AMD Ryzen 5 5600 vs Intel Core i5-11600K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data between the Intel Core i5-11600K and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 presents a clear split, with 12 wins for Intel and 13 for AMD. The most dramatic differences appear in specialized workloads. The largest single margin is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 scores 137 against the Intel's 58, a delta of 57.7% in AMD's favor. This is not a close contest; the AMD part is substantially ahead in this specific mathematical workload.

Another large AMD advantage appears in PassMark physics, where the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 1285 versus the Intel's 944, a 26.5% lead. The data encryption test also favors AMD heavily, with the Ryzen 5 5600 scoring 15531 compared to the Intel's 12212, a 21.4% margin. These are not marginal wins; they represent significant performance gaps in specific compute tasks.

Intel's wins, while numerous, are generally smaller in magnitude. The largest Intel advantage is in 3DMark max threads, where the i5-11600K scores 6270 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 5659, a 10.8% lead. The 3DMark 16 threads test shows a similar 10.7% advantage for Intel (6247 vs 5641). The 3DMark 8 threads result is also notable, with Intel ahead by 9.8% (5268 vs 4798). These 3DMark wins are consistent across thread counts, from the single-thread test (967 vs 882, a 9.6% lead) to the max threads test.

The Cinebench suite tells a different story entirely. In every Cinebench test, whether R15, R20, or R23, and in both single-core and multi-core variants, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is ahead by exactly 9.6%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 18309 versus Intel's 16552, and in single-core, AMD scores 2584 versus Intel's 2336. The consistency of this 9.6% delta across all Cinebench tests suggests a systematic architectural advantage for AMD in this rendering workload.

Geekbench results are much closer, with Intel holding a narrow lead. In multi-core, Intel scores 9238 against AMD's 9158, a 0.9% margin. In single-core, Intel scores 1973 versus AMD's 1936, a 1.9% lead. These are within a small margin of error and indicate near-parity in this general-purpose workload.

The PassMark suite is where the two processors split their wins most evenly. Intel wins in extended instructions (17615 vs 16993, a 3.7% lead), random string sorting (27870 vs 25943, a 7.4% lead), and single-thread tests (3344 vs 3256, a 2.7% lead). AMD wins in data compression (251687 vs 242740, a 3.6% lead), floating point math (38778 vs 38269, a 1.3% lead), integer math (68396 vs 64664, a 5.5% lead), and multithread (21541 vs 19527, a 9.3% lead). The overall PassMark multithread result reflects AMD's broader strength in multi-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

Looking at the pattern of wins, the Intel Core i5-11600K dominates the 3DMark suite across all thread counts. This suggests the Intel part is better suited for workloads that simulate gaming or DirectX-based rendering scenarios. The single-thread 3DMark result of 967 versus 882 shows Intel's strength in low-thread-count scenarios, which is often relevant for game engines that rely on a few heavily loaded threads.

Intel also holds wins in PassMark's extended instructions and random string sorting. The extended instructions test, scoring 17615 versus 16993, indicates Intel's advantage in workloads using modern CPU instruction sets. Random string sorting, a memory-intensive operation, also favors Intel at 27870 versus 25943. These wins suggest Intel is competitive in certain algorithm-heavy tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600, however, wins in nearly every multi-threaded compute benchmark outside of 3DMark. The Cinebench suite, which is a standard for rendering and 3D modeling, shows AMD consistently ahead by 9.6%. The PassMark multithread test (21541 vs 19527) and integer math test (68396 vs 64664) also favor AMD. The find prime numbers result is particularly striking, with AMD scoring more than double Intel's score (137 vs 58). This indicates AMD's strong performance in iterative mathematical calculations.

For users focused on productivity, compression, encryption, and physics simulations, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the clear choice based on the recorded data. The 21.4% lead in data encryption and 26.5% lead in physics are substantial margins. For users focused on gaming or 3DMark-type workloads, the Intel Core i5-11600K shows a consistent edge, though the margins are smaller than AMD's biggest wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core i5-11600K uses the Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. Its die size is 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, on a 7 nm process node from TSMC, with a die size of 74 mm². The AMD chip integrates 4,150 million transistors, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache structures differ significantly. The Intel Core i5-11600K has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the AMD part likely contributes to its performance in multi-threaded workloads that benefit from more cached data.

Clock speeds also differ. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Despite lower clock speeds, the AMD part achieves higher scores in many benchmarks, indicating that architectural efficiency compensates for clock speed differences.

The Intel Core i5-11600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has no integrated graphics. This means the Intel part can output video without a discrete GPU, while the AMD part requires a separate graphics card. The Intel part also has a TDP of 125 watts, while the AMD part has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct user profiles. The Intel Core i5-11600K is the winner in all 3DMark benchmarks, from single-thread (967 vs 882) to max threads (6270 vs 5659). If the primary use case is gaming or DirectX-based workloads, the Intel part holds a measurable advantage. The 10.8% lead in max threads and 9.6% lead in single-thread 3DMark are consistent across the entire suite. The Intel part also wins in PassMark single-thread (3344 vs 3256), extended instructions (17615 vs 16993), and random string sorting (27870 vs 25943).

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the choice for multi-threaded compute tasks. The Cinebench suite shows a uniform 9.6% advantage for AMD in all tests, from R15 to R23, single-core to multi-core. The PassMark multithread test (21541 vs 19527) and integer math test (68396 vs 64664) also favor AMD. The find prime numbers result is a standout, with AMD more than doubling Intel's score. For rendering, physics simulation, encryption, or compression workloads, the AMD part is clearly stronger.

The overall average benchmark score favors the AMD Ryzen 5 5600, with an average of 20468 versus Intel's 19786. The AMD part also sits at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part sits at the 73rd percentile. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (delta of 0.1%), while the Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11600KF (delta of 0.3%). This confirms that the AMD part is slightly higher in the overall rankings.

In summary, the Intel Core i5-11600K is the better choice for 3DMark and gaming-like workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the better choice for general multi-threaded compute, rendering, and mathematical workloads. The Intel part has the advantage of integrated graphics and a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the AMD part has a lower TDP of 65 watts and supports ECC memory. The AMD part's 32 MB L3 cache, versus Intel's 12 MB, likely contributes to its multi-threaded advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 wins with a score of 18309, which is 9.6% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600K's score of 16552.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11600K have a significant advantage in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in 3DMark max threads, the Intel part scores 6270 versus AMD's 5659, a 10.8% lead. It also leads in all other 3DMark tests by margins between 6% and 10.8%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 scores 137 versus Intel's 58, a 57.7% difference in AMD's favor.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K includes UHD Graphics 750. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the TDP values for these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K has a TDP of 125 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-11600K | AMD Ryzen 5 5600 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 125 watts | 65 watts |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Rocket Lake | Vermeer |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 4,150 million |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 74 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 32 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory Support | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | None |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2022-04-19 |

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

| Average Benchmark Score | 19786 | 20468 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 73 | 74 |