AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 vs Intel Core i5-7640X Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is the clear winner in this matchup. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, it wins outright, with deltas ranging from 28.7% to 29.4%. The Intel Core i5-7640X, despite its higher clock speeds, never takes a single benchmark. The data shows a consistent and substantial performance gap in favor of AMD's 4-core, 8-thread design.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded workloads such as rendering, video encoding, or software compilation, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is the obvious choice. Its 8 threads give it a structural advantage that shows up in every multi-core test. Even in single-core tests, where the Intel chip's higher boost clock should theoretically help, the Ryzen part still leads by roughly 29%. That result suggests the Intel i5-7640X is not executing instructions as efficiently per clock in these Cinebench workloads.

The Intel Core i5-7640X does offer a quad-channel memory bus, which is a feature normally found on high-end desktop platforms. However, with no memory bandwidth figures recorded in the database, its practical impact cannot be quantified here. The benchmark evidence is unambiguous: the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 outperforms the i5-7640X in every measured Cinebench scenario, and the Intel part's sole additional benchmark result (Geekbench) does not change the overall picture. The verdict is straightforward: the AMD processor is the stronger performer in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, using a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-7640X uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-X, also on a 14 nm node but fabricated by Intel. Both are desktop parts, and both have unlocked multipliers.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel chip has 4 cores and 4 threads. This is a critical distinction: the Ryzen part can process two threads per core, while the i5-7640X is limited to one thread per core. In heavily threaded workloads, this alone explains much of the performance gap.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD processor has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The Intel processor has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen part offers more cache at every level, which contributes to its superior benchmark scores.

Memory support is another point of divergence. Both support DDR4, but the AMD chip uses a dual-channel memory bus while the Intel chip uses a quad-channel bus. The Intel part also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while the AMD part has no PCIe information recorded. Neither supports ECC memory. The sockets are entirely different: AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 2066 for the Core i5.

Power requirements are notable. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i5-7640X has a TDP of 112 watts. Despite drawing significantly more power, the Intel chip delivers lower performance in every recorded Cinebench test. The transistor count for the AMD part is listed at 4,800 million on a 192 mm² die; no transistor count or die size is recorded for the Intel part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is remarkably one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 782 against the i5-7640X's 607, a 28.8% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip scores 110 versus 85, a 29.4% lead. The pattern repeats across newer Cinebench versions.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the Ryzen at 3261 and the Intel at 2533, a 28.7% delta. Single-core R20 gives the AMD part 460 versus 357, a 28.9% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core has the Ryzen at 7766 and the Intel at 6031, another 28.8% gap. Single-core R23 shows 1096 against 851, also 28.8%.

The consistency is striking. Every single test lands between 28.7% and 29.4%, suggesting the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. The Ryzen's extra threads and larger cache pool deliver a uniform advantage across all Cinebench versions. The Intel chip's higher base clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) and boost clock (4.30 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) do not translate into any benchmark victory.

The Intel part also has a Geekbench result in the database: 5137 multi-core and 1736 single-core. The AMD part has no Geekbench score recorded, so a direct comparison on that test is not possible. However, the Cinebench results alone are sufficient to establish the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 as the superior processor in this pairing. The wins tally is 6-0 in favor of AMD.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 | Intel Core i5-7640X |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 112 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Zen | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Zen | Kaby Lake-X |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen (Summit Ridge)) | Core i5 (X-Series 7th Gen) |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,800 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 192 mm² | Not recorded |

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

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

| L3 cache | 16 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3 |

| Release date | 2017-06-28 | 2017-06-25 |

| Part number | YD150BBBM4GAE | Not recorded |

The two CPUs share several traits: both are 14 nm desktop parts with 4 cores, both support DDR4, both have unlocked multipliers, neither has integrated graphics, and neither supports ECC memory. The differences, however, are substantial. The Ryzen has twice the threads, a larger cache at every level, a much lower TDP, and a smaller process footprint in terms of transistor count. The Intel part counters with higher clock speeds and a quad-channel memory bus, but those advantages do not appear in any Cinebench result.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In R15 multi-core, it scores 782 versus 607 (28.8% ahead). In R20 multi-core, it scores 3261 versus 2533 (28.7% ahead). In R23 multi-core, it scores 7766 versus 6031 (28.8% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-7640X win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data shows 6 wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i5-7640X across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: How does single-core performance compare?

A: The AMD chip leads in single-core as well. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 110 versus 85, a 29.4% advantage. R20 single-core shows 460 versus 357, a 28.9% lead. R23 single-core shows 1096 versus 851, a 28.8% delta.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core i5-7640X has a TDP of 112 watts. The Intel chip consumes more power while delivering lower benchmark scores.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 supports 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7640X supports 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-7640X has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part also has larger L1 and L2 caches per core.