AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U vs Intel Core i5-6600 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6600 and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U are two very different processors from different eras, serving different market segments. One is a desktop part from Intel’s Skylake generation, while the other is a mobile APU from AMD’s Zen architecture. The benchmark data in this comparison reveals a fascinating split: the AMD chip dominates in rendering workloads, while the Intel chip wins decisively in Geekbench tests. This divergence makes the choice between them entirely dependent on the specific task at hand.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the complete reversal of fortunes between the Cinebench and Geekbench suites. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U scores 601 against the Intel Core i5-6600’s 520, a 13.5% advantage. The AMD chip wins by a similar margin in Cinebench R15 singlecore, scoring 84 versus 73, a 13.1% lead. This pattern continues through R20 and R23. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the AMD part scores 2507 versus 2167, a 13.6% delta; in singlecore, it scores 354 versus 305, a 13.8% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the AMD chip ahead by 13.6%, scoring 5971 against 5161; singlecore shows the same 13.6% delta, with scores of 843 and 728 respectively.

The data paints a consistent picture of AMD’s superiority in Cinebench, but Geekbench flips completely. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i5-6600 scores 3755 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U’s 2519, a commanding 49.1% lead. Geekbench singlecore shows an even larger relative gap: the Intel chip scores 1239 versus 843, a 47% advantage. These wins give the Intel part 2 wins in the head-to-head list, while the AMD chip takes the remaining 6 wins.

Why the discrepancy? The most logical interpretation is that Cinebench and Geekbench stress different aspects of the chips. The AMD chip’s 8 threads clearly help it in Cinebench’s heavily threaded rendering path, while the Intel chip’s higher base clock appears to favor Geekbench’s workload patterns. The Intel chip’s 3.90 boost clock compared to 3.80 for the AMD part may partially explain its Geekbench singlecore win, but the data shows a far larger delta than the clock difference alone would suggest.

The average benchmark score in the database shows the Intel Core i5-6600 at 1744 and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U at 1715. That is a difference of roughly 1.7% in favor of Intel. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the Intel Core i7-980X, with an average score of 1746, a delta of -0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U at 1742, a delta of 0.1%. The AMD chip’s closest rival list includes the Intel Core i7-4910MQ at 1716 and the Intel Core i7-4860HQ at 1720, with the AMD chip within 0.3% of the latter.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-6600 is built on Intel’s Skylake architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at Intel fabs. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning it has no hyperthreading enabled. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U uses AMD’s Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, also on a 14 nm node but produced by GlobalFoundries. The AMD chip provides 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the thread count with simultaneous multithreading.

The cache hierarchies are distinctly laid out. The Intel chip carries 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a larger 6 MB L3 shared cache. The AMD part allocates 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a smaller 4 MB shared L3 cache. Notably, the AMD part has a larger total L1 and L2 footprint per core, while the Intel chip has a larger L3 capacity.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel part supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR4 only. Memory bandwidth in the database lists 34.1 GB/s for Intel and 38.4 GB/s for AMD. The higher AMD bandwidth figure indicates a 12.2% advantage in theoretical memory throughput, which likely feeds its more capable integrated graphics solution and its 8 threads.

The integrated graphics differ too: the Intel Core i5-6600 has Intel UHD Graphics 530, while the AMD chip has Radeon Radeon Vega 10 graphics, with a name that is not a direct comparison. The Intel part is rated at 35 W TDP, while the AMD chip is rated at a much lower 15 W TDP, making the AMD chip far more power-efficient on paper. The Intel chip is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1151 socket, while the AMD chip sits on the AMD Socket FP5 socket for mobile platforms. The Intel chip uses 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip uses 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, a difference that reflects its mobile nature.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6600 has 4 threads. This directly contributes to the AMD chip’s higher multi-core Cinebench scores.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600 has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. This gives a slight clock advantage to the Intel part.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel chip win by the largest margin?

