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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data paints a remarkably one-sided picture, but the few AMD victories are revealing. The Intel Core i5-11400H wins 20 of the 23 recorded comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H takes only 3. The sheer scale of Intel's advantage varies wildly by workload, which is where the analysis gets interesting.

Intel's largest win comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i5-11400H scores 12,859 against the Ryzen 5's 8,072, a 37.2% gap. That is not a marginal difference; it is a generational chasm in sustained multi-threaded rendering. The single-core result in the same test is almost identical in percentage terms, with Intel ahead by 37.1% (1,815 versus 1,142.5). This consistency suggests the Intel part simply has a higher performance ceiling per clock, not just a boost advantage.

The 3DMark suite reinforces the pattern. In the 16-thread test, Intel leads 5,205 to 4,387 (15.7%). The 2-thread test shows an even larger 21.5% gap (1,688 versus 1,325), and the single-thread test is the biggest 3DMark differential at 23.6% (884 versus 675). These low-thread-count results matter for everyday responsiveness and older games. The 4-thread and 8-thread tests show 16.9% and 14.8% gaps respectively, and max-threads lands at 15.8%. The 3DMark pattern is consistent: Intel wins by roughly 15% to 24% across every thread count.

Geekbench tells a similar story. Multicore shows Intel ahead 6,396 to 5,521 (13.7%), while single-core shows a 19.8% gap (1,569 versus 1,259). PassMark single-thread matches this at 18.7% (2,975 versus 2,418).

Yet the AMD chip has its moments. The most striking is PassMark data encryption, where the Ryzen 5 scores 12,217 against Intel's 9,309, a 31.2% advantage. This is the single largest delta in either direction across the entire dataset. The Zen 2 architecture clearly has a cryptographic instruction advantage. Data compression also favors AMD, with 202,030 versus 190,855, a 5.9% win. The third AMD victory is Cinebench R15 multicore: 1,425 versus 1,296, a 10% margin. This is curious because Cinebench R23 multicore goes the other way by 37.2%. The older R15 benchmark apparently does not stress the Intel part in the same way, or the AMD chip's efficiency at lower thread counts shows through.

Several other tests are close. PassMark extended instructions shows Intel ahead by just 0.2% (12,971 versus 12,942), effectively a tie. Random string sorting is a 3.7% Intel win (22,512 versus 21,689). PassMark physics is 7.2% Intel (678 versus 629). PassMark multithread is 7.3% Intel (15,346 versus 14,228). Integer math favors Intel by 14.2% (53,286 versus 45,698), and floating-point math by 16.1% (32,060 versus 26,909). The prime number test is a 40.4% Intel blowout (47 versus 28), second only to data encryption in magnitude.

The average benchmark score in the database reflects this overall picture: AMD sits at 16,341 with a 70th percentile ranking, while Intel sits at 15,749 with a 69th percentile. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1260U (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-10600KF (0.7% behind). The Intel i5-11400H's nearest rivals are server-class EPYC parts, with the AMD EPYC 9254 at exactly 0% delta, the Ryzen 3 7440U at 0.4% behind, and the EPYC 9354P at 0.5% ahead. This grouping suggests the i5-11400H punches above its mobile positioning in aggregate, even though the Ryzen 5 4600H sits at a higher percentile overall.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for most workloads: the Intel Core i5-11400H is the stronger processor. It wins 20 of 23 head-to-head comparisons, and its wins include the most demanding tests: Cinebench R23, Geekbench, 3DMark, PassMark multithread, integer math, and floating-point math. If the workload is rendering, general productivity, gaming, or number crunching, the Intel part is the choice.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is not without a clear niche. Data encryption shows a 31.2% AMD advantage, which is the largest margin in the entire comparison. Data compression also goes AMD's way by 5.9%. Cinebench R15 multicore is a 10% AMD win, suggesting that older multi-threaded applications may behave differently than modern ones. For users whose primary tasks involve encryption, compression, or legacy rendering benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 4600H holds real value.

The percentile data complicates the simple "Intel wins" narrative slightly. The Ryzen 5 4600H ranks at the 70th percentile of all CPUs, versus the i5-11400H at the 69th percentile. The average benchmark score is 16,341 for AMD and 15,749 for Intel. This means the AMD part's three wins are heavy enough in their specific tests to keep its aggregate standing slightly higher, even though it loses the majority of individual comparisons. The database records the Ryzen 5 as effectively trading blows with the Intel Core i7-1260U and i5-10600KF, while the i5-11400H sits alongside EPYC server chips in aggregate score. Both are mid-pack mobile processors, not flagships, but they arrive at that standing through very different profiles.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400H dominates the categories that matter most to general users and gamers. Every 3DMark test goes Intel's way, with single-thread at 23.6% being the largest. Every Geekbench test goes Intel's way. Cinebench R23, the modern standard for rendering comparison, goes Intel's way by 37.2% in multicore and 37.1% in single-core. PassMark integer and floating-point math, prime number finding, physics, multithread, and random string sorting all favor Intel. This is a comprehensive sweep of computational heavy lifting.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H wins in three specific areas. Data encryption is the standout at 31.2% ahead, and this is not a trivial workload: full-disk encryption, secure communications, and database operations all rely on this. Data compression at 5.9% covers archive handling and file transfer workloads. Cinebench R15 multicore at 10% suggests that older software built around this benchmark's workload profile will see better AMD performance. Users running legacy rendering pipelines or software that has not updated its optimization targets may notice this.

