AMD Ryzen 7 5800U vs Intel Core i7-10870H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-10870H and AMD Ryzen 7 5800U are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors aimed at different ends of the laptop market. The Intel part is a high-performance chip with a 45 watt TDP, while the AMD part is a low-power design with a 15 watt TDP. The recorded data shows a fascinating split: the two processors win an equal number of head-to-head benchmarks, but they win in very different types of workloads. This analysis walks through the benchmark results, architecture differences, and the data-driven use cases for each chip.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results present a clear dichotomy. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U dominates in older Cinebench R15 tests, both multi-core and single-core, and also takes the Geekbench single-core test. The Intel Core i7-10870H, conversely, wins decisively in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core, and edges out the AMD chip in Geekbench multi-core.

This split suggests the AMD processor excels in workloads that rely on short bursts of high performance, while the Intel processor pulls ahead in sustained or newer rendering tasks. Specifically, the AMD chip wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a score of 1613 against Intel's 1194, a 26% advantage. In single-core R15, AMD wins 229 to 168, a 26.6% lead. The Geekbench single-core test also favors AMD, with a score of 1656 versus 1443, a 12.9% difference.

The Intel chip's wins are equally emphatic. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 11852 against AMD's 8154, a massive 45.4% lead. In R23 single-core, Intel scores 1673 versus 1427, a 17.2% advantage. The Geekbench multi-core test is closer, with Intel at 7357 and AMD at 7132, a 3.2% difference.

The database shows the Intel chip is the clear choice for modern multi-core rendering workloads, as evidenced by the R23 results. The AMD chip, meanwhile, is the winner for legacy single-threaded tasks and short-duration boosts. The overall average benchmark scores are close: Intel averages 3446, AMD averages 3369, placing both at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. The takeaway is not that one is faster overall, but that they each have distinct strengths that align with different software generations and usage patterns.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-10870H is built on the Comet Lake-H architecture, a 14 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U uses the Zen 3 architecture, specifically the Cezanne-U codename, manufactured by TSMC on a 7 nm process. It also has 8 cores and 16 threads, but its base clock is lower at 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz) and its boost clock is 4.40 GHz.

The process node difference is notable: 14 nm versus 7 nm, which contributes to the power envelope disparity. Intel's TDP is 45 watts, while AMD's is 15 watts. This is a threefold difference in rated power consumption, making the AMD part far more suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel part is designed for larger gaming or workstation machines.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the L2 cache differs: Intel uses 256 KB per core, while AMD uses 512 KB per core. This doubles the L2 per core for AMD, which can help with certain data-heavy workloads.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but AMD specifies a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while Intel's memory bus and bandwidth are not listed in the database. Both support PCIe Gen 3, but Intel offers 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers 8 lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ: Intel has UHD Graphics, while AMD has Radeon Vega 8. AMD's chip is larger physically, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors, while Intel's die size and transistor count are not recorded. Both chips lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers. The release dates are about four months apart: Intel in September 2020 and AMD in January 2021.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals where each processor is strongest. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U wins three tests, and the Intel Core i7-10870H wins three tests, but the margins tell the real story.

Starting with AMD's wins, the Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows AMD scoring 1613 against Intel's 1194, a 26% advantage. This is a significant margin for a multi-threaded workload, suggesting that the Zen 3 architecture handles the R15 test's particular mix of instructions more efficiently. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is even more one-sided: AMD scores 229, Intel scores 168, a 26.6% lead. This is the largest percentage difference in any of the six tests, indicating a strong per-thread performance advantage for AMD in this legacy benchmark.

The Geekbench single-core test also goes to AMD, with a score of 1656 versus 1443, a 12.9% difference. This is a modern benchmark, so AMD's single-thread strength carries over to newer software as well, at least for this specific metric.

Intel's wins are mostly in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. The R23 multi-core score is 11852 for Intel versus 8154 for AMD, a 45.4% lead. This is the largest margin in any test, and it is a dramatic reversal from the R15 multi-core result. The R23 single-core test shows Intel at 1673 versus AMD's 1427, a 17.2% advantage. This is interesting because it contradicts the R15 single-core result, where AMD won by a large margin. The Geekbench multi-core test is Intel's narrowest win: 7357 versus 7132, a 3.2% difference, which is within the range of run-to-run variance but still recorded as a win.