A: In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i5-6600 scores 3755 versus 2519 for the AMD chip, a 49.1% lead. That is the largest win for either side in the recorded data.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any single-core tests?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U wins Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 singlecore tests by margins of 13.1%, 13.8%, and 13.6% respectively. The Intel chip only wins Geekbench singlecore.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600 is rated at 35 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is rated at 15 W TDP. The AMD chip is designed for mobile use with a much lower power envelope.

Q: Which CPU has a larger die size?

A: The AMD Ryzen 4,950 million transistor chip has a die size of 210 mm², while the Intel chip has a die size of 177 mm². The AMD chip also lists 4,950 million transistors, a figure not provided for Intel.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every specification field. The Intel Core i5-6600 has 4 cores, 4 threads, base clock of 3.30 GHz, and boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The AMD chip has 4 cores, 8 threads, base clock of 2.20 GHz, and boost clock of 3.80 GHz. TDP differs at 35 W for Intel and 15 W for AMD. The socket types are Intel Socket 1151 and AMD Socket FP5. Architecture names are Skylake and Zen (Raven Ridge process node is 14 nm for both). Memory support is DDR3, DDR4 for Intel and DDR4 only for AMD memory bus is Dual-channel for both memory bandwidth is listed as 34.1 GB/s for Intel and 38.4 GB/s for AMD. The PCIe Gen 3 lanes are 16 lanes for Intel CPU only and 8 lanes for AMD CPU only. The integrated graphics are Intel UHD Graphics 530 and AMD Radeon Radeon Vega 10 for AMD. Market segment is desktop for Intel and mobile for AMD. Production status is end-of-life for Intel and active for AMD release date differs with Intel’s release date in 2015-06-30 and AMD’s in 2019-01-07. The Intel launch MSRP is $224 dollars for Intel and null for AMD multiplierUnlocked is false for both.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads. Across all four Cinebench tests, R15, R20, R23, the AMD chip holds a steady 13% lead over the Intel chip. This consistency suggests the AMD chip’s 8 threads give it a structural advantage in multi-core rendering tasks. The AMD chip also wins in singlecore Cinebench as well, meaning it is not just about thread count but also about its architecture’s efficiency in these specific rendering kernels, even with a lower 2.20 GHz base clock.

The Intel Core i5-6600 wins in Geekbench multicore and singlecore. The 49.1% lead in Geekbench multicore and 47% lead in Geekbench singlecore is a massive margin, one that puts the Intel chip in a class of its own for Geekbench-style general purpose computing. The Intel chip likely benefits from its higher 3.90 GHz boost clock and its 35 W TDP in these tasks, which are less sensitive to thread scaling.

The Intel chip wins for users running Geekbench as their primary workload, where its 3755 average score in Geekbench multicore shows a strong result. The AMD chip wins for users running Cinebench as their primary workload, where its 5971 Cinebench R23 multicore score indicates a strong rendering performance, especially when considering its 15 W TDP.

The Verdict

The data shows a processor split that defies a simple "better" label. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is the better choice for users who rely on Cinebench workloads, given its consistent 13%+ wins across all Cinebench versions, both single and multi-core. The Intel Core i5-6600 is the better choice for Geekbench-heavy usage, where its 49.1% multicore lead and 47% singlecore lead indicate a strong performance in those specific tests. The Intel chip’s 2 wins are decisive in that domain.

For users who need efficient mobile efficiency, the AMD chip’s 15 W TDP and 8 threads make it a far more power-conscious option. For desktop users with a need for higher clock speed, the Intel chip’s 3.90 GHz boost clock and 35 W TDP offer a more traditional desktop experience. The AMD chip’s active production status versus Intel’s end-of-life status may influence long-term availability, and its release date is later in 2019-01-07. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $224, while the AMD chip has no listed MSRP. The verdict is clear from the data: the Intel chip is for Geekbench, the AMD chip is for Cinebench. Pick based on your benchmark of choice.