The practical split is clear. For modern gaming, video editing, software compilation, and general multitasking, the Intel part wins. For encryption-heavy tasks, compression-heavy workflows, and legacy benchmark compatibility, the AMD part wins. The Cinebench R15 versus R23 discrepancy is particularly worth noting: the AMD chip wins the older test by 10% while losing the newer one by 37.2%, which implies that benchmark version matters enormously when evaluating these two CPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400H wins every single-core or low-thread test. PassMark single-thread is 2,975 versus 2,418 (18.7% ahead), Geekbench single-core is 1,569 versus 1,259 (19.8% ahead), and 3DMark single-thread is 884 versus 675 (23.6% ahead).

Q: Where does the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H beat the Intel chip?

A: In three recorded tests: PassMark data encryption (12,217 versus 9,309, a 31.2% advantage), PassMark data compression (202,030 versus 190,855, a 5.9% advantage), and Cinebench R15 multicore (1,425 versus 1,296, a 10% advantage).

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in modern rendering workloads?

A: Cinebench R23 multicore shows Intel at 12,859 versus AMD at 8,072, a 37.2% Intel lead. Single-core R23 shows 1,815 versus 1,142.5, a 37.1% lead. However, in the older Cinebench R15 multicore test, AMD wins 1,425 to 1,296.

Q: What is the aggregate benchmark standing of each CPU?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600H has an average benchmark score of 16,341 and sits at the 70th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-11400H has an average score of 15,749 and sits at the 69th percentile.

Q: Which CPU is better for gaming?

A: Based on the 3DMark tests, the Intel chip wins every thread count category. The 16-thread test shows 5,205 versus 4,387 (15.7% ahead), and the single-thread test shows 884 versus 675 (23.6% ahead).

Q: Are these CPUs similar in multi-threaded performance?

A: Not consistently. Intel wins PassMark multithread by 7.3% (15,346 versus 14,228) and 3DMark max-threads by 15.8% (5,172 versus 4,355), but AMD wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 10%. The margin depends heavily on which benchmark is used.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-11400H uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a 190 mm² die and no transistor count recorded in the database. The process node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 10 nm, though architectural efficiency matters more than node alone.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel L2 cache is more than double per core, and the L3 is 50% larger. This cache advantage likely contributes to Intel's strong single-thread and low-thread-count wins, particularly in the 3DMark and Geekbench tests.

Both CPUs have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the core count is identical. The base clocks differ: AMD runs at 3.00 GHz, Intel at 2.20 GHz. Boost clocks reverse the picture: AMD boosts to 4.00 GHz, Intel to 4.50 GHz. The TDP also differs, with AMD rated at 45 watts and Intel at 35 watts. The lower Intel TDP combined with higher boost clocks and a larger cache suggests a design that prioritizes short bursts of high performance.

Memory support is similar: both use DDR4 with dual-channel buses and 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe generations differ, with AMD using Gen 3 and Intel using Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the CPU. The integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon RX Vega 6, Intel uses UHD Graphics.

Both CPUs are locked, meaning the multiplier is not unlocked for overclocking. Both target the mobile market segment and are listed as active in production. The release dates differ by about 16 months: AMD released on January 5, 2020, Intel on May 10, 2021. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1787. The AMD part number is 100-000000100, and the Intel part number is SRKT1.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences are as follows. The base clock is 3.00 GHz for AMD versus 2.20 GHz for Intel. The boost clock is 4.00 GHz for AMD versus 4.50 GHz for Intel. TDP is 45 watts for AMD versus 35 watts for Intel. The socket is AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 1787. The process node is 7 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel). The die size is 156 mm² versus 190 mm². Transistor count is 9,800 million for AMD, with no figure recorded for Intel. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core. The L2 cache is 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 12 MB shared. PCIe support is Gen 3 versus Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the CPU. Integrated graphics are Radeon RX Vega 6 versus UHD Graphics. The release date is January 5, 2020 versus May 10, 2021. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $250, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. Both CPUs are locked, have 6 cores and 12 threads, use DDR4 dual-channel memory at 51.2 GB/s, and do not support ECC memory.