AMD Ryzen 5 4600H vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS

AMD Ryzen 5 4600H

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is a mobile SoC for big laptops based on the Renoir architecture. The 4600H integrates six of the eight cores based on the Zen 2 microarchitecture. They are clocked at 3 (guaranteed base clock) to 4 GHz (Turbo) and support SMT / Hyperthreading (12 threads).

In addition to the six CPU cores, the APU also integrates a Radeon RX Vega 6 integrated graphics adapter with 6 CUs and up to 1500 MHz. The dual channel memory controller supports DDR4-3200 and energy efficient LPDDR4-4266 RAM. Furthermore, 8 MB level 3 cache can be found on the chip. See our hub page on the Renoir Processors for more information.

Performance

The average 4600H in our database matches the Intel Core i7-10875H and even the Core i9-10885H, both significantly more costly chips, in multi-thread performance, giving this Ryzen an outrageously high price-to-performance ratio.

Your mileage may vary depending on how high the CPU power limits are and how competent the cooling solution of your system is.

Power consumption

The Ryzen 5 chip has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 45 W, a value that laptop makers are free to change to anything between 35 W and 54 W with clock speed and performance changing accordingly as a result. Either way, a high-performance cooling solution is a must for a CPU like this.

The 7 nm TSMC process this APU is built with makes for better-than-average, as of early 2022, energy efficiency.

AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is a processor for big (gaming) laptops based on the Cezanne generation. The R9 5900HS integrates all eight cores based on the Zen 3 microarchitecture. They are clocked at 3 GHz (guaranteed base clock) to 4.6 GHz (Turbo) and support SMT / Hyperthreading (16 threads). The chip is manufactured on the modern 7 nm TSMC process. Compared to the 5900HX (up to 54 W), the 5900HS is configured with a TDP of 35 W.

The new Zen 3 microarchitecture offers a significantly higher IPC (instructions per clock) compared to Zen 2. For desktop processors AMD claims 19 percent on average and in applications reviews showed around 12% gains at the same clock speed.

In addition to the eight CPU cores, the APU also integrates a Radeon RX Vega 8 iGPU with 8 CUs at up to 2100 MHz. The dual channel memory controller supports DDR4-3200 and energy efficient LPDDR4-4266 RAM. Furthermore, 16 MB of Level 3 cache can be found on the chip.

Performance

The average 5900HS in our database matches the Core i7-12650H, the Core i9-11900H and the Core i9-11980HK in multi-thread performance. Surprisingly enough, it manages to come unbelievably close to the more power-hungry Ryzen 9 5900HX. This is a great CPU in all respects, and laptop makers as well as mini-PC manufacturers are taking notice.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 80 W, the Zephyrus G14 GA401QEC is among the fastest laptops powered by the 5900HS that we know of. It can be at least 10% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Power consumption

This Ryzen 9 series chip has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 35 W that laptop makers aren't really required to stick to. Either way, an active cooling solution is a must for a CPU like this.

The Ryzen 9 5900HS is built with TSMC's 7 nm process for average, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.