AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U vs Intel Core i7-6900K Comparison

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U and Intel Core i7-6900K are two 8-core, 16-thread processors separated by six years of design philosophy, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The data shows the AMD mobile part edges out the Intel desktop part with an average benchmark score of 3971 against 3970, placing both at the 57th percentile of all CPUs. This places them in a statistical dead heat, with the nearest rival AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G scoring 3977 (0.2% higher) and the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 scoring 3959 (0.3% lower). The head-to-head results, however, reveal a dramatic split: the AMD wins seven of eight tests, while the Intel wins the remaining one by a massive margin.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the comparison is the Geekbench multi-core test, where the Intel Core i7-6900K delivers a decisive victory. The Intel part scores 8774 against the AMD’s 5702, a 35% advantage for Intel. This is the single largest delta in the entire dataset and flips the overall narrative, as this one result is what pulls the Intel’s average score up to near-parity with the AMD. It is notably this is also the only test where the Intel wins, and the magnitude of that win is so large that it completely offsets the AMD's narrower wins across all other benchmarks.

Every other benchmark, including all six Cinebench tests and the Geekbench single-core test, goes to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the AMD scores 14102 against the Intel’s 12444, a 13.3% lead. The same 13.3% delta appears consistently across the Cinebench R15 multi-core (1421 vs 1254), R15 single-core (200 vs 176), R20 multi-core (5922 vs 5226), R20 single-core (835 vs 737), and R23 single-core (1990 vs 1756). This uniformity suggests a consistent architectural efficiency advantage for the AMD in Cinebench workloads, rather than a single-test anomaly. The Geekbench single-core result shows a slightly larger AMD lead of 14.5%, with the AMD scoring 1594 against the Intel’s 1392.

The data indicates that the AMD processor holds a stable 13.3% advantage across every Cinebench iteration, regardless of core count or workload type. The Intel’s sole victory in Geekbench multi-core is a 35% swing, which is more than double the AMD’s largest single-core advantage of 14.5%. When calculating total wins, the AMD takes 7 out of 8 tests, but the Intel’s single win carries disproportionate weight due to the sheer size of the score gap.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U wins in every single-threaded workload and every Cinebench multi-threaded workload. For users running rendering tasks, 3D modeling, or any software that relies on the Cinebench engine, the data shows the AMD is consistently 13.3% faster. The single-core results are particularly telling: the AMD leads by 13.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 13.3% in R20 and R23 single-core, and 14.5% in Geekbench single-core. This makes the AMD the clear choice for lightly-threaded applications, legacy software, and tasks where per-core performance dictates responsiveness.

The Intel Core i7-6900K wins exclusively in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 8774 versus the AMD’s 5702. This test likely stresses memory bandwidth and cache hierarchies differently than Cinebench. Given the Intel’s quad-channel memory bus (76.8 GB/s) versus the AMD’s dual-channel bus (51.2 GB/s), the data suggests the Intel has a 50% higher theoretical memory bandwidth, which can explain its dominance in this specific benchmark. For workloads that are memory-bandwidth-bound and scale with raw throughput, such as certain scientific simulations or database operations that use Geekbench-style patterns, the Intel part retains a significant advantage.

The overall win count is lopsided, but the distribution of strengths is clear: the AMD is the better all-rounder with wins in seven tests, while the Intel is a specialist that excels in one metric. The 35% delta in Geekbench multi-core is the largest single margin in the comparison, indicating that the Intel’s advantage is not marginal but substantial in that specific domain.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design eras and market segments. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is a mobile part built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne-U, using a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-6900K is a desktop part based on the Broadwell architecture, codenamed Broadwell-E, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process with 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The AMD process node is two generations ahead, allowing it to pack over three times the transistor count into a smaller die.

Cache configuration differs notably. The AMD has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel also has 64 KB of L1 per core but only 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is where the Intel pulls ahead: the AMD has 16 MB shared L3, while the Intel has 20 MB shared L3. This 4 MB difference in L3 could contribute to the Intel’s Geekbench multi-core advantage, as larger shared caches can improve performance in certain multi-threaded workloads.

Clock speeds and power draw are starkly contrasted. The AMD has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 4500 MHz, operating within a 15 W TDP. The Intel has a higher base clock of 3200 MHz but a lower boost clock of 3700 MHz, consuming a 140 W TDP. The AMD’s boost clock is 800 MHz higher than the Intel’s, which explains its single-core dominance. However, the Intel’s higher base clock and much higher power envelope (140 W vs 15 W) likely contribute to its sustained multi-core performance in Geekbench.

Memory support diverges as well. Both support DDR4, but the AMD uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel uses a quad-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD offers only 8 lanes. The AMD includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel has no integrated graphics. The Intel has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD does not. The Intel’s socket is 2011-3, while the AMD uses Socket FP6, reflecting their respective desktop and mobile market segments. The Intel was released in May 2016 and is end-of-life, while the AMD was released in April 2022 and remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U has an average benchmark score of 3971, which is 1 point higher than the Intel Core i7-6900K’s 3970. The deltaPct between the two is 0%.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest difference is in Geekbench multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-6900K scores 8774 versus the AMD’s 5702, a 35% advantage for Intel. No other test shows a delta larger than 14.5%.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The AMD has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 4500 MHz. The Intel has a base clock of 3200 MHz and a boost clock of 3700 MHz. The AMD’s boost clock is 800 MHz higher, while the Intel’s base clock is 1200 MHz higher.

Q: Which processor supports more memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core i7-6900K supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel has 25.6 GB/s more theoretical bandwidth.

Q: What are the cache sizes?

A: The AMD has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. The Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 20 MB shared L3. The Intel has 4 MB more L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-6900K has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split based on workload. For users focused on Cinebench-style rendering, single-threaded performance, or any mixed-use scenario, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is the superior choice. It wins every Cinebench test by 13.3% and every single-core test by at least 13.3%, all while operating at a 15 W TDP versus the Intel’s 140 W. The AMD’s 4500 MHz boost clock and Zen 3 architecture provide a decisive edge in per-core performance, and its seven wins out of eight benchmarks make it the more versatile processor.

The Intel Core i7-6900K is the pick only for workloads that mirror the Geekbench multi-core test. Its 35% advantage in that single test is enormous, and its quad-channel memory bus delivering 76.8 GB/s is a concrete architectural reason for that result. For users running memory-bandwidth-intensive multi-threaded applications that resemble that benchmark, the Intel’s 8774 score versus the AMD’s 5702 is a compelling reason to choose it. However, this comes at the cost of a 140 W TDP, no integrated graphics, and end-of-life production status.

The overall average scores are effectively tied at 3971 vs 3970, and both sit at the 57th percentile. The deciding factor is the specific benchmark suite. If the workload is general-purpose or Cinebench-heavy, the AMD wins on consistency and efficiency. If the workload is specifically memory-bandwidth-bound multi-threading, the Intel wins on raw throughput. Given the AMD’s active production status, integrated graphics, and 13.3% advantage across seven tests, the data favors the AMD for most users, with the Intel reserved for niche scenarios requiring its unique Geekbench multi-core strength.