AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Intel Core i7-8086K: a 2021 mobile processor built on Zen 3 faces a 2018 desktop part from the Coffee Lake generation. The database shows a clear split: the AMD chip wins most multi-threaded comparisons, while the Intel chip takes the single-thread crown in the newest Cinebench test. Both processors sit at the 56th percentile in the global ranking, indicating similar overall standing despite their different designs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8086K has 6 cores and 12 threads. That gives the AMD part a 2-core and 4-thread advantage.

Q: How much faster is the AMD chip in multi-threaded Cinebench R15?

A: The Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 2041 versus 1206 for the Intel part, a 69.2% advantage. This is the largest performance gap recorded between the two processors.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-8086K wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 1690 versus 1475.5 for the AMD chip, a 12.7% lead. This is the only direct comparison where Intel comes out ahead.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has an average benchmark score of 3924, while the Intel Core i7-8086K averages 3800. The AMD part is roughly 3% higher on average across recorded tests.

Q: What are their process nodes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-8086K uses Intel's 14 nm process. This reflects their different manufacturing timelines and node maturity.

Q: What is the power envelope difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8086K has a TDP of 95 watts. The AMD part is designed for mobile systems, the Intel part for desktop platforms.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, and targets mobile systems. It uses TSMC's 7 nm process and integrates 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, also its codename, and is a desktop part built on Intel's 14 nm process. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel chip.

Core configuration differs significantly. The AMD chip offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Both use a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus, but the AMD part has a higher rated memory bandwidth: 68.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the Intel part. Cache layouts differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD chip has 512 KB of L2 per core versus 256 KB per core on the Intel chip. The shared L3 cache is 16 MB on the AMD part and 12 MB on the Intel part.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-8086K includes UHD Graphics 630. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6, the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1151. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, though the Intel listing specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only.

Production status separates the two clearly. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is marked Active, while the Intel Core i7-8086K is End-of-life. Release dates also differ, with the AMD chip released in January 2021 and the Intel chip in June 2018. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, the AMD part does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers four Cinebench tests, with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS winning three and the Intel Core i7-8086K winning one. The biggest win for AMD comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 2041 against 1206 for the Intel part, a 69.2% advantage. This gap reflects the core and thread count differences, as well as the newer architecture's efficiency.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip leads by a smaller margin. It scores 236.5 versus 170 for the Intel chip, a 39.1% difference. This is notable because the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz compared to 4.60 GHz for the AMD part, yet the Zen 3 architecture still delivers a substantial single-thread win in this older test.

Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap considerably. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 12745.5, while the Intel Core i7-8086K scores 11975, a 6.4% difference. The newer test suite appears to favor the Intel chip's higher clock speeds more than the older R15 version. Still, the AMD part holds the lead, likely due to its two additional cores.

The single Intel victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core. Here the Intel Core i7-8086K scores 1690 versus 1475.5 for the AMD chip, a 12.7% lead. This reverses the R15 single-core result and shows that the Intel part's 5.00 GHz boost clock translates into a meaningful advantage in the newest single-thread test. The data suggests that as the workload becomes more single-threaded and more modern, the Intel chip closes and then overtakes the AMD part.

The average benchmark scores place the AMD chip at 3924 and the Intel chip at 3800, a difference of about 124 points. In the global percentile ranking, both processors sit at the 56th percentile, indicating similar overall positioning despite the direct benchmark differences.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. Core count: 8 versus 6. Thread count: 16 versus 12. Base clock: 3.00 GHz on the AMD part versus 4.00 GHz on the Intel part. Boost clock: 4.60 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP: 35 watts versus 95 watts. Socket: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel Socket 1151.

Process node and foundry: 7 nm TSMC versus 14 nm Intel. Transistor count and die size are listed only for the AMD chip: 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel chip has no recorded values for these fields. L2 cache differs: 512 KB per core on the AMD part, 256 KB per core on the Intel part. L3 cache: 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared.

Memory bandwidth: 68.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. PCIe configuration: Gen 3 for both, but the Intel listing specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only. Integrated graphics: Radeon Vega 8 versus UHD Graphics 630. Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop. Production status: Active versus End-of-life. Release date: January 2021 versus June 2018.

The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD part does not. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $425, which the database records for that processor only. Part numbers also differ: 100-000000300 for AMD, SR3QQBX80684I78086K for Intel. Memory support is DDR4 for both, dual-channel for both, and ECC is unsupported on both.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear decision for multi-threaded workloads: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS wins three of four direct comparisons, including a 69.2% margin in Cinebench R15 multi-core. It also has more cores, more threads, more L2 and L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, and a lower TDP. For users running parallel workloads, the AMD part is the stronger choice based on recorded benchmark results.

The Intel Core i7-8086K claims the single-core crown in the newest test, Cinebench R23 single-core, with a 12.7% lead. It also has a higher base clock (4.00 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz). If the workload is purely single-threaded and uses the latest rendering engine, the Intel part delivers better performance per the data.

The production status matters for practical selection. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is Active, meaning it remains available for current systems. The Intel Core i7-8086K is End-of-life, indicating it is no longer produced. The AMD chip is also a mobile part with a 35-watt TDP, suitable for laptops, while the Intel chip is a desktop part with a 95-watt TDP.

The average benchmark scores put the AMD chip ahead at 3924 versus 3800, and both sit at the 56th percentile globally. The recommendation follows the workload: choose the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS for multi-threaded performance, lower power, and an active production status. Choose the Intel Core i7-8086K only if the newest single-thread Cinebench result is the priority and the platform is desktop.