AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS vs Intel Core i7-6950X Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS and Intel Core i7-6950X represent two very different eras of processor design, yet they land in the same performance percentile. Both CPUs hold a 59th percentile ranking among all CPUs tracked, and their average benchmark scores are close: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS averages 4827, while the Intel Core i7-6950X averages 4734. This places the Ryzen 7 5800HS 2.0% ahead on average, a margin that feels small given the architectural gap between a 2021 mobile chip and a 2016 desktop Extreme processor. The data tells a story of process node advantages and clock-speed efficiency overcoming a deficit in core count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent across every Cinebench test. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS wins all six head-to-head comparisons, and the margin is nearly identical in each case. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 7 5800HS scores 1682 against the Intel Core i7-6950X's 1504, a delta of 11.8%. The single-core test tells the same story: 237 versus 212, again an 11.8% advantage for the AMD part.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The multicore result shows 7009 for the Ryzen 7 5800HS and 6268 for the Intel Core i7-6950X, an 11.8% delta. Single-core performance in R20 gives the AMD chip 989 points versus 884, which is an 11.9% lead — the only test where the margin deviates from 11.8% even slightly. This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural, not workload-specific.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend with the largest absolute scores. The Ryzen 7 5800HS posts 16690 in multicore, while the Intel Core i7-6950X manages 14926 — another 11.8% delta. In single-core R23, the scores are 2356 and 2107 respectively, again 11.8% apart. The Intel Core i7-6950X does have additional benchmark data in Geekbench, scoring 10637 multicore and 1334 single-core, but the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS has no corresponding Geekbench entry in the data, so those results cannot be compared directly.

The data shows a sweep: 6 wins for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS, 0 wins for the Intel Core i7-6950X. What makes this notable is the core-count disadvantage. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 20 threads compared to 8 cores and 16 threads on the AMD chip. Despite having 25% more cores, the Intel part loses by nearly 12% in every Cinebench test. The Ryzen 7 5800HS compensates with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 3.50 GHz on the Intel, and a 7nm process node versus 14nm.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS wins in every measured category. There is no test in the head-to-head set where the Intel Core i7-6950X comes out ahead. The Cinebench family — R15, R20, and R23 — all favor the AMD chip in both multicore and single-core configurations. This means the Ryzen 7 5800HS is the better choice for rendering workloads, which is what Cinebench simulates, as well as for lightly threaded tasks that rely on single-core speed.

The Intel Core i7-6950X does have a theoretical advantage in core count, with 10 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads. For workloads that scale perfectly with thread count and are not captured by Cinebench, the Intel part could potentially close the gap. However, no such benchmark is present in the data to support that claim. The only recorded wins belong to the AMD processor, and the delta is uniform across all tests.

The Intel chip also has a higher memory bandwidth figure at 76.8 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s for the AMD part, and it supports quad-channel memory versus dual-channel. These are specification-level differences that could matter in memory-intensive applications, but the benchmark data does not include a memory-bandwidth test. Without such a result, the practical impact remains unmeasured.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS has an average benchmark score of 4827, while the Intel Core i7-6950X averages 4734. The AMD chip leads by 93 points, which is roughly 2.0%.

Q: How many Cinebench tests did each processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS won all 6 head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i7-6950X won 0 tests in the direct comparison.

Q: What is the consistent performance delta between the two in Cinebench?

A: The delta is 11.8% in five of the six tests (R15 multicore, R15 single-core, R20 multicore, R23 multicore, R23 single-core). The R20 single-core test shows an 11.9% delta.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-6950X have more cores?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-6950X has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-6950X has a TDP of 140 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-6950X boosts to 3.50 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-6950X has 10 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 2.80 GHz for the AMD chip and 3.00 GHz for the Intel chip, but the boost clocks diverge significantly: 4.40 GHz versus 3.50 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator, with the AMD part rated at 35 watts and the Intel part at 140 watts.

The cache layouts differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 512 KB per core on the AMD chip versus 256 KB per core on the Intel chip. L3 cache is 16 MB shared on the AMD part and 25 MB shared on the Intel part. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the memory bus differs: dual-channel on the AMD chip and quad-channel on the Intel chip. Memory bandwidth reflects this, with 68.3 GB/s for the AMD part and 76.8 GB/s for the Intel part.

Socket and platform are entirely different. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel Core i7-6950X uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics; the Intel chip has no integrated graphics. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the Intel part offers 40 lanes (CPU only) while the AMD part does not specify a lane count. The Intel multiplier is unlocked; the AMD multiplier is not.

Production status and release dates also differ. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS is active and was released on 2021-01-11. The Intel Core i7-6950X is end-of-life and was released on 2016-05-30. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $1723; the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS is built on Zen 3 architecture with the codename Cezanne, part of the 5000 series and the Ryzen 7 generation. It uses a 7nm process node from TSMC and contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-6950X uses Broadwell architecture with the codename Broadwell-E, part of the Core i7 Extreme generation. It uses a 14nm process node from Intel and contains 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die.

The transistor counts are starkly different: the AMD chip has over three times as many transistors despite a smaller die. This density advantage comes from the 7nm process versus 14nm. The foundries also differ — AMD uses TSMC, while Intel uses its own fabs. The market segments reflect the intended use: the AMD chip is mobile, while the Intel chip is desktop.

Cache architecture shows different design philosophies. The AMD chip uses 512 KB of L2 per core, which is double the Intel chip's 256 KB per core. The Intel chip compensates with a larger shared L3 pool of 25 MB versus 16 MB on the AMD chip. The AMD chip has no vCache 3D, and neither chip specifies a total L3 value separately from the shared L3.

The Intel Core i7-6950X is a desktop Extreme part with 40 PCIe lanes (CPU only) and quad-channel memory, indicating a platform designed for high-bandwidth expansion. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS is a mobile part with dual-channel memory and integrated graphics, designed for power efficiency. The TDP difference — 35 watts versus 140 watts — encapsulates this divide. The Intel chip draws four times the power budget of the AMD chip.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS outperforms the Intel Core i7-6950X in every measured test, despite having fewer cores and threads. The 11.8% lead across all Cinebench tests is consistent and repeatable, suggesting a fundamental efficiency advantage from the 7nm Zen 3 architecture and the higher 4.40 GHz boost clock. The Intel Core i7-6950X cannot overcome its core-count advantage because its 3.50 GHz boost clock and 14nm process hold it back.

The use case split is clear from the data. For any workload represented by Cinebench — rendering, 3D modeling, CPU-bound content creation — the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS is the superior choice. Its single-core performance is also ahead, which benefits everyday tasks that rely on one or two threads. The Intel Core i7-6950X offers more cores and higher memory bandwidth, but no benchmark in the data set shows those features translating into a win.

For a buyer choosing between these two today, the decision is straightforward. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS is active in production, uses far less power at 35 watts versus 140 watts, and wins every benchmark comparison. The Intel Core i7-6950X is end-of-life, draws four times the power, and loses every benchmark. The only arguments for the Intel part are its unlocked multiplier and quad-channel memory support, but the data provides no evidence that these features result in better performance in the tested workloads. The Ryzen 7 5800HS is the data-driven pick.