AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS vs Intel Core i5-9500T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS has an average benchmark score of 2573, while the Intel Core i5-9500T scores 2493. Both processors sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core Cinebench R15 performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 4900HS scores 1863 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 123.9% ahead of the i5-9500T's score of 832. This is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark.

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

A: The Ryzen 9 4900HS scores 1311 in Geekbench single-core versus 1198 for the i5-9500T, a 9.4% advantage. This is the narrowest margin between the two processors.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS and the Intel Core i5-9500T have their multipliers locked, meaning neither processor supports user overclocking.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS is listed as Active in production, while the Intel Core i5-9500T is End-of-life.

Q: Which processor has more memory bandwidth available?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, compared to 42.7 GB/s for the Intel Core i5-9500T. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. It uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, belonging to AMD's 4000 series. The Intel Core i5-9500T, by contrast, uses Intel's 14 nm process under the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. These process differences are substantial: the 7 nm node allows AMD to pack more transistors into a smaller area.

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The Ryzen 9 4900HS provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-9500T provides 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD part doubles the thread count through simultaneous multithreading, which the Intel part lacks entirely. Clock speeds also favor AMD: the Ryzen 9 4900HS has a 3.00 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock, versus 2.20 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost for the Intel chip.

Cache hierarchies are organized differently. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Ryzen 9 4900HS has 512 KB of L2 cache per core compared to 256 KB per core on the i5-9500T. The shared L3 cache favors Intel in total capacity: 9 MB shared on the i5-9500T versus 8 MB shared on the Ryzen 9 4900HS. The Ryzen's larger per-core L2 partially compensates for the slightly smaller L3 pool.

Both processors run on different sockets: the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1151. The market segments also differ: the Ryzen 9 4900HS is a mobile processor, while the i5-9500T is a desktop processor. Both have integrated graphics, with AMD offering Radeon Graphics 512SP and Intel offering UHD Graphics 630. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both run PCIe Gen 3, though the Intel part specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only.

The release timeline places the Ryzen 9 4900HS in March 2020, while the i5-9500T arrived about two years earlier in April 2018. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $192, which is the only pricing detail recorded for either chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers four benchmarks, and the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS wins all four. The margin varies widely by workload type, which reveals the architectural strengths of each design.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 9 4900HS scores 1863 against 832 for the i5-9500T. That is a 123.9% advantage, the largest gap in the entire comparison. The combination of 8 cores, 16 threads, and higher clock speeds produces a massive multi-threaded lead. This workload scales well with both core count and thread count, so the Ryzen's 2 extra cores and 10 extra threads dominate.

Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 65% lead for the Ryzen 9 4900HS, scoring 193 versus 117. Single-core performance here relies heavily on boost clocks and IPC, and the Ryzen's 4.30 GHz boost clock combined with Zen 2's IPC advantage over Coffee Lake explains the margin. This is a substantial single-core gap, not just a multi-core win.

Geekbench multi-core gives the Ryzen 9 4900HS a score of 6926 against 4407, a 57.2% advantage. The margin is smaller than in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which suggests Geekbench's multi-core workload does not scale with threads as aggressively. Still, the AMD part leads by a wide margin.

Geekbench single-core narrows considerably: 1311 for the Ryzen 9 4900HS versus 1198 for the i5-9500T, a 9.4% difference. This is the closest result in the dataset. The Intel processor's relatively competitive single-core score indicates its Coffee Lake architecture remains capable in lightly threaded tasks, but it still trails the Zen 2 design.

Comparing to their nearest rivals in the database, the Ryzen 9 4900HS sits within 0.9% of several Xeon and Ryzen parts, with the closest rival being the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE at 2596 (0.9% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS at 2557 (0.6% lower). The i5-9500T's closest rivals are all Intel Xeons and a Core i3, with the Intel Core i5-1155G7 at 2496 (0.1% lower) being the closest match.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively toward the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS across every recorded test. It wins all four head-to-head benchmarks, with advantages ranging from 9.4% in Geekbench single-core to 123.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The average benchmark score also favors AMD, 2573 to 2493.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded workloads, the choice is unambiguous. The Ryzen 9 4900HS's 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 4.30 GHz boost clock delivers more than double the Cinebench R15 multi-core performance of the i5-9500T. The 57.2% lead in Geekbench multi-core confirms this is not a single-benchmark anomaly.

For single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 9 4900HS still leads, though by a smaller margin. The 9.4% Geekbench single-core advantage and the 65% Cinebench R15 single-core advantage both favor AMD. The i5-9500T's 3.70 GHz boost clock and Coffee Lake architecture keep it competitive in lightly threaded scenarios, but not enough to overtake Zen 2.

The production status matters for system builders: the Ryzen 9 4900HS is Active, while the i5-9500T is End-of-life. The AMD part is also a mobile processor, meaning it targets laptops and compact systems, while the Intel part is a desktop chip requiring Socket 1151. The choice depends on the target platform: the Ryzen 9 4900HS suits modern mobile systems, and the i5-9500T suits existing desktop builds on that socket.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS | Intel Core i5-9500T |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.30 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen 9 (Zen 2, Renoir) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) |

| Process node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 156 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 256 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 8 MB shared | 9 MB shared |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics 512SP | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2020-03-06 | 2018-03-31 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $192 |

| Part number | 100-000000099 | SRF4D |

The two processors share several specifications: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, dual-channel DDR4 memory support, no ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 3, no unlocked multiplier, and a 35 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS wins in every benchmark category recorded, so the use-case split reflects the degree of advantage rather than which chip wins a given task.

Multi-threaded productivity: The Ryzen 9 4900HS is the clear choice. Its 123.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 57.2% lead in Geekbench multi-core make it suitable for rendering, compilation, and other heavily parallel workloads. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration with 4.30 GHz boost is the strongest recorded advantage in this comparison.

Single-threaded responsiveness: The Ryzen 9 4900HS still wins, but the 9.4% Geekbench single-core margin is modest. For applications that rely on single-core speed, the i5-9500T is closer to parity, though it still trails. The 65% Cinebench R15 single-core gap suggests the Intel part struggles more in that particular workload.

Desktop integration: The Intel Core i5-9500T has the advantage of being a desktop processor on Socket 1151, which means it can drop into existing desktop motherboards without the mobile platform requirements of the AMD part. Its 9 MB shared L3 cache is also larger than the Ryzen's 8 MB, which may help in cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not isolate this effect.

Long-term availability: The Ryzen 9 4900HS is Active in production, making it the more viable option for new system builds. The i5-9500T is End-of-life, which limits its availability for new designs.

System power constraints: Both processors carry a 35 W TDP, so power envelopes are identical. The Ryzen 9 4900HS achieves its performance lead within the same power budget, which is notable given the i5-9500T's lower clock speeds and fewer threads.

Legacy platform upgrades: For users already on Socket 1151 with a compatible motherboard, the i5-9500T remains a functional 6-core desktop option, even if its benchmark results trail the AMD part in every recorded test.