AMD Ryzen 5 4500 vs Intel Core i5-11400F Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and Intel Core i5-11400F are both 6-core, 12-thread desktop processors aimed at the same performance tier, yet benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The Intel Core i5-11400F dominates the overall head-to-head with 22 wins out of 25 tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 secures only 3 wins. However, those three wins are not trivial, as they highlight specific workloads where the Ryzen 5 4500 pulls ahead by a significant margin. Both CPUs sit at the 71st percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 17333 for the AMD and 17177 for the Intel, making their overall performance nearly identical despite the lopsided head-to-head count.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400F is the clear winner in general-purpose and threaded workloads. It takes every 3DMark test, every Cinebench test, and every Geekbench test. Its lead in single-threaded performance is particularly pronounced, with a 3DMark single-thread score of 868 versus the AMD's 711, a 18.1% advantage. This translates to better responsiveness in everyday tasks and games that rely on fewer cores. The Intel also wins in heavy computational tasks like PassMark integer math (57624 vs 49707, a 13.7% lead) and floating-point math (34127 vs 29405, a 13.8% lead). For most users, the i5-11400F is simply the faster chip.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins only in three specific PassMark subtests: data compression, data encryption, and extended instructions. The data encryption win is massive—the AMD scores 13597 versus the Intel's 10247, a 32.7% advantage. Data compression also shows a solid 9.7% lead (228741 vs 208472). These are not typical gaming or productivity benchmarks, but they indicate that the Ryzen 5 4500 has a specialized edge in security-related workloads and certain compression algorithms. If your primary use case involves heavy encryption or file compression, the AMD is the pick.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node with a die size of 156 mm² and 9,800 million transistors. It uses the Zen 2 architecture with the codename Renoir, which is a chiplet design derived from mobile parts. The Intel Core i5-11400F, in contrast, uses Intel's 14 nm process with a much larger 276 mm² die. It is based on the Rocket Lake architecture, codenamed Rocket Lake, which is a backport of the newer Sunny Cove cores to Intel's older process. This explains why the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz compared to the AMD's 4.10 GHz, though the AMD has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the Intel's 2.60 GHz.

Cache configurations also differ. The Intel chip has a larger shared L3 cache of 12 MB, while the AMD has only 8 MB. However, the AMD has a smaller per-core L1 cache (64 KB per core) versus the Intel's 80 KB per core. Both have the same 512 KB per-core L2 cache. The AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory with identical 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Notably, the AMD has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the Intel does not. The AMD is also still in active production, whereas the Intel is listed as end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest wins for the Intel Core i5-11400F come in single-threaded and lightly-threaded tests. In 3DMark single-thread, the Intel scores 868 against the AMD's 711, a 18.1% advantage. The 3DMark 2-thread test shows a similar 17.2% lead (1691 vs 1400). Geekbench single-core tells the same story, with the Intel at 1777 versus the AMD's 1489, a 16.2% gap. These are the largest deltas in the entire benchmark set, and they indicate that the Intel's higher boost clock and newer core architecture give it a decisive edge in latency-sensitive tasks.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Intel's lead is smaller but consistent. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the Intel at 14340 versus the AMD's 13677, a 4.6% difference. The same 4.6% margin appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore tests. PassMark multithread shows a 4.8% lead for the Intel (16908 vs 16091). This suggests that while the Intel wins every multi-threaded test, the AMD's 7 nm process and higher base clock help it close the gap compared to single-threaded results. The Intel also wins the 3DMark max-threads test with a 15.2% lead (5652 vs 4795), showing that even with all threads engaged, the Intel pulls away.

The AMD's wins are concentrated in specialized areas. The most striking is PassMark data encryption, where the AMD scores 13597 versus the Intel's 10247, a 32.7% advantage. This is the largest win for either chip in the entire comparison. PassMark data compression also favors the AMD, with a score of 228741 versus the Intel's 208472, a 9.7% lead. The AMD's third win in extended instructions is narrow, at 15166 versus 14976, just 1.3% ahead. These results suggest that the AMD's Zen 2 architecture includes hardware acceleration for certain cryptographic and compression instructions that the Intel lacks.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-11400F is the faster processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins every single-threaded benchmark, every multi-threaded benchmark in Cinebench and Geekbench, and the majority of PassMark tests. If you are building a general-purpose gaming or productivity PC, the i5-11400F is the clear choice. Its 18.1% lead in 3DMark single-thread and 16.2% lead in Geekbench single-core indicate a meaningful advantage in real-world applications that depend on single-core performance. The Intel also has the benefit of PCIe Gen 4 support, which the AMD lacks, making it more future-proof for storage and graphics.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is only worth considering if your specific workload involves heavy encryption or data compression. Its 32.7% lead in data encryption and 9.7% lead in data compression are substantial, and these are the only areas where it outperforms the Intel. Additionally, the AMD has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking could potentially close some of the gap in other tests, though the data here reflects stock performance. The AMD is also still in active production, while the Intel is end-of-life, which may matter for availability. For a niche user who prioritizes encryption or compression above all else, the Ryzen 5 4500 makes sense. For everyone else, the Intel Core i5-11400F is the better buy based purely on benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-threaded benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F wins all single-threaded tests, including a 3DMark single-thread score of 868 versus the AMD's 711 (18.1% higher) and a Geekbench single-core score of 1777 versus 1489 (16.2% higher).

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 beats the Intel?

A: Yes, the AMD wins three PassMark subtests: data encryption (13597 vs 10247, 32.7% higher), data compression (228741 vs 208472, 9.7% higher), and extended instructions (15166 vs 14976, 1.3% higher).

Q: What is the difference in multi-threaded performance?

A: The Intel wins every multi-threaded test, but the margins are smaller. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel scores 14340 versus the AMD's 13677, a 4.6% difference. PassMark multithread shows a 4.8% lead for the Intel (16908 vs 16091).

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR4 memory with identical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU is overclockable?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The Intel Core i5-11400F does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 is built on TSMC's 7 nm process with a die size of 156 mm². The Intel Core i5-11400F uses Intel's 14 nm process with a larger die size of 276 mm².

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 4500 | Intel Core i5-11400F |

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

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Rocket Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | N/A |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 276 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

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

| Launch MSRP | $129 | $157 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000000xxx | SRKP1 |

| Release Date | 2022-04-03 | 2021-03-15 |