AMD Ryzen 5 4500 vs Intel Core i5-1240U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear split between multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins 11 of the 17 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-1240U takes 6. The most decisive AMD victory comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ryzen 5 4500 scores 13677 against 7902 for the Intel part, a 73.1% advantage. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison and reflects the AMD processor's sustained throughput under heavy all-core loads.

The Ryzen 5 4500 also dominates in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 15166 versus 7932, a 91.2% lead. This is the single biggest percentage win in either direction. Data compression tells a similar story: 228741 for AMD against 143102 for Intel, a 59.8% gap. Encryption workloads favor AMD by 51.7%, with scores of 13597 and 8964 respectively. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 23989 versus 15996, a 50% difference. PassMark multi-thread shows AMD ahead by 20%, scoring 16091 against 13406.

Cinebench R20 multi-core gives AMD a 14.6% win (5744 versus 5013), and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows an 11% margin (1378 versus 1242). PassMark integer math goes to AMD by 10.5%, with 49707 against 44968. Interestingly, Cinebench R20 single-core also goes to AMD, 810 versus 707, a 14.6% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core follows suit with 1930 versus 1559, a 23.8% lead. That is a notable result because the Intel part has a higher boost clock, yet AMD still wins the single-core Cinebench tests.

The Intel Core i5-1240U's wins are concentrated in different areas. PassMark single-thread shows Intel ahead by 19.9%, scoring 3239 against 2593. Cinebench R15 single-core gives Intel the win at 226 versus 194, a 14.2% margin. PassMark find prime numbers favors Intel by 46%, with 63 against 34. PassMark physics goes to Intel by 26%, 981 versus 726. Floating point math is essentially tied, with Intel ahead by only 1.1% (29726 versus 29405). These results indicate that the Intel chip has a stronger single-thread peak in some workloads, but the AMD chip wins the Cinebench single-core tests that many builders treat as the standard for rendering performance.

The average benchmark scores place the two processors close together in the database: AMD sits at 17333 with a 71st percentile against all CPUs, while Intel sits at 16957 with a 70th percentile. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Core 7 150U at 17395 (0.4% higher), the AMD Ryzen 3 210 at 17321 (0.1% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G at 17278 (0.3% lower). For Intel, the nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 7742 at 16998 (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i7-1260P at 17007 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS at 16902 (0.3% lower). The overall average scores are within 2.2% of each other, so the difference in aggregate performance is small, even though individual workloads can swing dramatically.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In R23 multi-core it scores 13677 against 7902, a 73.1% lead, and in R20 multi-core it leads 5744 to 5013, a 14.6% margin.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any single-thread tests?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-1240U wins PassMark single-thread by 19.9% (3239 versus 2593) and Cinebench R15 single-core by 14.2% (226 versus 194). However, AMD wins Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core by 14.6% and 23.8% respectively.

Q: Which processor has better data compression performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 scores 228741 in PassMark data compression, compared to 143102 for the Intel Core i5-1240U, a 59.8% advantage for AMD.

Q: How do the two chips compare in the overall database rankings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has an average benchmark score of 17333 and sits at the 71st percentile, while the Intel Core i5-1240U has an average score of 16957 at the 70th percentile. The Intel Core i5-1240U's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7742, within 0.2%.

Q: What is the difference in PassMark physics performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240U leads PassMark physics with 981 against 726, a 26% advantage. This is one of the largest wins for the Intel chip in the comparison.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance class?

A: The database places them within 2.2% of each other by average score, but the workload distribution is very different. AMD leads 11 benchmarks and Intel leads 6, with AMD's wins often being much larger in percentage terms.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The design uses 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-1240U uses the Alder Lake architecture under the Alder Lake-U codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The transistor count and die size for the Intel chip are not recorded in the database.

The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel chip has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1100.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel part's base clock is dramatically lower, which is typical for a low-power mobile design, but its boost clock is 0.30 GHz higher.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has more L1 per core, more L2 per core, and 4 MB more L3 overall.

