AMD Ryzen 5 4600G vs Intel Core i5-11400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a clear overall verdict: the Intel Core i5-11400 wins 21 of the 25 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G takes 4. The most decisive Intel victories come in single-threaded workloads. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-11400 scores 1750 against the 4600G’s 1460, a 16.6% advantage. The 3DMark single-thread test shows a similar gap, with Intel leading 865 to 726, a 16.1% difference. PassMark single-thread results also favor Intel by 11.3%, with scores of 2990 versus 2653.

Multi-threaded performance follows the same pattern, though the margins shrink. The i5-11400 leads by 12.3% in Geekbench multi-core (7572 vs. 6637) and by 11.8% in 3DMark 8-thread (4692 vs. 4138). However, in Cinebench workloads the Intel advantage is much narrower. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel ahead by only 3.8% (14132 vs. 13593), and the single-core R23 result is also 3.8% in Intel’s favor (1995 vs. 1919). Cinebench R20 and R15 multi-core tests both show the same 3.8% Intel lead, indicating that in purely rendering-oriented tasks, the two processors are closely matched.

The Ryzen 5 4600G’s wins are concentrated in specialized workloads. Its largest victory comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 13572 against Intel’s 10264, a substantial 32.2% advantage. Data compression also favors AMD, with a score of 231426 versus 206952, an 11.8% lead. The 4600G edges out Intel in extended instructions (15280 vs. 14901, a 2.5% margin) and random string sorting (24246 vs. 23974, a 1.1% margin). These results show that AMD’s Zen 2 architecture handles specific data-processing tasks with notable efficiency, even though it trails in general-purpose and floating-point benchmarks.

The largest single delta in either direction is the 34.7% Intel win in PassMark find prime numbers (49 vs. 32). Intel also demonstrates strong floating-point performance, leading PassMark floating-point math by 11.9% (34004 vs. 29947), and integer math by the same 11.9% (57601 vs. 50723). The overall average benchmark score reflects the close competition: AMD sits at 17507, while Intel is at 17067, a difference of 2.5% in AMD’s favor despite the Intel win count. This discrepancy highlights how AMD’s wins in data-heavy tasks boost its average, while Intel’s broader consistency across more tests gives it the head-to-head edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i5-11400 uses Rocket Lake, built on Intel’s 14 nm process. This process gap explains much of the efficiency difference: AMD packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while Intel’s 276 mm² die houses fewer transistors (the database does not list a transistor count for Intel). Smaller process nodes typically allow higher density and lower power draw per unit of work, which helps explain AMD’s strong showing in data encryption and compression.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. The 4600G has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-11400 has a larger 80 KB L1 per core, the same 512 KB L2 per core, but a more generous 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on Intel likely contributes to its advantage in single-threaded and floating-point tests, where more cached data can accelerate repeated access patterns.

Both processors support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with identical 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: AMD offers Gen 3 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The newer PCIe standard on Intel allows faster data transfer to compatible devices, though the database does not include benchmarks that isolate this effect.

Integrated graphics represent another key split. The 4600G uses Radeon Vega 7, while the i5-11400 has UHD Graphics 730. The database does not provide graphics benchmarks, so the comparison rests on specification alone. Clock speeds favor Intel in raw terms: the i5-11400 boosts to 4.40 GHz versus 4.20 GHz on the 4600G, though the AMD chip has a higher base clock at 3.70 GHz versus 2.60 GHz. Both run at 65 W TDP.

The AMD chip is unlocked for overclocking (multiplier unlocked), while Intel’s multiplier is locked. AMD also remains in active production, whereas Intel’s part is end-of-life. Release dates place AMD earlier at July 2020, with Intel following in March 2021.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users prioritizing raw performance: the Intel Core i5-11400 wins the majority of benchmarks, especially in single-threaded tasks, floating-point math, and physics simulations. The 16.1% single-thread 3DMark lead and the 16.6% Geekbench single-core advantage are decisive margins that translate to snappier everyday responsiveness and better performance in lightly threaded applications. The Intel chip also leads in multi-threaded workloads, though by smaller margins, making it the safer pick for general productivity and gaming.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is not without compelling strengths. Its 32.2% lead in data encryption and 11.8% lead in data compression make it the better choice for workloads centered on data processing, such as file archiving, database operations, or encryption-heavy tasks. The 4600G also offers integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics, which may provide better visual output than Intel’s UHD Graphics 730, though the database does not quantify this difference.

For a system builder who wants the best overall CPU performance and does not mind an end-of-life platform, the i5-11400 is the data-backed winner. For a user whose workflow involves heavy data manipulation or who prefers an actively produced platform with an unlocked multiplier, the 4600G holds clear advantages in its niche. The 2.5% higher average benchmark score for AMD (17507 vs. 17067) indicates that in a blended workload, the two are close, but the 21-to-4 win count in head-to-head tests gives Intel the overall crown.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 leads in single-core performance across all tests. It scores 1750 in Geekbench single-core versus 1460 for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G, a 16.6% difference. PassMark single-thread shows 2990 versus 2653, an 11.3% Intel lead.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core Cinebench results?

A: Intel wins in all Cinebench multi-core tests, but by a consistent 3.8% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core has Intel at 14132 and AMD at 13593. The same 3.8% delta appears in R20 (5935 vs. 5709) and R15 (1424 vs. 1370).

Q: Where does the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G perform best?

A: The 4600G wins in data encryption (13572 vs. 10264, a 32.2% lead), data compression (231426 vs. 206952, an 11.8% lead), extended instructions (15280 vs. 14901, a 2.5% lead), and random string sorting (24246 vs. 23974, a 1.1% lead).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600G has an average benchmark score of 17507, while the Core i5-11400 sits at 17067. This gives AMD a 2.5% higher average, even though Intel wins 21 of 25 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory?

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

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G has 8 MB. Both have 512 KB of L2 cache per core, but Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core versus 64 KB on AMD.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i5-11400 wins in: single-threaded performance across all measured tests, including 16.1% in 3DMark single-thread and 16.6% in Geekbench single-core; floating-point math with an 11.9% lead; integer math with an 11.9% lead; physics simulation with a 14.8% lead; prime number finding with a 34.7% lead; multi-threaded general workloads such as Geekbench multi-core (12.3% lead) and PassMark multithread (4.2% lead); and all Cinebench rendering tests with a 3.8% lead.

AMD Ryzen 5 4600G wins in: data encryption with a dominant 32.2% lead; data compression with an 11.8% lead; extended instructions with a 2.5% lead; and random string sorting with a 1.1% lead. The 4600G also has a higher average benchmark score overall (17507 vs. 17067), indicating strong performance in a blended workload mix. Its integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics may offer better iGPU performance than Intel’s UHD Graphics 730, though the database does not include iGPU benchmarks to confirm this.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 4600G | Intel Core i5-11400 |

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

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Rocket Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Rocket Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 276 mm² |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

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

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

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1200 |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 7 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Launch MSRP | $154 | $182 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

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

| Release Date | 2020-07-20 | 2021-03-15 |

| Part Number | 100-000000147 | SRKP0 |