AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i7-11700F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and Intel Core i7-11700F are near-perfect statistical twins in the aggregate, with average benchmark scores of 21,992 and 21,988 respectively — a delta of 0%. Yet the head-to-head data reveals a fascinating split: the Intel chip wins 16 of 19 benchmarks, while the AMD chip takes 3, with each victory revealing distinct architectural priorities.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-11700F dominates the Cinebench suite with remarkable consistency. Across R15, R20, and R23, the multicore deltas are all exactly -12.5% in favor of Intel, with scores of 1,777 vs 1,555 (R15), 7,405 vs 6,480 (R20), and 17,633 vs 15,430 (R23). Single-core Cinebench results tell the same story: Intel leads by 12.4% in R15 (250 vs 219) and 12.5% in both R20 (1,045 vs 914) and R23 (2,489 vs 2,178). This uniformity suggests a consistent per-thread efficiency advantage, not a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench amplifies the gap further. The Intel part scores 9,680 vs 7,785 in multicore (-19.6%) and 1,891 vs 1,568 in single-core (-17.1%). PassMark single-thread testing follows suit, with Intel at 3,262 vs 2,649 (-18.8%). The pattern is clear: wherever a workload scales with raw thread performance, Intel's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.40 GHz translates into a commanding lead.

The most extreme deltas appear in math-heavy workloads. PassMark floating-point math shows Intel at 46,307 vs 29,339 (-36.6%), while integer math reaches 79,133 vs 49,934 (-36.9%). Data compression also favors Intel at 266,035 vs 224,318 (-15.7%), as does extended instructions at 18,308 vs 14,773 (-19.3%) and random string sorting at 30,498 vs 24,343 (-20.2%).

Yet the Ryzen 5 3600X fights back in three specific areas. Its most striking victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 110 vs 56 — a 96.4% advantage. This is a massive outlier, suggesting the Ryzen's Zen 2 architecture handles this particular prime-number algorithm with exceptional efficiency. The AMD chip also wins PassMark physics at 1,186 vs 885 (+34%), and data encryption at 14,255 vs 12,563 (+13.5%). These wins are not trivial; they indicate that certain integer-heavy, latency-sensitive workloads respond better to AMD's design.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different manufacturing philosophies. The Ryzen 5 3600X uses TSMC's 7 nm process with a 74 mm² die size and 3,800 million transistors. The Core i7-11700F uses Intel's 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die — nearly four times larger. This explains the transistor density advantage of the AMD part, though the Intel chip compensates with higher clock speeds.

Core counts differ significantly: the Ryzen offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel offers 8 cores and 16 threads. This two-core, four-thread advantage is the primary driver of Intel's multicore wins. Base clocks tell a surprising story: the Ryzen runs at 3.80 GHz base, while the Intel runs at just 2.50 GHz — yet Intel's 4.90 GHz boost clock eclipses the Ryzen's 4.40 GHz. The TDP figures reflect this: the Ryzen is rated at 95W, the Intel at 65W, suggesting Intel achieves its performance with a lower thermal envelope despite the older process node.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. The Ryzen has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. The Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, but only 16 MB shared L3 — half the Ryzen's pool. This halved L3 cache likely explains the Ryzen's wins in encryption and prime-number tests, where larger working sets benefit from the bigger cache.

Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both offer PCIe Gen 4, though Intel specifies 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen does not list a lane count. Neither has integrated graphics, and both lack ECC memory support. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel does not.

FAQ

Q: Why does the Intel chip win so many more benchmarks despite having a lower base clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700F has a 4.90 GHz boost clock versus the Ryzen's 4.40 GHz, plus 8 cores versus 6. The benchmark results show consistent 12.5% to 19.6% leads across Cinebench and Geekbench, driven by the combination of higher turbo frequency and additional cores.

Q: What explains the Ryzen's massive win in PassMark find prime numbers?

A: The Ryzen scores 110 vs 56, a 96.4% advantage. This workload likely benefits from the Ryzen's 32 MB shared L3 cache versus Intel's 16 MB, allowing more of the prime-number algorithm's data to reside in fast cache memory.

Q: Are these chips closely matched overall?

A: Yes. The average benchmark scores are 21,992 (AMD) and 21,988 (Intel), a 0% delta. Both sit at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, and they appear as each other's nearest rivals with identical average scores.

Q: Which chip has better memory bandwidth?

A: They are identical. Both support DDR4, dual-channel memory buses, and offer 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Memory performance is not a differentiator between these two.

Q: What does the TDP difference imply?

A: The Intel chip is rated at 65W versus the Ryzen's 95W, yet still delivers higher performance in most tests. This suggests the Intel part is more power-efficient per unit of work in these benchmarks, despite using a 14 nm process versus 7 nm.

Q: Why does Intel win single-core tests by a smaller margin than multicore tests?

A: Single-core Cinebench deltas are 12.4-12.5%, while Geekbench single-core shows -17.1%. The Intel's higher boost clock helps, but the multicore tests also benefit from Intel's two extra cores, widening the gap beyond just the per-thread advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Ryzen 5 3600X offers 6 cores and 12 threads; the Core i7-11700F offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks diverge significantly: 3.80 GHz for AMD versus 2.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks also differ, with Intel reaching 4.90 GHz versus 4.40 GHz for AMD. TDP ratings place the Ryzen at 95W and the Intel at 65W.

Manufacturing details contrast starkly: AMD uses a 7 nm TSMC process with a 74 mm² die and 3,800 million transistors; Intel uses a 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die and no transistor count listed. Cache configurations differ in L1 (64 KB vs 80 KB per core) and L3 (32 MB vs 16 MB shared), while L2 is identical at 512 KB per core. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel is locked. Sockets differ (AMD Socket AM4 vs Intel Socket 1200), as do release dates (July 2019 vs March 2021) and production status (Active vs End-of-life).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700F is the clear choice for compute-heavy, multi-threaded applications. Its wins span every Cinebench benchmark, Geekbench test, and PassMark math workload. Floating-point math, integer math, data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting all favor Intel by 15.7% to 36.9%. For rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, or any workload that scales with core count and raw throughput, the data consistently points to Intel.

The Ryzen 5 3600X claims victory in three specialized areas. Its 96.4% lead in prime-number finding suggests a niche advantage for cryptographic or number-theory applications. The +34% physics score indicates better performance in physics simulation workloads. The +13.5% encryption win points to an advantage in security-related tasks, likely aided by the larger 32 MB L3 cache. For users running these specific workloads, the Ryzen's wins are substantial and meaningful.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split based on workload. For general-purpose computing, multi-threaded productivity, and math-intensive tasks, the Intel Core i7-11700F is the superior processor. Its 16 benchmark wins versus 3 for AMD, combined with consistent 12.5% to 36.9% margins in most tests, make it the default recommendation for most users. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 4.90 GHz boost clock delivers broadly better performance across the benchmark suite.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is the pick for users whose workloads align with its specific strengths: prime-number computation, physics simulation, and data encryption. Its 32 MB L3 cache and Zen 2 architecture produce remarkable results in these niches, with margins ranging from 13.5% to 96.4%. The unlocked multiplier also offers flexibility for enthusiasts, though benchmark data does not quantify overclocking potential.

Both processors sit at the 75th percentile of all CPUs, and their average scores are statistically identical. The Intel chip is end-of-life while the Ryzen remains active in production. For most buyers, the Intel's broad benchmark superiority wins the day; for specialized workloads, the Ryzen's targeted advantages are impossible to ignore.