The pattern suggests that the Intel processor scales much better with the newer, more demanding Cinebench R23 workload, while the AMD processor is better optimized for the older R15 workload. The Geekbench results are mixed, with AMD winning single-core and Intel winning multi-core. The overall wins are split evenly at 3-3, but the magnitudes of the wins are not equal. Intel's 45.4% win in R23 multi-core is far larger than AMD's 26.6% win in R15 single-core, suggesting that Intel's advantage in modern rendering is more pronounced than AMD's advantage in legacy tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H scores 11852, which is 45.4% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U's score of 8154.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor wins the Geekbench single-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U wins, scoring 1656 against the Intel Core i7-10870H's 1443, a 12.9% advantage.

Q: Do both processors have the same amount of L3 cache?

A: Yes, both have 16 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the L2 cache differs, with AMD offering 512 KB per core and Intel offering 256 KB per core.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H is built on a 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is built on a 7 nm process.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct target users. The Intel Core i7-10870H is the choice for anyone running modern multi-threaded rendering workloads, such as video editing or 3D rendering, where the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11852 and its 45.4% lead over AMD are decisive. The Geekbench multi-core win, though modest at 3.2%, reinforces that Intel handles parallel tasks well in contemporary applications.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is better suited for users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness in older software or who need a low-power chip for a thin and light laptop. Its wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (26.6% ahead) and Geekbench single-core (12.9% ahead) indicate strong per-thread performance. The 15 watt TDP also makes it the clear choice for battery-conscious designs, though the database does not include battery life figures to confirm real-world impact.

The equal 3-3 win split in head-to-head tests means neither chip is universally faster. The Intel chip's largest win (45.4% in R23 multi-core) is bigger than AMD's largest win (26.6% in R15 single-core), suggesting that Intel has a stronger peak advantage in its preferred workloads. However, AMD's wins are in more varied tests, including both legacy and modern single-core benchmarks.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with Intel at 3446 and AMD at 3369, and both sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. This confirms that in aggregate, the two are comparable performers. The decision should rest on workload type and power constraints. For heavy, sustained multi-core tasks on a machine that can handle a 45 watt TDP, the Intel Core i7-10870H is the data-backed pick. For lighter workloads, single-thread-sensitive software, and lower power consumption, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is the better match.

Specification Differences

The database records the following differences between the two processors:

• Manufacturer: Intel versus AMD
• Base Clock: 2.20 GHz (Intel) versus 1900.00 MHz (AMD)
• Boost Clock: 5.00 GHz (Intel) versus 4.40 GHz (AMD)
• TDP: 45 watts (Intel) versus 15 watts (AMD)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1440 (Intel) versus AMD Socket FP6 (AMD)
• Architecture: Comet Lake (Intel) versus Zen 3 (AMD)
• Codename: Comet Lake-H (Intel) versus Cezanne-U (AMD)
• Process Node: 14 nm (Intel) versus 7 nm (AMD)
• Foundry: Intel (Intel) versus TSMC (AMD)
• Transistors: Not recorded (Intel) versus 10,700 million (AMD)
• Die Size: Not recorded (Intel) versus 180 mm² (AMD)
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core (Intel) versus 512 KB per core (AMD)
• Memory Bus: Not recorded (Intel) versus Dual-channel (AMD)
• Memory Bandwidth: Not recorded (Intel) versus 51.2 GB/s (AMD)
• PCIe Lanes: 16 lanes, Gen 3 (Intel) versus 8 lanes, Gen 3 (AMD)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics (Intel) versus Radeon Vega 8 (AMD)
• Part Number: SRK3Y (Intel) versus 100-000000285 (AMD)
• Release Date: 2020-09-16 (Intel) versus 2021-01-11 (AMD)

Both processors share 8 cores, 16 threads, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 16 MB shared L3 cache, DDR4 memory support, no ECC support, locked multipliers, and a mobile market segment.