AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT takes 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i9-11950H wins only 3. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 28,940, compared to 28,332 for the Intel, a margin that places the AMD at the 81st percentile of all CPUs and the Intel at the 80th.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT dominates the Cinebench suite across the board. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 18,724 against 17,279, a lead of 8.4%. The single-core result in R23 is 2,643 versus 2,439, also 8.4% ahead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the AMD wins multi-core 7,864 to 7,257 and single-core 1,110 to 1,024, both by 8.4%. In Cinebench R15, the AMD leads multi-core 1,887 to 1,741 and single-core 266 to 245, with deltas of 8.4% and 8.6% respectively. These consistent margins across all three Cinebench versions indicate a uniform advantage in both lightly threaded and fully threaded rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals where the AMD chip excels most dramatically. The largest single win comes in the find prime numbers test, where the AMD scores 143 against 93, a massive 53.8% advantage. Data encryption shows a 26% lead, with scores of 15,944 versus 12,658. Physics performance is also strongly in the AMD's favor, 1,322 to 1,013, a 30.5% gap. Single-thread performance in PassMark goes to the AMD at 3,469 versus 3,141, a 10.4% lead. The AMD also wins multi-thread (22,283 to 20,900, 6.6%), data compression (257,118 to 246,195, 4.4%), and extended instructions (17,450 to 16,361, 6.7%).

The Intel Core i9-11950H claims three wins, all in specific math-oriented PassMark tests. Floating point math goes to Intel, 44,137 to 40,537, an 8.2% margin. Integer math also favors Intel, 74,649 to 71,063, a 4.8% lead. Random string sorting is the Intel's third win, 29,375 to 26,693, a 9.1% advantage. These results show that while the AMD processor wins the majority of workloads, the Intel chip retains a niche in certain arithmetic and sorting operations.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-11950H uses the Tiger Lake architecture under the Tiger Lake-H codename, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD die measures 74 mm² with 4,150 million transistors, while the Intel die is substantially larger at 190 mm².

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The AMD offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, which points to a strong per-core efficiency advantage. The base clock of the AMD is 3.70 GHz with a boost of 4.70 GHz. The Intel runs at a lower 2.10 GHz base but boosts higher to 5.00 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 pool likely contributes to its strong performance in the data compression and encryption tests.

Power and platform targets diverge sharply. The AMD is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, socketed in AMD Socket AM4, and has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel is a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP, soldered to Intel BGA 1787, and has a locked multiplier. The AMD supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and identical 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both offer PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The Intel includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD has no integrated graphics.

Production status also differs. The AMD is listed as active, with a release date of 2024-10-30. The Intel is end-of-life, released on 2021-05-10. The Intel carries a launch MSRP of $556.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT is the clear choice for rendering and content creation workloads. Its Cinebench wins across R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core, show that it handles 3D rendering tasks with consistent 8.4% advantages. The 53.8% lead in prime number finding and the 30.5% lead in physics simulation further indicate strength in computational and scientific workloads. The 26% encryption advantage makes it the better option for security-related tasks. Data compression, with a 4.4% lead, also favors the AMD.

The Intel Core i9-11950H wins in floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting. These are specific arithmetic operations that may matter in certain financial modeling, scientific computing, or data processing scenarios. The 8.2% floating point lead and 4.8% integer lead are notable, but they are isolated wins. The 9.1% random string sorting advantage could benefit text processing or database indexing tasks.

For general productivity, the AMD's 6.6% multi-thread win and 10.4% single-thread win in PassMark suggest it is the more balanced performer. The AMD also holds a 0.2% edge over the Intel Core i9-13900H and a 0.2% edge over the Intel Core i5-12600H in average score, placing it in competitive company. The Intel Core i9-11950H sits within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon 6337P and 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.70 GHz for the AMD and 2.10 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz for the AMD and 5.00 GHz for the Intel. TDP is 65 W for the AMD and 35 W for the Intel. The AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, the Intel uses Intel BGA 1787. The AMD is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, the Intel on a 10 nm process at Intel. Die size is 74 mm² for the AMD and 190 mm² for the Intel. Transistor count is 4,150 million for the AMD, with no figure recorded for the Intel.

Cache configurations differ. The AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. The Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. ECC memory support is present on the AMD but absent on the Intel. The Intel includes UHD Graphics 750 integrated graphics, while the AMD has none. The AMD is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, the Intel is a mobile part with a locked multiplier. The AMD is active in production, the Intel is end-of-life. Release dates are 2024-10-30 for the AMD and 2021-05-10 for the Intel. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $556.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT leads in single-thread tests. It scores 2,643 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 2,439 for the Intel, an 8.4% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD scores 3,469 against 3,141, a 10.4% lead.

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

A: The AMD wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In R23, it scores 18,724 versus 17,279, an 8.4% lead. In R20, the scores are 7,864 to 7,257, also 8.4%. In R15, the AMD leads 1,887 to 1,741, again 8.4%.

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

A: The biggest difference is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the AMD scores 143 against 93, a 53.8% advantage. The second largest is the PassMark physics test, where the AMD leads 1,322 to 1,013, a 30.5% margin.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-11950H win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel wins three tests. It leads in floating point math (44,137 to 40,537, 8.2%), integer math (74,649 to 71,063, 4.8%), and random string sorting (29,375 to 26,693, 9.1%).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite the core deficit, the AMD wins most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: What are the power and platform differences?

A: The AMD is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP on AMD Socket AM4. The Intel is a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP on Intel BGA 1787. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel is locked.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT as the stronger processor for the vast majority of workloads. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench benchmark and most PassMark tests. The 8.4% lead across all Cinebench versions indicates a reliable advantage in rendering and content creation. The 53.8% win in prime number finding and the 30.5% win in physics make it the better choice for computational tasks. The 26% encryption lead and 4.4% compression lead add to its versatility.

The Intel Core i9-11950H is the better option only for specific math-heavy workloads. Its wins in floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting show that it handles certain arithmetic operations more efficiently. The 8.2% floating point lead and 4.8% integer lead are meaningful for users whose primary tasks involve those operations. The 9.1% random string sorting advantage could matter for text processing or data sorting applications.

For a desktop user seeking a balanced processor for rendering, productivity, and general computing, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT is the data-backed choice. For a mobile user with workloads centered on floating point or integer arithmetic, the Intel Core i9-11950H retains a specific edge. The AMD's active production status and newer release date also suggest longer availability, while the Intel is end-of-life. The benchmark record is decisive: the AMD wins the majority of tests and does so by substantial margins in several key areas.