AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel Core i7-11700F Comparison

The benchmark data in the database shows a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core i7-11700F and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600. Across all 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons, the Intel processor secures the win, with margins ranging from a narrow 1.1% to a commanding 155.4%. The Intel Core i7-11700F is the superior processor in every measured workload, making it the clear choice for users prioritizing raw performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the Intel Core i7-11700F scores 18308 against the AMD Ryzen 5 2600's 7168, a delta of 155.4%. This indicates a massive advantage in workloads that leverage advanced instruction sets, a category that includes modern encryption, multimedia encoding, and scientific computing tasks.

The Geekbench multicore test shows a 71.4% lead for the Intel chip, with scores of 9680 versus 5648. This is a strong indicator of overall system responsiveness and multi-threaded application performance. The single-core Geekbench result follows a similar pattern, with the Intel part scoring 1891 against 1154, a 63.9% advantage. This single-thread lead is critical for everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and legacy software that rely on one or two cores.

In Cinebench R23, a popular rendering benchmark, the Intel Core i7-11700F scores 17633 in the multicore test and 2489 in the single-core test. While the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 does not have a recorded Cinebench R23 score in the database, the Cinebench R15 results show the Intel part leading by 42.4% in multicore (1777 vs 1248) and by 58.9% in single-core (250 vs 157.3). The trend is consistent: the Intel architecture delivers substantially higher performance per clock and per core.

The PassMark suite reinforces this dominance. In integer math, the Intel chip scores 79133 versus 44518, a 77.8% lead. Floating point math shows an even larger gap at 101.8%, with scores of 46307 and 22942. The multithreaded PassMark score is 20728 for Intel and 13160 for AMD, a 57.5% difference. Even in data compression, a task that often scales well with core count, the Intel part wins by 42.2% (266035 vs 187062).

The narrowest margin is in data encryption, where the Intel Core i7-11700F scores 12563 and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 scores 12429, a delta of just 1.1%. This suggests that the encryption workload is less sensitive to the architectural differences between the two processors, though the Intel part still comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i7-11700F is built on a 14 nm process at Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 uses a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. Despite the smaller process node, the AMD chip does not translate that into a performance advantage in the recorded data.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Intel part has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the Intel processor a raw thread count advantage of 33%. The base and boost clocks also favor Intel: the i7-11700F runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost, while the Ryzen 5 2600 runs at 3.40 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The higher boost clock on the Intel part is a key factor in its single-thread performance lead.

Cache hierarchies are similar in total L3 size, with both processors offering 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The L1 cache differs slightly, with the Intel part providing 80 KB per core and the AMD part providing 96 KB per core. L2 cache is identical at 512 KB per core.

Platform support is another differentiator. The Intel Core i7-11700F uses the Intel Socket 1200 and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 uses the AMD Socket AM4 and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The newer PCIe standard on the Intel platform allows for faster data transfer to compatible GPUs and NVMe storage devices. Memory bandwidth is also higher on the Intel part, rated at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s for the AMD chip, though both support dual-channel DDR4 memory.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, while the Intel Core i7-11700F is locked. The AMD part also remains in active production, while the Intel part is listed as end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700F wins in every single benchmark category recorded in the database. There is no workload in the data where the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 comes out ahead. This includes single-threaded tests, multi-threaded tests, integer math, floating point math, physics simulations, data compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 does have some qualitative advantages that are not reflected in the benchmark scores. It has an unlocked multiplier, which gives users the freedom to overclock. It is also on the AM4 socket, a platform with a long upgrade path. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the data shows no scenario where the AMD chip wins.

For users on a strict platform budget, the AMD part may be attractive due to its lower launch MSRP of $199 compared to the Intel's $298. However, the benchmark data shows that the Intel processor delivers a substantial performance premium that may justify the higher cost for many users.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700F is significantly faster. It leads by 58.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (250 vs 157.3) and by 63.9% in Geekbench single-core (1891 vs 1154).

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700F wins all multi-threaded tests. It leads by 42.4% in Cinebench R15 multicore (1777 vs 1248) and by 71.4% in Geekbench multicore (9680 vs 5648).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark extended instructions test, where the Intel Core i7-11700F scores 18308 versus 7168 for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600, a delta of 155.4%.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap?

A: The smallest margin is in PassMark data encryption, where the Intel Core i7-11700F scores 12563 and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 scores 12429, a delta of just 1.1%.

Q: Do the processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11700F has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700F has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600's boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i7-11700F outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 in every benchmark recorded in the database. The Intel part offers a 42.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore, a 58.9% lead in single-core, and a 77.8% lead in PassMark integer math. The largest advantage is in extended instructions, where the Intel chip is 155.4% faster.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is an older design with fewer cores, a lower boost clock, and older platform support. Its only advantages are an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and a lower launch MSRP. For any user whose priority is performance, the Intel Core i7-11700F is the clear choice. The data shows that the Intel processor is faster in every category, making it the superior option for gaming, content creation, and productivity workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11700F | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

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

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2018-04-18 |

| Launch MSRP | $298 | $199 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Part Number | SRKNR | YD2600BBM6IAF |