Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
AMD Ryzen 5 4600H vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500U: Comparison
What is the difference between Ryzen 5 4600H and Ryzen 5 5500U?
The first real difference is p-core base clock: Ryzen 5 4600H 3.0 GHz against Ryzen 5 5500U 2.1 GHz. Tdp is not the same on both, 45 W on the Ryzen 5 4600H versus 15 W on the Ryzen 5 5500U. Release year is not the same on both, 2020 on the Ryzen 5 4600H versus 2021 on the Ryzen 5 5500U. They differ on igpu too, AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 on the Ryzen 5 4600H versus AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 on the Ryzen 5 5500U. They differ on microarchitecture too, Zen 2, Ryzen 4000 Series "Renoir" on the Ryzen 5 4600H versus Zen 2 "Lucienne", Ryzen 5000 Series on the Ryzen 5 5500U. There is a split on base power as well, 45 W on the Ryzen 5 4600H versus 15 W on the Ryzen 5 5500U.
Which should you buy, Ryzen 5 4600H or Ryzen 5 5500U?
Take the Ryzen 5 4600H for entry-level gaming laptops wanting genuine multi-threaded headroom alongside a discrete GPU. It is the wrong buy for buyers relying on integrated graphics for actual gaming, the Vega 6 iGPU is a fallback, not a primary gaming solution. Take the Ryzen 5 5500U for thin-and-light laptops wanting high-end mainstream performance at a mid-range price point. Avoid it for buyers specifically wanting the newer Zen 3 architecture, the Ryzen 5 5600U uses genuine Zen 3 "Cezanne" cores instead.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, total threads and p-core boost clock are identical here. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the L3 Cache the same on the Ryzen 5 4600H and Ryzen 5 5500U?
It is. Both are listed at 8 MB, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- AMD
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- AMD
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Ryzen 5
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Ryzen 5
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Laptop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 4600H
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 5500U
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Renoir
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Lucienne
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 2020
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 2021
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 45 W
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 15 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- AMD Radeon RX Vega 6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Zen 2, Ryzen 4000 Series "Renoir"
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Zen 2 "Lucienne", Ryzen 5000 Series
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- FP6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- FP6
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 7 nm
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 7 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 6
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 6
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 0
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 0
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 12
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 12
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Yes
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 3.0 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 2.1 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 4.0 GHz
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 4.0 GHz
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 3 MB
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 3 MB
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 8 MB
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 8 MB
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- 45 W
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 15 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
- Yes
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose 4600H if you want the higher L2 cache (3 MB vs 3 MB) and the higher L3 cache (8 MB vs 8 MB).
Choose 5500U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.