AMD Ryzen 5 4500 vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and Intel Core i7-1260P, with each processor winning in distinct workload categories. The Intel part takes 13 of 23 direct comparisons, while the AMD chip wins 10, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500's largest victory comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 13,677 against the Intel's 9,711, a 40.8% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in either direction across all recorded tests. The AMD chip also dominates in PassMark extended instructions, winning 15,166 to 10,493, a 44.5% gap. In 3DMark 8-thread testing, AMD leads 4,077 to 3,159, a 29.1% margin, and in 3DMark 16-thread, AMD scores 4,795 versus 4,072, a 17.8% edge. Data compression favors AMD at 228,741 to 182,968, a 25% difference, and data encryption shows AMD ahead by 21% (13,597 to 11,238). Random string sorting goes to AMD by 16.5% (23,989 to 20,586). The AMD processor also wins Cinebench R23 single-core, 1,930 to 1,737.5, an 11.1% lead, and takes the 4-thread 3DMark test by 5.6% (2,682 to 2,540) plus the max-thread test by 8.8% (4,795 to 4,406).

The Intel Core i7-1260P counters with its strongest result in PassMark physics, scoring 1,092 against AMD's 726, a 33.5% advantage. Floating-point math goes to Intel by 30.7% (42,417 to 29,405). Single-thread performance is consistently Intel-favored: 3DMark single-thread shows Intel at 915 versus 711, a 22.3% lead, and PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 3,250 versus 2,593, a 20.2% gap. Cinebench R15 single-core also favors Intel by 20.2% (243 to 194). In 2-thread 3DMark, Intel leads by 12.6% (1,601 to 1,400). Integer math goes to Intel by 20.2% (62,316 to 49,707). Prime number finding strongly favors Intel, 63 to 34, a 46% difference. Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to Intel by 15.3% (1,626 to 1,378). Smaller Intel wins appear in Cinebench R20 multi-core (5,874 to 5,744, a 2.2% edge), Cinebench R20 single-core (829 to 810, a 2.3% edge), and PassMark multi-thread (16,775 to 16,091, a 4.1% edge).

The Verdict

The data points to two different usage profiles. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is the choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its 40.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is decisive, and the 44.5% advantage in extended instructions suggests strong SIMD and AVX-related performance. The AMD chip also holds a 25% edge in data compression and a 21% lead in encryption, indicating efficient throughput for data-heavy tasks. Its 11.1% win in Cinebench R23 single-core is notable because it contradicts the broader single-thread trend, suggesting the AMD processor handles certain lightly threaded workloads better than expected.

The Intel Core i7-1260P is the choice for physics simulation and floating-point math, where its 33.5% and 30.7% leads respectively are substantial. The consistent 20.2% single-thread advantage across multiple tests (PassMark single-thread, Cinebench R15 single-core, and integer math) points to stronger per-core performance in general-purpose tasks. The 46% lead in prime number finding, a classic single-thread-sensitive test, reinforces this. For users whose workloads are latency-bound or rely on strong single-core behavior, the Intel part has the edge.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: AMD at 17,333 versus Intel at 17,007, a difference of about 1.9%. Both processors sit in similar percentile ranges, with AMD at the 71st percentile and Intel at the 70th. The nearest rivals for each confirm this positioning. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 3 210, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G, Intel Core 7 150U, and Intel Core i5-12450H. The Intel Core i7-1260P sits within 0.4% of the AMD EPYC 7742, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, Intel Core i5-1240U, and Intel Core i5-11400. Neither chip dramatically outclasses the other in aggregate; the choice depends entirely on workload type.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-1260P uses Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-P codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 217 mm² die size, though transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Core configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel chip has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part uses a hybrid configuration, though the database does not specify performance versus efficiency core splits. Clock speeds show Intel with a higher boost clock at 4.70 GHz versus 4.10 GHz for AMD, but AMD has a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for Intel.

Cache hierarchies are markedly different. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel L3 cache is more than double the AMD L3, which helps explain its strong single-thread performance in cache-sensitive tests.

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

PCIe capabilities differ: AMD offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while Intel offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The Intel chip includes integrated Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units; the AMD chip has no integrated graphics recorded.

Power characteristics show a major divergence: the AMD chip has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel chip has a 28 W TDP. This reflects their market segments: AMD is a desktop part on the AM4 socket, while Intel is a mobile part on the BGA 1744 socket. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core rendering performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 40.8%, scoring 13,677 versus 9,711 for the Intel Core i7-1260P.

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P leads in most single-thread tests. It scores 915 in 3DMark single-thread versus 711 for AMD (22.3% ahead), and 3,250 in PassMark single-thread versus 2,593 (20.2% ahead). However, AMD wins Cinebench R23 single-core 1,930 to 1,737.5.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P has 12 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-1260P has a 28 W TDP.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 4?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P includes Iris Xe graphics with 96 execution units. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has no integrated graphics recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins in rendering and data-processing workloads. Cinebench R23 multi-core (40.8% lead) and extended instructions (44.5% lead) are its strongest areas. Data compression, encryption, and random string sorting all favor AMD by 16.5% to 25%. The 3DMark 8-thread test shows a 29.1% AMD advantage, indicating strong performance in moderately threaded graphics-related workloads. The AMD chip also wins the 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests, plus the 4-thread test, suggesting its thread scaling is efficient in the 4-to-16 thread range.

The Intel Core i7-1260P wins in physics simulation, floating-point math, and single-thread-sensitive tasks. The 33.5% lead in PassMark physics and the 30.7% lead in floating-point math are substantial. Prime number finding shows a 46% Intel advantage. The Intel chip dominates 2-thread and single-thread 3DMark tests, plus PassMark single-thread. Integer math and Cinebench R15 multi-core also favor Intel, and the small Cinebench R20 wins (2.2% and 2.3%) show Intel holds a slight edge in that specific rendering benchmark version.

For workloads that involve both rendering and physics, the choice is less clear. The AMD chip wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 40.8%, but Intel wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 15.3% and Cinebench R20 multi-core by 2.2%. The PassMark multi-thread test slightly favors Intel (4.1% lead), despite AMD's strong Cinebench R23 result. This suggests the AMD chip is particularly well-suited to modern rendering workloads, while the Intel chip handles older or differently-threaded rendering tasks better.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 4500 | Intel Core i7-1260P |

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

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Alder Lake-P |

| Process node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 156 mm² | 217 mm² |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not recorded |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 8 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 4, 20 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | None | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | 100-000000xxx | SRLD6 |

| Release date | 2022-04-03 | 2022-02-22 |