Memory support also differs. The AMD chip supports DDR4 only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the Intel chip's bandwidth is not recorded. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 4, though lane count is not specified in the database. The Intel chip also includes integrated Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics listed.

The AMD chip is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4, with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The Intel chip is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1781, with a locked multiplier. The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $129 and was released in April 2022. The Intel chip's launch MSRP is not recorded; it was released in February 2022. Both are listed as active production parts.

The power envelope is a major architectural difference. The AMD chip has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 9 watts. This explains the Intel chip's very low base clock and its positioning as a mobile processor, while the AMD chip is designed for desktop use with higher sustained power delivery.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1240U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The AMD chip runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts to 4.10 GHz. The Intel chip has a base clock of 1100.00 MHz and boosts to 4.40 GHz.

TDP is drastically different: 65 watts for AMD versus 9 watts for Intel. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1781. The process node is 7 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel, with different foundries (TSMC versus Intel).

Cache specifications differ on a per-core basis. AMD uses 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 8 MB shared L3. Intel uses 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe generation differs: Gen 3 for AMD versus Gen 4 for Intel. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics, while the Intel chip includes Iris Xe 80EU. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $129; the Intel chip has a locked multiplier and no recorded launch MSRP.

The Intel chip has a higher boost clock by 0.30 GHz and more cores, but the AMD chip has a much higher base clock and a far higher TDP. The AMD chip also has a higher recorded memory bandwidth and an unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice depending on workload. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is the stronger multi-threaded performer, winning every multi-core Cinebench test and most PassMark compute workloads. Its 73.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 91.2% lead in extended instructions are decisive. The Intel Core i5-1240U counters with wins in PassMark single-thread, PassMark physics, and prime number finding, but those wins are smaller in aggregate and concentrated in narrower workloads.

For desktop users who can provide adequate cooling and power, the AMD chip's 65 watt TDP and unlocked multiplier make it the better choice for rendering, compression, encryption, and integer math. The Intel chip's 9 watt TDP and BGA socket indicate a mobile design intended for laptops, where power efficiency matters more than raw throughput. The Intel chip does have integrated Iris Xe graphics, which the AMD chip lacks, so systems without a discrete GPU would need to consider that.

The overall database averages are close: 17333 for AMD versus 16957 for Intel, a difference of about 2.2%. But the distribution of wins is lopsided, with AMD taking 11 benchmarks and Intel taking 6. The AMD chip also holds a higher percentile ranking at 71 versus 70. Neither chip is a clear winner across everything, but the AMD chip wins more tests and wins them by larger margins.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is the pick for multi-threaded productivity. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 73.1% lead, and Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 14.6% lead. PassMark multi-thread favors AMD by 20%, and integer math favors AMD by 10.5%. Data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting all go to AMD by margins between 50% and 91.2%. Anyone running renders, batch compression, encryption tasks, or heavy spreadsheet and database work should favor the AMD part.

The Intel Core i5-1240U is the pick for single-thread peak performance in specific workloads. PassMark single-thread shows a 19.9% lead, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 14.2% lead. PassMark physics favors Intel by 26%, and prime number finding favors Intel by 46%. Floating point math is nearly identical, with Intel ahead by just 1.1%. The Intel chip also brings integrated Iris Xe graphics and a 9 watt TDP, which matters for thin-and-light mobile systems where power draw is the limiting factor.

The Intel chip's 10 cores and 12 MB of L3 give it a structural advantage in core count and cache capacity, but the recorded benchmarks show that AMD's higher sustained clocks and desktop power budget translate into better real-world throughput in most tested workloads. The AMD chip's 65 watt TDP is a clear trade-off: it needs a desktop platform and adequate cooling, but it delivers results that the 9 watt mobile chip cannot match in multi-threaded tests. The choice comes down to platform and workload: desktop users with power to spare should take the AMD, while mobile users who need integrated graphics and minimal power draw should take the Intel.