AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core i7-11800H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear overall victory for the Intel Core i7-11800H, which wins 19 of the 25 recorded benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 takes 6 wins, but the margins on those are generally smaller than Intel's largest advantages. The most significant Intel win comes in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where the i7-11800H scores 85 against the Ryzen 5's 56, a 51.8% advantage. That is the single largest delta recorded between the two processors.

In 3DMark threaded tests, the Intel part dominates heavily. The 3dmark_16_threads result shows Intel at 6518 versus AMD at 5386, a 21% lead. The 3dmark_max_threads result is nearly identical: 6548 against 5411, also 21%. The 8-thread test shows a 17.2% gap (5384 vs 4593). Even the 2-thread test favors Intel by 6.8% (1757 vs 1645), and the single-thread 3DMark result gives Intel 908 versus 836, an 8.6% edge. These results suggest Intel's architecture handles scaling across thread counts more efficiently in this specific benchmark suite.

The Cinebench suite tells a different story: the margins are very tight. In cinebench_r15_multicore, Intel scores 1679 versus 1656, just 1.4% ahead. The r20_multicore result is 6998 versus 6900 (1.4%), and r23_multicore shows 16663 versus 16429 (1.4%). All single-core Cinebench tests also land at 1.3% or 1.4% in Intel's favor. The Geekbench multicore test is essentially a tie: 7986 versus 7976, a 0.1% difference. However, Geekbench single-core goes to AMD: 1730 versus 1666, a 3.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5500.

The Passmark suite splits the two processors more decisively. Intel wins passmark_floating_point_math by 15.2% (42423 vs 36815), passmark_integer_math by 9.9% (71423 vs 65001), and passmark_random_string_sorting by 14.8% (28411 vs 24757). The passmark_multithread test gives Intel a 3.5% lead (20012 vs 19330), and passmark_physics shows 938 versus 896, a 4.7% margin. AMD's Passmark wins include data_compression (245533 vs 239304, 2.5% ahead), data_encryption (14851 vs 12241, 17.6% ahead), and extended_instructions (17236 vs 16068, 6.8% ahead). In passmark_single_thread, AMD edges out Intel by 0.5% (3058 vs 3043).

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the Intel part records 19998 against AMD's 19593. The Intel processor sits at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part is at the 73rd percentile. The Intel part's nearest rival in the database is the AMD EPYC 7713P, which scores 20024, a 0.1% difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 at 19617, also a 0.1% difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H wins 19 of the 25 head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins 6. The Intel part's wins include all 3DMark tests, all Cinebench tests, and the majority of Passmark tests.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the Intel Core i7-11800H scores 85 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 5500's 56, a 51.8% advantage for Intel. The largest AMD win is in passmark_data_encryption, where AMD leads by 17.6% (14851 vs 12241).

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The results are mixed. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins Geekbench single-core by 3.7% (1730 vs 1666) and passmark_single_thread by 0.5% (3058 vs 3043). However, Intel wins 3dmark_single_thread by 8.6% (908 vs 836) and all Cinebench single-core tests by 1.3% to 1.4%.

Q: Are the multicore Cinebench scores close?

A: Yes, the Cinebench multicore results are very tight. The Intel part leads by 1.4% in all three versions: cinebench_r15_multicore (1679 vs 1656), cinebench_r20_multicore (6998 vs 6900), and cinebench_r23_multicore (16663 vs 16429).

Q: What does the average benchmark score indicate?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has an average benchmark score of 19998, which is 2.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 5500's 19593. The Intel part's percentile ranking is 74, versus 73 for the AMD part.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 boosts to 4.20 GHz. The base clocks differ in the opposite direction: AMD runs at 3.60 GHz base versus Intel's 1.90 GHz base.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11800H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It integrates 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads. The process node difference is significant: 10 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for AMD, with AMD using TSMC as the foundry while Intel uses its own fabrication.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel part allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. This gives Intel a larger total cache footprint, especially in L3 (24 MB versus 16 MB). The AMD processor reports 10,700 million transistors on a die size of 180 mm², while Intel's die size is 190 mm² with no transistor count recorded in the database.

