AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS vs Intel Core i9-9900KS Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS and Intel Core i9-9900KS are an unusual pairing: one is a 35-watt mobile processor from 2021, the other a 127-watt desktop flagship from 2019. Yet the benchmark data places them in a near-dead heat, with the mobile chip edging ahead in every single head-to-head test. This comparison reveals how far efficiency-focused silicon has come, and how a lower-power part can match a desktop legend from a previous generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably one-sided in favor of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS. Across all six shared Cinebench tests, the 5800HS wins every single one, though the margins are uniformly slim. The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD chip scores 237 against Intel's 233, a 1.7% advantage. Every other test — R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core — shows a 1.5% delta in AMD's favor.

Looking at the raw numbers, the 5800HS posts 1682 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 1657 for the 9900KS. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 7009 and 6907 respectively. The R23 multi-core result is 16690 for AMD versus 16446 for Intel, and the single-core R23 scores are 2356 versus 2321. The consistency of these margins is striking — it suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

It is notably the Intel part has additional benchmark data not shared with the AMD chip. The 9900KS scores 7376 in 3DMark 16-thread, 7360 in 3DMark max-thread, and 841 in 3DMark single-thread, along with Geekbench scores of 9771 multi-core and 1715 single-core. These results cannot be directly compared because the 5800HS lacks matching tests, but they show the 9900KS is a capable performer in its own right — just not quite enough to beat the newer AMD part in the tests they share.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The 5800HS averages 4827 across its benchmark suite, placing it at the 59th percentile of all CPUs. The 9900KS averages 4738, also at the 59th percentile. This means both chips sit in the same performance tier overall, despite their vastly different power envelopes and market segments.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS wins every head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i9-9900KS. The margins are small — always between 1.5% and 1.7% — but they are consistent across single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For a 35-watt mobile processor to beat a 127-watt desktop part from two years earlier in every shared test is a remarkable demonstration of architectural progress.

Who should choose which? From the data alone, the 5800HS is the better performer in every measured category. It also offers a far lower TDP of 35 watts versus Intel's 127 watts, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. The 9900KS, by contrast, is a desktop-only part with an unlocked multiplier, which the 5800HS lacks. That unlocked multiplier means the Intel chip can be overclocked, though the benchmark data does not include any overclocked results.

The 9900KS does have one advantage not visible in the head-to-head tests: a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz for the AMD part, and a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 2.80 GHz. Yet these clock advantages do not translate into benchmark wins. The 5800HS compensates with a newer architecture and a smaller 7nm process node versus Intel's 14nm, which likely explains its efficiency and performance parity.

For users who need a laptop processor that can deliver desktop-class performance, the 5800HS is the clear pick. For those building a desktop with an overclocking focus, the 9900KS offers that flexibility, but it loses on outright performance in stock settings.

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 i9-9900KS averages 4738. Both sit at the 59th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The 5800HS scores 16690 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the 9900KS scores 16446, giving AMD a 1.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-9900KS win any head-to-head test?

A: No. Across the six shared Cinebench tests, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS wins all of them, with deltas ranging from 1.5% to 1.7%.

Q: What is the difference in single-core Cinebench R20 performance?

A: The 5800HS scores 989 in Cinebench R20 single-core, and the 9900KS scores 974, a 1.5% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The 5800HS has a TDP of 35 watts, while the 9900KS has a TDP of 127 watts. The AMD part is a mobile processor, and the Intel part is a desktop processor.

Q: Which processor supports overclocking?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900KS has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every physical and platform specification. The 5800HS uses AMD Socket FP6, while the 9900KS uses Intel Socket 1151. The AMD part is a mobile processor, and the Intel part is a desktop processor. The 5800HS has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the 9900KS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The TDP differs dramatically: 35 watts for the AMD chip versus 127 watts for the Intel chip.

Memory bandwidth also diverges. The 5800HS supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the 9900KS supports dual-channel DDR4 at 42.7 GB/s. The L2 cache differs per core: 512 KB per core for AMD versus 256 KB per core for Intel, though both share 16 MB of L3 cache. The integrated graphics are different as well — Radeon Vega 8 on the AMD part and UHD 630 on the Intel part.

The production status differs: the 5800HS is listed as active, while the 9900KS is end-of-life. The release dates are also different, with the AMD part launching in January 2021 and the Intel part in October 2019. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $513, while the AMD part has no listed MSRP. The 9900KS has an unlocked multiplier; the 5800HS does not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is significant. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, manufactured on a 7nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-9900KS is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, codenamed Coffee Lake-R, manufactured on a 14nm process at Intel. The process node difference — 7nm versus 14nm — is a major factor in the performance-per-watt disparity.

Both chips have 8 cores and 16 threads, and both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. However, the L2 cache differs: 512 KB per core on AMD versus 256 KB per core on Intel. Both have 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The transistor count reveals another difference: the 5800HS has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the 9900KS does not have a listed transistor count but shares the same 180 mm² die size.

PCIe support is similar but not identical. Both are Gen 3, but the Intel part specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part does not specify lane count. Neither supports ECC memory, and both use DDR4 memory. The 5800HS belongs to AMD's 5000 series, while the 9900KS is part of Intel's Core i9 generation under Coffee Lake Refresh.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS wins in every benchmark category shared between the two, so its strengths are clear. It dominates in all Cinebench tests — both single-core and multi-core — across R15, R20, and R23 versions. The margins are thin, but they are universal. This makes the 5800HS the better choice for any workload that relies on raw CPU throughput, including rendering, video encoding, and general productivity tasks.

The 5800HS also wins on efficiency, with a 35-watt TDP versus 127 watts for the Intel part. This means it can deliver comparable performance in a laptop form factor, whereas the 9900KS requires a desktop platform with substantial cooling. The AMD part also has higher memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, which could benefit memory-intensive workloads.

The Intel Core i9-9900KS does have its own advantages, though they are not reflected in the shared benchmarks. It has a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which could matter in short, lightly-threaded bursts. It also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking beyond stock settings — something the 5800HS cannot do. For users who prioritize maximum single-thread clock speed and are willing to overclock, the 9900KS offers that path, even if stock performance trails the AMD part.

The 9900KS also has additional benchmark data in 3DMark and Geekbench that the 5800HS lacks, showing it is a solid performer in those areas. However, since no direct comparison exists, those results cannot be used to claim superiority. The data-driven conclusion is that the 5800HS is the better performer in every measurable shared test, while the 9900KS retains value only for its overclocking potential and existing desktop platform.