AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Intel Core i9-11900H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900H and AMD Ryzen 5 5600G are two fundamentally different processors that happen to land near each other in aggregate benchmark scores. The Intel part, a mobile Tiger Lake-H chip, posts an average benchmark score of 21,367, while the AMD desktop Cezanne chip scores 21,088, a negligible 1.3% difference. However, the data shows that their performance profiles diverge sharply depending on the workload, making the choice between them a matter of matching the silicon to the task rather than picking a universal winner.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11900H is the clear victor in heavily threaded, compute-intensive workloads that scale with core count and sustained power delivery. The head-to-head data shows Intel winning 14 of the 21 benchmark comparisons, with its largest margins coming in rendering and mathematical workloads. The most dramatic example is Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Intel chip scores 16,772 against AMD's 10,551, a 59% advantage. This pattern repeats in 3DMark's threaded tests, where the Intel part leads by 11.4% at 16 threads and 12% at max threads. The Intel chip also dominates prime number finding with a 52.6% lead, and floating-point math by 13.9%, indicating strong raw compute capability under load.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, despite having fewer cores (6 versus 8), wins in specific efficiency-oriented and single-threaded scenarios. Its most notable victory is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2,367 versus Intel's 1,409, a 68% lead. This is a striking outlier given the Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus AMD's 4.40 GHz. The AMD part also wins in PassMark single-thread (3,177 versus 3,102, a 2.4% lead) and in 3DMark 4-thread (3,258 versus 3,104, a 4.7% lead). In data-centric tasks, the AMD chip excels at encryption (15,247 versus 12,232, a 19.8% lead) and data compression (249,302 versus 239,366, a 4% lead), suggesting its architecture handles memory-intensive operations more efficiently.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear split: choose the Intel Core i9-11900H for multi-core rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that scales beyond 8 threads. Its 59% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 12% lead in 3DMark max threads make it the superior choice for video editing, 3D modeling, and heavy compilation tasks. The Intel chip also holds a 75th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while AMD sits at 74th, a marginal but consistent edge in overall standing.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G for single-threaded responsiveness, light gaming, and encryption-heavy tasks. Its 68% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is not just a win; it is a generational gap in per-core performance. The AMD chip also wins in PassMark single-thread, data encryption, and data compression, making it ideal for desktop productivity, database work, and general-purpose use where snappy individual core performance matters more than raw multi-core throughput. For users who prioritize the integrated GPU, the AMD Radeon Vega 7 is a more capable iGPU than Intel's UHD Graphics 750, though neither is a gaming powerhouse.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single benchmark victory belongs to AMD in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ryzen 5 5600G scores 2,367 versus Intel's 1,409, a 68% advantage. This result is surprising given clock speeds; Intel's boost is 4.90 GHz versus AMD's 4.40 GHz. The data suggests AMD's Zen 3 architecture extracts significantly more instructions per clock in lightly threaded workloads.

The reverse is true in Cinebench R23 multicore, where Intel wins by 59% (16,772 versus 10,551). This margin reflects the Intel chip's additional 2 cores and 4 threads (8 cores/16 threads versus 6 cores/12 threads), combined with its 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus AMD's 16 MB. In 3DMark threaded tests, Intel's lead is consistent: 11.4% at 16 threads (6,072 versus 5,451) and 12% at max threads (6,109 versus 5,455). At 8 threads, Intel leads 6.5% (5,001 versus 4,694), but AMD flips the script at 4 threads with a 4.7% win (3,258 versus 3,104).

In PassMark synthetic tests, Intel wins integer math by 8.2% (72,882 versus 67,344), floating-point math by 13.9% (43,094 versus 37,830), and random string sorting by 11.7% (28,328 versus 25,354). AMD counters with a 19.8% win in data encryption (15,247 versus 12,232) and a 4% win in data compression (249,302 versus 239,366). The closest race is in 3DMark 2-thread, where Intel wins by just 0.2% (1,708 versus 1,705), effectively a tie.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H has an average benchmark score of 21,367, compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G's 21,088, a difference of 1.3%.

Q: How significant is the single-core performance gap?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G leads by 68% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2,367 versus 1,409) and by 2.4% in PassMark single-thread (3,177 versus 3,102).

Q: What is the biggest multi-core advantage?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H leads by 59% in Cinebench R23 multicore (16,772 versus 10,551) and by 12% in 3DMark max threads (6,109 versus 5,455).

Q: Which processor is better for encryption workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G wins PassMark data encryption by 19.8% (15,247 versus 12,232) and also leads data compression by 4% (249,302 versus 239,366).

Q: How do they compare in thread scaling?

A: Intel leads at 8, 16, and max threads (6.5%, 11.4%, and 12% respectively), while AMD wins at 4 threads by 4.7% (3,258 versus 3,104).

Q: What are the core counts and process nodes?

A: The Intel chip has 8 cores and 16 threads on Intel's 10 nm process, while the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads on TSMC's 7 nm process.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-11900H is built on Intel's 10 nm Tiger Lake-H architecture, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G uses TSMC's 7 nm process for its Zen 3 Cezanne design. Both use DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and identical 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, but the platform differences are substantial. Intel uses the BGA 1787 socket, which is a mobile package, while AMD uses the desktop AM4 socket. The Intel chip has a 35W TDP, reflecting its mobile design, whereas AMD's desktop part has a 65W TDP.

The core configurations differ significantly. Intel offers 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz. AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads with a higher base clock of 3.90 GHz but a lower boost of 4.40 GHz. Cache hierarchies also diverge: Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3. Intel's die size is 190 mm², while AMD's is 180 mm², but AMD packs 10,700 million transistors versus Intel's undisclosed count.

The integrated graphics differ as well, with Intel featuring UHD Graphics 750 and AMD featuring Radeon Vega 7. Intel supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Intel chip is end-of-life and locked (multiplier not unlocked), while the AMD chip is active and has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Intel's launch MSRP is $546; AMD's is $259. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel part targets mobile, while AMD targets desktop, which explains the TDP and socket differences.