The integrated graphics also divide them. The Intel Core i7-11800H includes UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the Intel part a more self-contained mobile solution, which aligns with its market segment. The Intel processor is classified as a Mobile part, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a Desktop part.

PCIe support differs as well. The Intel part offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part provides PCIe Gen 3. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, with identical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel processor's release date is May 10, 2021, while the AMD part launched on April 3, 2022.

Specification Differences

The most direct specification comparison shows the Intel Core i7-11800H with 8 cores and 16 threads, versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500. The base clock differs dramatically: Intel runs at 1.90 GHz base, while AMD starts at 3.60 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 4.60 GHz and AMD at 4.20 GHz. The TDP rating shows Intel at 35 watts versus AMD at 65 watts.

The sockets are completely different. Intel uses the BGA 1787 socket, while AMD uses Socket AM4. The Intel part has a locked multiplier, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an unlocked multiplier. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 7 nm for AMD. The cache configurations differ in all three levels: L1 is 80 KB per core for Intel versus 64 KB per core for AMD; L2 is 1.25 MB per core for Intel versus 512 KB per core for AMD; L3 is 24 MB shared for Intel versus 16 MB for AMD.

The PCIe generation is Gen 4 for Intel and Gen 3 for AMD. Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel part (UHD Graphics 750). The market segments are Mobile for Intel and Desktop for AMD. The release dates are May 10, 2021 for Intel and April 3, 2022 for AMD. The part numbers are SRKT3 for Intel and 100-000000457 for AMD. Both processors support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11800H is the clear winner in rendering workloads. The Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all go to Intel, albeit by slim 1.4% margins. The 3DMark suite shows Intel's strength in threaded graphics workloads, with leads ranging from 3.7% in the 4-thread test to 21% in both the 16-thread and max-thread tests. Intel also dominates in prime number finding (51.8% lead), floating point math (15.2%), integer math (9.9%), and random string sorting (14.8%). The passmark_multithread result (3.5% lead) and passmark_physics (4.7% lead) reinforce Intel's position in multi-threaded integer and physics workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 wins in a narrower set of tasks. Its biggest victory is passmark_data_encryption, where it leads by 17.6%. It also wins passmark_extended_instructions by 6.8% and passmark_data_compression by 2.5%. In single-threaded tests, AMD takes Geekbench single-core by 3.7% and passmark_single_thread by 0.5%. These wins suggest AMD's Zen 3 architecture has an edge in cryptographic operations, certain instruction extensions, and some single-threaded general workloads.

For users who rely on Cinebench for rendering performance, the differences are nearly negligible, with Intel ahead by just 1.4% across all versions. The Geekbench multicore test is essentially tied at 0.1%. The average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 19998 versus 19593 for AMD, a 2.1% overall gap. The Intel part's percentile ranking is 74, one point higher than AMD's 73.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-11800H is the superior processor in the majority of measured workloads. With 19 wins out of 25 head-to-head tests, the Intel part demonstrates broader strength across 3DMark, Cinebench, and most Passmark tests. The largest margins are heavily in Intel's favor, particularly in 3DMark threaded tests (21% leads), prime number finding (51.8%), and floating point math (15.2%). The Intel part also offers integrated graphics, which the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 lacks entirely.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is not without merit. It wins in data encryption (17.6% advantage), extended instructions (6.8%), and single-threaded Geekbench (3.7%). Its data compression score is also higher. For users whose primary workloads involve encryption, compression, or specific instruction sets, the AMD part may be preferable. The AMD processor also has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 1.90 GHz) and an unlocked multiplier, which the Intel part does not have.

The choice between these two depends on the workload. For rendering, 3D graphics, general multithreaded tasks, and systems requiring integrated graphics, the Intel Core i7-11800H is the data-backed pick. For encryption-heavy or compression-heavy workloads, and for users who prioritize a higher base clock and overclocking capability, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 stands out. The average benchmark scores show Intel ahead by 2.1%, and the percentile rankings are nearly identical at 74 versus 73. The Intel Core i7-11800H is the safer all-round choice based on the recorded measurements, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 fills a more specialized role.