AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel Core i7-4790

The Intel Core i7-4790, based on the Haswell S architecture, was introduced by Intel as a powerful desktop processor.

It was designed for demanding users and gamers of its time. Manufactured using a 22 nm process, it offers 4 cores and 8 threads, supported by Hyper-Threading, with an 8 MB Level 3 cache. This processor also features the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 solution and utilizes PCIe Version 3.0 with a maximum memory bandwidth of 26 GB/s.

In comparison, the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is a representative of the first Zen generation, codenamed Summit Ridge, and was developed by AMD for the mainstream market to offer strong multithreading performance.

This processor is manufactured using the more efficient 14 nm process and features 6 cores and 12 threads (Simultaneous Multi-threading) as well as a 16 MB Level 3 cache. It also uses PCIe Version 3.0 and achieves a maximum memory bandwidth of 43 GB/s. In single-core performance, the Intel Core i7-4790 shows over 10 percent higher performance in Geekbench 6 than the AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

However, in multi-core performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 significantly surpasses the Intel Core i7-4790, which makes it advantageous for applications such as video editing or 3D rendering. For gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i7-4790 may have a slight advantage in certain games due to its stronger single-core performance, especially in titles that utilize fewer cores.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600, with more cores and higher memory bandwidth, potentially offers better performance in modern, more heavily parallelized games and greater future-proofing. Regarding energy efficiency, the smaller 14 nm manufacturing process of the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 suggests potentially better efficiency compared to the 22 nm process of the Intel Core i7-4790.

Both processors are older models primarily available on the used market. The Intel Core i7-4790 is recommended for users who need strong single-core performance and an integrated graphics solution, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is the better choice for multithreading tasks and a higher core count.