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

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is decisive, but not in the way the core counts alone would suggest. The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 takes only 3. However, the specific nature of those wins tells a clear story about what each chip is built for.

The Intel Core i7-11700KF dominates every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, across R15, R20, and R23. It also wins in PassMark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. This is a comprehensive victory in almost every compute-heavy workload category. The margins range from a modest 2.7% in physics to a massive 31.2% in data compression.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins in exactly three areas: PassMark find prime numbers, PassMark single thread, and PassMark singlethread (which are the same test recorded twice). The single-thread win is notable because the Intel chip has a higher boost clock, but the AMD architecture manages to edge ahead by 5.6% in that specific PassMark workload. The prime number finding task also favors AMD by 6.5%.

Looking at overall average benchmark scores, the database places the AMD Ryzen 5 230 at 25782 and the Intel Core i7-11700KF at 25423. The AMD chip sits in the 78th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits in the 77th. These are nearly identical overall positions, despite the lopsided head-to-head count. The explanation is that the AMD chip's wins are in tests that carry significant weight in the aggregate, and its losses in other areas are not catastrophic enough to drop it below its rival in the overall standings.

For real-world use, the split is straightforward. The Intel Core i7-11700KF is the better choice for rendering, compression work, encryption tasks, and any workload that scales with more cores and higher sustained clocks. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 is better for single-threaded PassMark-style workloads and prime number calculations, but those are narrow applications. The data shows the Intel chip is the general-purpose compute winner, while the AMD chip holds a specific niche in lightly threaded tasks.

The Verdict

The verdict from the recorded data is clear: the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the stronger processor for the vast majority of tasks. Its 14 wins out of 17 comparisons, combined with an 11.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 31.2% lead in data compression, make it the default recommendation for anyone running heavy workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 230, despite its newer architecture and smaller process node, cannot overcome the Intel chip's 8 cores versus 6 cores and its higher boost clock in most benchmarks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 should be picked only if the specific workload is dominated by single-threaded PassMark performance or prime number finding. Its 5.6% lead in PassMark single thread and 6.5% lead in find prime numbers are real, but they are isolated. For any mixed-use scenario, the Intel chip wins.

Consider the context: the Intel Core i7-11700KF is a desktop part with a 125 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 5 230 is a mobile part with a 28 W TDP. The Intel chip is end-of-life in production status, while the AMD chip is active. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, the AMD chip does not. These are not minor details; they reflect the intended use cases. The Intel chip is designed for a desktop system where power draw and heat are secondary concerns. The AMD chip is designed for a laptop or low-power system where efficiency matters more than raw throughput.

The data does not support choosing the AMD chip for content creation, data processing, or gaming-adjacent workloads. The Intel chip wins all Cinebench tests and all PassMark math and encryption tests. The only honest verdict is that the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the superior performer, and the AMD Ryzen 5 230 is a niche pick for very specific single-threaded applications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most telling numbers come from the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 20214 against the AMD Ryzen 5 230's 17857, a delta of 11.7%. The single-core R23 result is similarly one-sided: Intel scores 2853, AMD scores 2521, a delta of 11.6%. The R20 and R15 results follow the exact same pattern, with the Intel chip leading by 11.7% in both multi-core and single-core variants. This consistency across three generations of Cinebench is a strong indicator that the Intel chip is simply faster per thread and with more threads.

The PassMark results show where the biggest gaps appear. Data compression is the largest single delta: Intel scores 317712, AMD scores 218588, a 31.2% deficit for AMD. Extended instructions show a 29.8% lead for Intel (22247 versus 15618). Random string sorting is a 28.3% gap (36309 versus 26019). Floating point math is a 22.9% gap (50571 versus 38993). Integer math is a 21.2% gap (85377 versus 67257). These are not marginal differences; the Intel chip is delivering roughly a fifth to a third more performance in these workloads.

The AMD wins are smaller but real. In PassMark single thread, the AMD Ryzen 5 230 scores 3558 against the Intel's 3368, a 5.6% advantage. The same delta appears in the singlethread test. In find prime numbers, AMD scores 66 against Intel's 62, a 6.5% advantage. These are the only two workloads where AMD comes out ahead, and both are relatively lightweight tasks.

The multithread PassMark test shows Intel leading by 18.5% (23819 versus 19411), while the physics test is the closest overall margin at just 2.7% in favor of Intel (985 versus 958). The data encryption test is a 12.8% lead for Intel (15229 versus 13280). In every benchmark where Intel wins, the margin is at least 2.7%, and in most cases it is well above 10%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 scores 3558 in PassMark single thread, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 3368. That gives AMD a 5.6% lead in this specific test. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel chip leads with 2853 against AMD's 2521, an 11.6% difference.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 20214 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 230's 17857, a gap of 11.7%. The same delta appears in R20 and R15 multi-core tests. PassMark multithread shows a larger gap of 18.5% in favor of Intel (23819 versus 19411).

Q: Does the AMD processor win in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 230 wins exactly three recorded comparisons: PassMark find prime numbers (66 versus 62, a 6.5% lead) and PassMark single thread and singlethread (both 3558 versus 3368, a 5.6% lead). These are the only tests where AMD comes out ahead.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has an average benchmark score of 25782 and sits in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has an average score of 25423 and sits in the 77th percentile. Despite the Intel chip winning more head-to-head tests, the overall averages are nearly identical.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip also has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) and a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz).

Q: Is the Intel processor still in production?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is listed as end-of-life in the database. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 is listed as active production. The AMD chip was released on January 5, 2025, while the Intel chip was released on March 15, 2021.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i7-11700KF uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel. The process node difference is stark: 4 nm versus 14 nm is three generations of lithography apart.

The AMD chip integrates 25,000 million transistors on a die size of 178 mm². The Intel chip has no transistor count listed, but its die size is 276 mm², which is significantly larger. The smaller die on a smaller process node gives the AMD chip a major efficiency advantage, reflected in its 28 W TDP versus the Intel chip's 125 W TDP.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has twice the L2 cache per core, while the Intel chip has more L1 cache per core. Both share the same total L3 capacity.

Memory support is another clear divide. The AMD chip uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel chip uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD chip has a 75% higher theoretical memory bandwidth, which helps in bandwidth-sensitive workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 230 includes integrated graphics with a Radeon 760M. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has no integrated graphics, hence the "F" suffix in its name. Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip is a mobile part on the AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel chip is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200.

Specification Differences

The socket is the most obvious difference: the AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses AMD Socket FP8, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF uses Intel Socket 1200. These are not interchangeable, and any system build must be chosen around one or the other.

The core count differs by two cores and four threads. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, the Intel chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clocks are close (3.50 GHz for AMD, 3.60 GHz for Intel), but the boost clocks differ more meaningfully: 4.90 GHz for AMD versus 5.00 GHz for Intel.

The TDP is a dramatic difference: 28 W for the AMD chip versus 125 W for the Intel chip. This reflects the mobile versus desktop market segmentation. The AMD chip is designed for battery-powered systems, while the Intel chip is designed for a desktop with active cooling.

The production status differs: the AMD chip is active, the Intel chip is end-of-life. The release dates are nearly four years apart, with the AMD chip launching on January 5, 2025, and the Intel chip launching on March 15, 2021. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $374, while the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP.

The multiplier is unlocked on the Intel chip but locked on the AMD chip. This means the Intel chip can be overclocked by adjusting the multiplier, while the AMD chip cannot. The part numbers are 100-000001726 for AMD and SRKNN for Intel. The memory support differs: DDR5 for AMD, DDR4 for Intel. The integrated graphics differ: the AMD chip has a Radeon 760M, the Intel chip has none.