 7 5800 is the faster processor in every measured benchmark, with margins ranging from -6.7% to -52%. For anyone building a desktop system and prioritizing raw compute performance, the 5800 is the obvious choice based on the recorded scores.

The Ryzen 7 6800U is not without merit, but its advantages are not in the benchmark scores. It offers a 15W TDP, a Radeon 680M integrated GPU, DDR5 memory support, and a 6 nm process. These features make it a compelling option for mobile devices where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter more than peak performance.

The choice between these two processors depends on the use case. The 5800 wins on performance across the board. The 6800U wins on mobility, power efficiency, and integrated graphics capability. The database records no shared benchmark where the 6800U takes the lead, so the performance verdict is one-sided. The 6800U's value lies in its form factor and feature set, not in its benchmark results.