AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Intel Core i7-9700KF Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS records an average benchmark score of 3924, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF records 3787. The AMD part sits 0.4% below the Intel Xeon E-2278GE and 0.5% above the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE, while the Intel part sits 0.3% above the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 and 0.3% above the Intel Core i5-1245U.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS wins with a score of 12745.5, which is 5.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-9700KF's 12100. This is the closest head-to-head margin between the two chips in the recorded tests.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-9700KF win any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Intel part wins in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1708 versus 1475.5 for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, a margin of 13.6% in Intel's favor.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two in any shared test?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 2041 against 1219 for the Intel Core i7-9700KF, a 67.4% advantage for AMD.

Q: How many threads does each processor handle?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF is listed as End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is built on the Zen 3 architecture with the codename Cezanne, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i7-9700KF uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake Refresh, fabricated on a 14 nm process at Intel. The process node difference is substantial: 7 nm versus 14 nm, which contributes to the AMD part's lower power envelope and higher transistor density. The AMD chip contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not recorded but its die size is 180.3 mm².

Both processors feature 8 cores, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS supports 16 threads through simultaneous multithreading, whereas the Intel Core i7-9700KF supports only 8 threads, meaning each Intel core handles a single thread. Cache hierarchies differ as well. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part therefore has double the L2 cache per core and 4 MB more L3 cache.

The memory support is DDR4 for both, and both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS records a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF records 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip's integrated graphics is Radeon Vega 8, whereas the Intel Core i7-9700KF has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the null value in the database. The Intel part compensates with an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has a locked multiplier.

Socket compatibility differs completely. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP6, a mobile platform, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop platform. The market segments reflect this: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is a Mobile processor, and the Intel Core i7-9700KF is a Desktop processor. The AMD part's TDP is 35 watts, versus 95 watts for the Intel chip. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the Intel chip specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip does not list a lane count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The shared benchmark suite between the two processors covers four Cinebench tests. The results show a split between multi-core and single-core workloads, with AMD dominating the former and Intel taking the latter.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 2041 against 1219 for the Intel Core i7-9700KF. This is a 67.4% advantage for AMD, the largest margin in any shared test. The 16-thread capability of the AMD chip likely drives this result, as the Intel chip is limited to 8 threads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 236.5 versus 172 for the Intel chip, a 37.5% lead for AMD. This is notable because single-core tests typically favor higher clock speeds, and the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for AMD. Yet the Zen 3 architecture's efficiency appears to overcome that clock deficit in this older rendering test.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 12745.5, which is only 5.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-9700KF's 12100. The margin narrows considerably compared to the R15 multi-core test, suggesting that the newer R23 workload scales differently across the two architectures. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i7-9700KF takes its only win, scoring 1708 versus 1475.5 for the AMD chip, a 13.6% advantage. This is the only head-to-head test where Intel leads, and the margin is substantial.

The head-to-head tally shows 3 wins for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and 1 win for the Intel Core i7-9700KF. The average benchmark scores align with this trend: AMD at 3924 and Intel at 3787. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2278GE at 3939 (0.4% above AMD), the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U at 3958 (0.9% above AMD), and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE at 3906 (0.5% below AMD). The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H at 3820 (0.9% above Intel), the Intel Core i7-8086K at 3800 (0.3% above Intel), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700 at 3777 (0.3% below Intel). Both processors sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The core count is identical at 8, but the thread count differs: 16 threads for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and 8 threads for the Intel Core i7-9700KF. Base clocks differ, with the Intel chip starting at 3.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz for the AMD chip. Boost clocks also favor Intel: 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. The TDP difference is large: 35 watts for AMD versus 95 watts for Intel.

The process nodes are 7 nm (TSMC) for AMD and 14 nm (Intel) for Intel. The transistor count is 10,700 million for AMD and not recorded for Intel. Die sizes are close: 180 mm² for AMD and 180.3 mm² for Intel. L2 cache per core is 512 KB for AMD versus 256 KB for Intel, and L3 cache is 16 MB shared for AMD versus 12 MB shared for Intel. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core.

Memory bandwidth shows a clear AMD advantage: 68.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. The integrated graphics configuration is Radeon Vega 8 for AMD and none for Intel. The multiplier is unlocked on the Intel chip but locked on the AMD chip. The market segment is Mobile for AMD and Desktop for Intel. The production status is Active for AMD and End-of-life for Intel. The release dates are 2021-01-11 for the AMD chip and 2019-01-07 for the Intel chip. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $374. The PCIe specification is Gen 3 for both, but the Intel chip lists 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip lists no lane count. ECC memory is not supported by either processor.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear overall winner in the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, which takes 3 of 4 head-to-head benchmarks and holds a higher average benchmark score of 3924 versus 3787. The AMD chip is particularly strong in multi-threaded workloads, where its 16 threads give it a decisive edge over the Intel chip's 8 threads. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result, with a 67.4% advantage, is the standout margin. The AMD chip also wins in single-core R15, despite the Intel chip's higher boost clock.

The Intel Core i7-9700KF has one clear strength: Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 13.6%. For users prioritizing that specific workload, the Intel chip is the better choice. However, the Intel chip's advantages are limited to a single test and a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel chip also carries a much higher TDP of 95 watts and is End-of-life, while the AMD chip is Active with a 35 watt TDP.

The percentile rankings are identical at 56, placing both processors at the same tier within the database's CPU population. The average benchmark scores confirm the AMD chip's overall edge, but the margin is modest: about 3.6% higher than Intel's average. The Intel chip's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H at 3820, which is 0.9% above Intel, while the AMD chip's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U at 3958, 0.9% above AMD. These positioning details suggest both chips occupy a similar performance neighborhood, with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS holding the upper hand.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS wins in multi-threaded rendering workloads. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2041 versus 1219 represents a 67.4% advantage, and the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12745.5 versus 12100 represents a 5.3% advantage. The AMD chip also wins in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 236.5 versus 172, a 37.5% margin. These results indicate the AMD chip is the stronger all-around performer in the shared test suite, with particular strength in heavily threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-9700KF wins in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1708 versus 1475.5, a 13.6% advantage. This suggests the Intel chip has an edge in lightly threaded workloads that rely on the latest rendering engine. The Intel chip also has an unlocked multiplier, which means users can adjust the clock multiplier for overclocking, a feature the AMD chip lacks. The Intel chip's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz provide a clock speed advantage that shows up in the R23 single-core result.

For mobile users, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is the obvious choice given its Mobile market segment, 35 watt TDP, and integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. For desktop builders, the Intel Core i7-9700KF fits the Desktop segment, but its End-of-life status and lack of integrated graphics mean it requires a discrete GPU. The AMD chip's Active production status and integrated graphics make it more flexible for systems without a dedicated graphics card. The 16-thread advantage and higher memory bandwidth of the AMD chip further cement its position for productivity and multitasking scenarios.