AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11700K and AMD Ryzen 5 230 are separated by only 0.1% in average benchmark score (25812 vs 25782), placing both at the 78th percentile of all CPUs. Despite this statistical tie, the head-to-head data reveals a clear split: the Intel part wins 15 of 17 direct comparisons, while the AMD chip claims only two victories, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. The i7-11700K is a desktop Rocket Lake part with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 230 is a mobile Hawk Point processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, yet their aggregate performance lands nearly identical.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K dominates multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 20666 against the Ryzen 5 230's 17857, a 15.7% advantage. The gap widens dramatically in PassMark integer math, where Intel leads 86390 to 67257 (28.4%), and in floating-point math, where the margin is 51119 vs 38993 (31.1%). Data compression shows the single largest delta: 322689 vs 218588, a 47.6% blowout. Extended instruction workloads follow suit, with Intel ahead 22964 to 15618 (47%). The i7-11700K also wins all three Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests by roughly 15.7-16.2%, including a 2917 vs 2521 result in R23 single-core.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230's only wins come in PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, where it scores 3558 versus Intel's 3390, a 4.7% edge. This suggests the Zen 4 architecture has a slight per-clock advantage in legacy single-threaded PassMark workloads, but it does not translate to Cinebench single-core, where Intel leads. The Ryzen's wins are narrow, while Intel's are often lopsided. In PassMark physics, Intel wins by a modest 8.5% (1039 vs 958), and in multithread, Intel leads 24408 to 19411 (25.7%). The data indicates the i7-11700K is the clear pick for rendering, encoding, and any task that scales with cores and cache bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11700K uses Rocket Lake architecture built on Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm node. The Intel part is a desktop chip with a 125 W TDP, whereas the Ryzen is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP. This power disparity explains why Intel can sustain higher multi-threaded performance despite an older process. The Ryzen's 4 nm node and 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die enable efficiency that the 14 nm Intel chip cannot match.

Cores and cache differ substantially. Intel offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while AMD provides 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-11700K has 80 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. The Ryzen 5 230 has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, also with 16 MB shared L3. AMD's larger per-core L2 cache partially compensates for fewer cores, but Intel's two extra cores prove decisive in multi-threaded benchmarks. Clock speeds are close: Intel's base is 3.60 GHz with a 5.00 GHz boost, while AMD's base is 3.50 GHz with a 4.90 GHz boost. Intel's higher boost clock contributes to its Cinebench single-core wins.

Memory support diverges sharply. Intel uses DDR4 with dual-channel 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses DDR5 with dual-channel 89.6 GB/s. The Ryzen's 75% higher memory bandwidth does not help it win any benchmark in this comparison, suggesting the i7's core count and cache layout matter more. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. Intel integrates UHD Graphics 750, while AMD integrates Radeon 760M. The Intel chip is end-of-life and has an unlocked multiplier; the Ryzen is active production and locked. Intel launched on 2021-03-15 with a $399 MSRP; AMD released on 2025-01-05.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K averages 25812, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 averages 25782. The difference is 0.1%, placing both at the 78th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 230 win any benchmark against the Intel i7-11700K?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 230 wins the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, scoring 3558 versus Intel's 3390, a 4.7% margin. These are the only two wins for AMD across 17 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel i7-11700K has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel's two additional cores drive its multi-threaded wins, such as a 15.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The Intel i7-11700K has a 125 W TDP, and the AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a 28 W TDP. Despite the 97 W difference, the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip in 15 of 17 benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel i7-11700K supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. The Ryzen's higher bandwidth does not yield a benchmark win.

Q: Are both processors in the same market segment?

A: No. The Intel i7-11700K is a desktop processor, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 is a mobile processor. The Intel chip is end-of-life, and the AMD chip is in active production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11700K | AMD Ryzen 5 230 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 4 (Hawk Point) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 25,000 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 178 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | Radeon 760M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2025-01-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $399 | Not specified |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRKNL | 100-000001726 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel i7-11700K's most decisive victory comes in PassMark data compression, where it scores 322689 against the Ryzen's 218588, a 47.6% lead. This test measures how quickly a CPU can compress and decompress data, a workload sensitive to core count and cache bandwidth. Intel's 8 cores and larger L1 cache (80 KB per core) clearly shine here. Similarly, extended instructions show a 47% gap (22964 vs 15618), indicating Intel's Rocket Lake architecture handles AVX-512-style workloads far better than Zen 4's 6-core mobile part.

Random string sorting is another Intel blowout: 36755 vs 26019, a 41.3% margin. This benchmark relies heavily on memory latency and cache hierarchy, where Intel's design holds an edge. Floating-point math shows Intel ahead 51119 to 38993 (31.1%), and integer math follows with 86390 vs 67257 (28.4%). The multithread PassMark test favors Intel by 25.7% (24408 vs 19411), reinforcing the core-count advantage.

Cinebench results are consistent across versions. In R15, R20, and R23, Intel wins both multicore and single-core by roughly 15.7-16.2%. The R23 multicore score is 20666 vs 17857 (15.7%), and single-core is 2917 vs 2521 (15.7%). This uniform margin suggests the i7-11700K's higher boost clock (5.00 GHz vs 4.90 GHz) and extra cores deliver a predictable advantage across all Cinebench iterations.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230's only positive delta is in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 3558 vs Intel's 3390, a 4.7% improvement. This result indicates Zen 4's IPC is strong in legacy single-threaded PassMark tests, but it does not carry over to Cinebench single-core, where Intel wins by 15.7%. The Ryzen also nearly ties Intel in PassMark find prime numbers, with both scoring 66, a 0% delta. Data encryption is closer than compression, with Intel winning 15638 vs 13280 (17.8%), and physics shows the narrowest Intel win at 8.5% (1039 vs 958).

Overall, the benchmark data shows the i7-11700K is the superior performer in nearly every measurable workload, with margins ranging from 8.5% to 47.6%. The Ryzen 5 230's single-thread PassMark win is notable but isolated. Given that the Intel part draws 125 W versus 28 W, its dominance is expected, but the 0.1% average score difference masks how lopsided the individual tests are. The Ryzen 5 230 is a mobile chip designed for efficiency, while the i7-11700K is a desktop part built for raw throughput.