AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 vs Intel Core i9-10885H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-10885H and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 are both 8-core, 16-thread processors, yet they target fundamentally different platforms and eras. Benchmark data from Cinebench suites shows the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 winning every single head-to-head test, with deltas ranging from -2.8% to -3.2% in favor of the AMD part. Despite the Intel chip’s significantly higher boost clock and mobile pedigree, the older Zen-based desktop processor consistently outperforms it in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, placing both CPUs at the 55th percentile of all tested processors.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, if counterintuitive, picture: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 is the superior performer across every benchmark recorded. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 12,491 versus Intel’s 12,102, a 3.1% advantage. The same 3.1% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (5,246 vs 5,082) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (1,259 vs 1,219). Single-core results follow the same pattern, with AMD leading by 2.8% in R15 (177 vs 172) and 3.1% in both R20 (740 vs 717) and R23 (1,763 vs 1,708). The Intel i9-10885H records zero wins in the head-to-head comparison, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 takes all six.

For users choosing between these two, the decision hinges on platform rather than raw speed. The Intel part is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1440 socket, designed for laptops, with a 45W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 630. The AMD chip is a desktop processor on Socket AM4, consuming 65W, requiring a discrete GPU, and offering ECC memory support. If the workload demands a laptop or a compact mobile system, only the Intel i9-10885H fits, despite its slight performance deficit. If the user is building or upgrading a desktop, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 provides marginally better benchmark scores, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and active production status. The Intel chip is end-of-life, whereas the AMD part remains in production, which may influence long-term availability and platform longevity. There is no scenario in the data where the Intel chip wins on performance; its only advantages are integration and mobility.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, substantially higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700’s 3.70 GHz. Despite this 1.6 GHz advantage, the Intel chip still loses every single-core benchmark to the AMD processor, indicating that raw clock speed alone does not dictate performance.

Q: Are the benchmark deltas between these two CPUs consistent?

A: Yes, the deltas are remarkably uniform. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 leads by 3.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 2.8% in R15 single-core, 3.1% in R20 multi-core, 3.1% in R20 single-core, 3.1% in R23 multi-core, and 3.1% in R23 single-core. This consistency suggests a systematic architectural advantage rather than workload-specific quirks.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel bus configurations. However, the Intel i9-10885H has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s compared to AMD’s 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip additionally supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

Q: Which CPU has a larger cache hierarchy?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches: 96 KB and 512 KB per core, respectively, versus Intel’s 64 KB and 256 KB per core. Both share the same 16 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip also contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while Intel’s die is 206 mm².

Q: What are the production status differences?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 is listed as active. The AMD processor also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing user overclocking, whereas the Intel chip is locked. The Intel part was released in April 2020, while the AMD chip launched in June 2017.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Intel i9-10885H’s average benchmark score of 3,651 puts it within 0.6% of the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 (3,658), Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 (3,643), Intel Core i3-13100E (3,668), and AMD EPYC 7251 (3,671). The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700’s average score of 3,613 is effectively tied with the Intel Xeon E-2276G (3,614) and within 0.3% of the Intel Xeon E-2286G (3,610), Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 (3,608), and AMD Ryzen 7 2700E (3,603).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages that explain their performance characteristics. The Intel Core i9-10885H uses the Comet Lake architecture, codenamed Comet Lake-H, built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry. This is a 10th-generation Core i9 part, representing a mature refinement of Intel’s 14 nm node. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 uses the original Zen architecture, codenamed Zen (Summit Ridge), also built on a 14 nm process but at GlobalFoundries. Both chips share the same process node, yet the AMD design integrates 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, while Intel’s die is slightly smaller at 206 mm² without transistor count listed.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, while AMD provides 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both have 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core caches on the AMD part may contribute to its consistent benchmark lead, as more data can be held closer to the cores. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The Intel processor also has a smaller memory bandwidth figure of 46.9 GB/s versus AMD’s 42.7 GB/s, yet this does not translate into a performance win.

The market segments are fundamentally different: Intel targets mobile with a 45W TDP and BGA 1440 socket, while AMD targets desktop with a 65W TDP and Socket AM4. The Intel chip’s 5.30 GHz boost clock is a mobile-focused feature, allowing high single-thread speeds within thermal constraints, but the Zen architecture’s efficiency at lower clocks appears to deliver better actual throughput. Neither processor supports PCIe beyond Gen 3, and both use 16 CPU lanes.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: 8 cores and 16 threads on both processors. The differences begin with clock speeds. Intel’s base clock is 2.40 GHz with a boost of 5.30 GHz, while AMD’s base is 3.00 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz. The Intel part has a lower TDP of 45 watts versus AMD’s 65 watts, reflecting its mobile orientation. Socket types differ completely: Intel BGA 1440 (soldered) versus AMD Socket AM4 (socketed).

Cache configuration differences are present at the L1 and L2 levels, as detailed above, with the L3 being equal at 16 MB. Memory support is DDR4 for both, with dual-channel buses, but the Intel chip has higher theoretical bandwidth (46.9 GB/s vs 42.7 GB/s). ECC memory is supported only on the AMD processor. The Intel chip has integrated UHD Graphics 630; the AMD chip has none. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD and locked on Intel. Production status differs: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $556, released in April 2020; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP and was released in June 2017. The Intel part number is SRJ8J, while AMD’s is YD170BBBM88AE.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark sweep is a clean victory for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700, with all six tests favoring the older desktop chip. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD scores 177 against Intel’s 172, a 2.8% lead. This is notable because the Intel chip boosts to 5.30 GHz, a 43% higher peak frequency than AMD’s 3.70 GHz, yet still loses single-thread performance. The R15 multi-core test shows a 3.2% AMD advantage (1,259 vs 1,219), suggesting that the Zen architecture’s per-core efficiency offsets its clock deficit.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the deltas tighten to a uniform 3.1% across both multi-core and single-core tests. AMD’s multi-core score of 5,246 beats Intel’s 5,082, and AMD’s single-core score of 740 beats Intel’s 717. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23, with AMD leading 12,491 to 12,102 in multi-core and 1,763 to 1,708 in single-core, again at 3.1% deltas.

The Intel i9-10885H does not win a single test, but its average benchmark score of 3,651 is actually higher than AMD’s 3,613. This discrepancy arises because the average includes Geekbench results for Intel (6,764 multi-core, 1,447 single-core) that are not available for the AMD chip. The head-to-head Cinebench results, which are directly comparable, all favor AMD. The Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 at -0.2% and the AMD EPYC 7251 at -0.6%, while AMD’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2276G at 0% delta and the AMD Ryzen 7 2700E at 0.3%. Both CPUs sit at the 55th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are middle-of-the-pack performers despite their different design philosophies.