AMD Ryzen 5 2600X vs Intel Core i5-11500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a decisive picture: the Intel Core i5-11500 wins 12 of the 13 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The only exception is data encryption, where the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X takes a clear victory. This is not a close contest overall, but the specific margins reveal where each chip's strengths truly lie.

Starting with the most dramatic margin, the Intel Core i5-11500 crushes the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X in extended instructions. The Intel chip scores 15,111 against 7,581 for the AMD part, a 99.3% advantage. This effectively doubles the throughput in this workload, making it a one-sided affair for any code that leverages modern SIMD or cryptographic instruction sets.

Single-threaded performance is another major win for Intel. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-11500 scores 206 versus 163 for the Ryzen chip, a 26.4% lead. The Passmark single-thread test confirms this gap, with Intel at 3,131 points versus 2,381, a 31.5% delta. These results indicate the Rocket Lake core has a substantial IPC and frequency advantage over the older Zen architecture.

Multi-threaded workloads still favor Intel, although by a smaller margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-11500 scores 1,462 against 1,341, a 9% win. The PassMark multithread test shows a larger 23.1% lead, with scores of 17,107 versus 13,893. The Intel chip also leads in Cinebench R20 multicore, scoring 6,095 against the AMD's 5,121 (note: the AMD score for R20 is not in the head-to-head, but the recorded Cinebench R20 data shows 6,095 for Intel and 5,121 for AMD, a 19% gap). This shows that despite the AMD part having a higher base clock, the Intel architecture's efficiency wins out in heavily threaded tasks.

For specific math workloads, Intel dominates. In floating-point math, the i5-11500 leads by 41.8%, scoring 34,422 versus 24,270. In integer math, the lead is 23.2%, with scores of 58,352 versus 47,377. The prime number finding test shows a 34.2% lead for Intel, scoring 51 against 38.

The only bright spot for AMD is the data encryption test. The Ryzen 5 2600X scores 13,133, which is 19.3% higher than the Intel's 10,592. This suggests the AMD chip has a hardware or microcode advantage in this specific cryptographic workload.

In other tests, Intel's margins are narrower but consistent. Data compression goes to Intel (210,796 versus 198,785, a 6% lead). Random string sorting is a 7% lead for Intel (24,505 versus 22,911). Physics also favors Intel, with a score of 823 versus 695, an 18.4% lead.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11500 wins decisively. It scores 206 versus 163 in Cinebench R15 single-core (26.4% lead) and 3,131 versus 2,381 in PassMark single-thread (31.5% lead).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X win any benchmark?

A: Yes, one test. The AMD wins the PassMark data encryption test, scoring 13,133 versus 10,592 for Intel, a 19.3% advantage.

Q: What is the biggest margin of victory in either direction?

A: The largest lead belongs to Intel in the PassMark extended instructions test, where it scores 15,111 versus 7,581, a 99.3% advantage.

Q: How do the multithreaded scores compare?

A: Intel leads in all recorded multithread tests. The Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 9% lead (1,462 versus 1,341), while PassMark multithread shows a 23.1% lead (17,107 versus 13,893).

Q: Are there any areas where the AMD chip is competitive?

A: Aside from the encryption win, the AMD is closest in data compression, where it trails by only 6% (198,785 versus 210,796), and random string sorting, trailing by 7% (22,911 versus 24,505).

Q: Do the processors have the same core count?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the performance differences are entirely due to architecture and clock speed, not core count.

Architecture Differences

The processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11500 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X uses the Zen architecture (specifically Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge), built on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process. The process node difference is minor in size, but the architectural generation gap is significant.

The Intel chip's die size is larger at 276 mm², while the AMD chip is 213 mm². The AMD part does have more transistors: 4,800 million versus an unlisted number for Intel. Intel's design uses a shared 12 MB L3 cache, while AMD allocates 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The L1 cache also differs, with Intel having 80 KB per core and AMD having 96 KB per core. Both have 512 KB of L2 per core.

The processors access memory differently. Both support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, but Intel's memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus AMD's 46.9 GB/s. This gives Intel a theoretical memory throughput advantage that could matter for memory-intensive workloads.

There are major connectivity differences. The Intel Core i5-11500 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen 5 2600X is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This is a substantial difference for users wanting the latest high-speed storage or GPUs. The Intel chip also comes with integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 50), which the AMD chip lacks entirely. The AMD part has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU.

The process nodes differ, with Intel at 14 nm and AMD at 12 nm. The release dates are also far apart, with Intel launching on 2021-03-15 and AMD on 2018-04-18. This explains the architectural gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core and thread count (6 cores, 12 threads), but diverge in nearly every other specification.

Clock speeds: the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, but the Intel i5-11500 has a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD boost clock is 4.25 GHz.

Power and cooling: the Intel chip has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD part has a TDP of 95 W. This means the Intel chip is likely easier to cool and power, but the data does not include thermal performance details.

Socket: the Intel uses Intel Socket 1200, while the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4. These are not interchangeable.

Process node: the Intel is on 14 nm, the AMD is on 12 nm.

Transistors: the AMD has 4,800 million, the Intel is not listed.

Die size: Intel is 276 mm², AMD is 213 mm².

Cache: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, AMD has 96 KB per core. Both have 512 KB L2 per core. Intel has 12 MB L3, AMD has 16 MB L3.

Memory bandwidth: Intel is 51.2 GB/s, AMD is 46.9 GB/s (both dual-channel DDR4).

PCIe: Intel is Gen 4 with 20 lanes, AMD is Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics: Intel has UHD Graphics 750, AMD has none.

Production status: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active.

Release date: Intel is 2021-03-15, AMD is 2018-04-18.

Multiplier unlocked: Intel is locked, AMD is unlocked.

The Intel has a part number of SRKNY, while the AMD has two part numbers listed.

The Verdict

The measured data shows the Intel Core i5-11500 is the faster processor in the vast majority of tests. It wins 12 out of 13 benchmarks, often by margins of 20% or more. The single-thread and extended instruction advantages are massive. For general computing, multithreaded productivity, and math-heavy workloads, the Intel chip is the clear choice.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X has a single niche victory in data encryption, but it also has a lower TDP (95 W versus 65 W) and is an older design. Its only advantage is the unlocked multiplier, which may appeal to overclockers. However, the data shows that even with a higher base clock, it cannot keep up with the Intel's IPC.

The Intel's PCIe Gen 4 support and integrated graphics make it a more modern platform choice, though it is marked as end-of-life. The AMD is still in production.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i5-11500: This processor is the winner for almost every workload in the dataset. It is the better pick for single-threaded applications, which is the most common scenario for everyday use and many games. It also wins in multi-threaded tasks, making it suitable for rendering, video encoding, and software compilation. The 99.1% lead in extended instructions means it is the right choice for any workload using AVX or similar instruction sets. The physics, integer math, and floating-point math wins solidify this as the dominant part.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600X: This processor has exactly one clear use-case from the data: data encryption. The 19.3% lead in that test suggests it might be better for heavily encrypted workloads. However, the AMD chip does have an unlocked multiplier, which the Intel does not. This gives it a theoretical overclocking advantage, but the recorded data does not show any overclocked results. The AMD also benefits from being a newer production part (active status) and a larger L3 cache of 16 MB. For users who need encryption performance and want an unlocked chip, the AMD is the answer. For everything else, the Intel is the recommendation.