AMD Ryzen 7 2700U vs Intel Core i5-6500TE Comparison

# Intel Core i5-6500TE vs AMD Ryzen 7 2700U

The Intel Core i5-6500TE and AMD Ryzen 7 2700U present a fascinating split decision, with each processor claiming exactly three benchmark victories apiece. The Intel part, a Skylake-era desktop chip, dominates newer Cinebench R23 multi-core and both Geekbench tests, while the AMD Raven Ridge mobile processor sweeps Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests. This 3-3 tie in head-to-head wins masks deeper architectural and workload-specific truths that make the choice between them entirely dependent on what software you plan to run.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-6500TE excels in legacy and certain multi-threaded workloads. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 2749 beats the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U's 2411 by 14%, and the Geekbench single-core gap is even more pronounced at 32.1% (1062 versus 804). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip posts 4255 against AMD's 3603, an 18.1% advantage. These results suggest the Intel processor handles sustained multi-core rendering and general desktop productivity tasks with greater efficiency, despite its older architecture.

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U, conversely, dominates Cinebench R15 across the board. In multi-core, it scores 644 versus Intel's 428, a 33.5% margin. The single-core R15 delta is catastrophic for Intel: 143.5 versus 60, meaning AMD leads by 58.2%. Cinebench R23 single-core also favors AMD, with 886 against 600 (32.3% ahead). This pattern indicates AMD's Zen architecture delivers superior per-thread performance in lighter, older rendering workloads, while Intel's Skylake design pulls ahead in the more demanding R23 multi-core test and in Geekbench's broader system-level evaluations.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental divergence lies in design philosophy. Intel's Core i5-6500TE is built on the Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry, featuring 4 cores and 4 threads with a 35 W TDP. AMD's Ryzen 7 2700U uses the Zen architecture (Raven Ridge codename) on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, also with 4 cores but 8 threads thanks to simultaneous multithreading, all within a 15 W TDP. The AMD chip integrates 4,950 million transistors across a 210 mm² die, while Intel's die is a modest 122 mm².

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Intel provides 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 6 MB shared L3. AMD offers larger per-core caches—96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2—but less shared L3 at 4 MB. The Ryzen's larger L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its single-core Cinebench wins, while Intel's larger L3 may aid its multi-core R23 performance.

Memory support also diverges: Intel supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with dual-channel bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while AMD only supports DDR4 but achieves 38.4 GB/s. The Intel chip offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), double AMD's 8 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: Intel uses HD Graphics 530, AMD pairs Radeon RX Vega 10. The Intel part is desktop-oriented with Socket 1151, while AMD uses Socket FP5 for mobile. Intel's release date was 2015-10-10 with a launch MSRP of $192, and it is now end-of-life; AMD launched 2017-10-25 and remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD's 143.5 utterly demolishes Intel's 60—a 58.2% deficit that suggests Intel's older Skylake design struggles with this specific benchmark's single-threaded workload. This is the largest percentage gap in either direction across all six tests. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows AMD leading 644 to 428, a 33.5% margin, reinforcing that the Ryzen 7 2700U was superior in the R15 era.

However, the narrative flips completely with Cinebench R23. Intel's multi-core score of 4255 versus AMD's 3603 represents an 18.1% Intel victory, while AMD still wins single-core R23 with 886 against 600 (32.3% ahead). This reversal between R15 and R23 versions suggests that newer Cinebench releases scale differently with Intel's architecture—possibly due to improved instruction handling or memory access patterns that favor Skylake.

Geekbench results favor Intel decisively. The single-core score of 1062 versus 804 gives Intel a 32.1% edge, and multi-core shows 2749 versus 2411 for a 14% advantage. Notably, Intel wins both Geekbench tests despite losing both R23 single-core and R15 tests, indicating that Geekbench's mixed workload suite aligns more closely with Intel's strengths. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—Intel at 1399 and AMD at 1415—which explains why both processors sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs. Intel's nearest rival, the Xeon E3-1220 v5, scores 1401 (0.1% higher), while AMD's closest competitor, the Ryzen Embedded R2314, matches its 1415 exactly.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE reaches 3.30 GHz. However, despite this clock advantage, Intel wins more Geekbench tests.

Q: Why does the Intel chip win Cinebench R23 multi-core but lose R15 multi-core?

A: In R23 multi-core, Intel scores 4255 against AMD's 3603 (18.1% ahead), but in R15 multi-core, AMD leads 644 to 428 (33.5% ahead). The different benchmark versions clearly stress the architectures differently, with Intel's Skylake design scaling better in R23.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between these two CPUs?

A: The biggest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where AMD's 143.5 beats Intel's 60 by 58.2%. This is the only test where the winner exceeds a 50% margin.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: Intel averages 1399, while AMD averages 1415. Both sit at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance despite their divergent test-by-test results.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700U has 8 threads (4 cores with SMT), while the Intel Core i5-6500TE has 4 threads (4 cores without SMT). Despite this, Intel wins two multi-core tests.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: Intel has a 35 W TDP, while AMD operates at just 15 W. AMD achieves its 8 threads and competitive performance at less than half the power envelope.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different users. For anyone running modern multi-threaded rendering with Cinebench R23 or general system performance measured by Geekbench, the Intel Core i5-6500TE is the superior choice—its 18.1% R23 multi-core lead and 32.1% Geekbench single-core advantage are substantial. The Intel part also offers double the PCIe lanes (16 versus 8) and broader memory compatibility with DDR3 and DDR4 support.

For users prioritizing older Cinebench R15 workloads or raw single-thread performance in that specific benchmark, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U wins decisively. Its 58.2% R15 single-core lead and 33.5% R15 multi-core lead are impossible to ignore. Additionally, AMD's 15 W TDP versus Intel's 35 W makes it far more suitable for power-constrained mobile environments, and its larger L1 and L2 caches (96 KB and 512 KB per core versus 64 KB and 256 KB) may benefit cache-sensitive applications.

The percentile rankings show both at 37%, and their average scores differ by only 16 points (1415 versus 1399). This is not a matchup of clear superiority—it's a question of workload matching. Desktop users with modern software should lean Intel; mobile users running legacy benchmarks or valuing power efficiency should choose AMD. The 3-3 win split is honest: neither chip dominates comprehensively, and the verdict depends entirely on which benchmark suite represents your actual usage.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-6500TE | AMD Ryzen 7 2700U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Zen (Raven Ridge) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not specified | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 122 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics 530 | Radeon RX Vega 10 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2015-10-10 | 2017-10-25 |