AMD Ryzen 5 6600H vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11700K and AMD Ryzen 5 6600H occupy different corners of the processor market, yet the benchmark data places them in a similar performance tier. The Intel part, a desktop flagship from the Rocket Lake generation, and the AMD mobile chip, built on Zen 3+ for laptops, both land in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: the Intel chip scores 25812, while the AMD chip scores 25550, a difference of just 1.0%. However, this overall parity masks a complete sweep in individual tests, where the Intel Core i7-11700K wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The data tells a story of a desktop processor that dominates in raw compute, against a mobile part that achieves comparable average performance through efficiency and a different workload profile.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous. The Intel Core i7-11700K wins every single head-to-head test against the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, with margins ranging from 6.7% in single-threaded PassMark to a massive 100.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. For users seeking maximum compute performance in a desktop system, the Intel part is the clear choice based solely on these numbers. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a substantial advantage over the AMD chip's 6 cores and 12 threads in multi-threaded workloads. The data shows the i7-11700K is 100.2% ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, meaning it delivers more than double the score of the Ryzen 5 6600H in that test.

Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, while losing every benchmark, is designed for a different purpose. Its 45W TDP and mobile socket (AMD Socket FP7) indicate it is intended for laptops where power efficiency is paramount. The data shows it is within 6.7% of the Intel chip in PassMark single-thread performance, making it a capable option for everyday tasks in a portable form factor. However, for any compute-heavy application, the Intel Core i7-11700K is superior according to the benchmark results. The AMD part's average benchmark score of 25550 is competitive with the Intel's 25812, but this is achieved in a much lower power envelope, making it the choice for mobile users who prioritize battery life over peak performance. The verdict is clear: choose the i7-11700K for desktop performance, and the 6600H for mobile efficiency, with the data showing no scenario where the AMD chip outperforms the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant. The Intel Core i7-11700K is built on Rocket Lake, an architecture fabricated on a 14 nm process node at Intel's own foundries. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H uses the Zen 3+ architecture, manufactured on a 6 nm process node by TSMC. This process advantage gives the AMD chip a smaller die size of 208 mm², though the Intel part's die size is not listed in the data. The Intel chip features 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. Both processors share the same L3 cache capacity at 16 MB shared, and both have 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The L1 cache differs, with Intel providing 80 KB per core and AMD providing 64 KB per core.

The integrated graphics also differ substantially. Intel pairs the i7-11700K with UHD Graphics 750, while AMD includes the Radeon 660M. The market segments are entirely different: Intel targets desktops with an Intel Socket 1200, while AMD targets mobile devices with an AMD Socket FP7. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, whereas the AMD chip's multiplier is locked. Production status also differs: the Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active. Memory support diverges as well, with the Intel chip supporting DDR4 and the AMD chip supporting DDR5. The memory bandwidth reflects this, with AMD's 76.8 GB/s exceeding Intel's 51.2 GB/s. Both processors support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip was released on 2021-03-15 and had a launch MSRP of $399, while the AMD chip's release date and MSRP are not provided in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark sweep is comprehensive, with the Intel Core i7-11700K winning all 17 tests. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 20666 against AMD's 10322, a delta of 100.2%. This indicates the Intel chip is more than twice as fast in this heavily multi-threaded rendering workload. The single-core version of the same test shows a similar margin: Intel's 2917 versus AMD's 1458, a 100.1% difference. These results highlight the core count and clock speed advantages of the Intel part, which boosts to 5.00 GHz compared to the AMD's 4.50 GHz.

Geekbench results show a smaller but still decisive gap. In multi-core, Intel scores 10521 against AMD's 7444, a 41.3% advantage. Single-core Geekbench shows Intel at 1974 versus 1566, a 26.1% lead. The PassMark suite reveals varied margins. The smallest win is in PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 3390 and AMD scores 3178, a 6.7% difference. This suggests the two chips are closely matched in lightly threaded workloads, despite the AMD's lower clock speed. The largest PassMark margin is in random string sorting, where Intel leads 36755 to 23888, a 53.9% advantage. Integer math shows Intel ahead 86390 to 64927, a 33.1% lead, while floating-point math shows a 38.9% advantage (51119 vs 36796). Data compression favors Intel by 40.4% (322689 vs 229879), and extended instructions show a 44.4% lead (22964 vs 15903). The data encryption test shows the closest multi-threaded margin at 9.5% (15638 vs 14277). Prime number finding has Intel ahead 26.9% (66 vs 52), and physics simulation shows a 16.6% lead (1039 vs 891). The PassMark multi-thread score has Intel at 24408 versus 18669, a 30.7% advantage.

Specification Differences

The specifications reveal the fundamental differences between these processors. The Intel Core i7-11700K has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ: Intel runs at 3.60 GHz, AMD at 3.30 GHz. Boost clocks show Intel at 5.00 GHz and AMD at 4.50 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator, with Intel at 125W and AMD at a much lower 45W. The process node favors AMD at 6 nm versus Intel's 14 nm. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core on Intel and 64 KB per core on AMD, while L2 is identical at 512 KB per core and L3 is also identical at 16 MB shared. Memory support differs, with Intel using DDR4 and AMD using DDR5. Memory bandwidth is higher on AMD at 76.8 GB/s versus Intel's 51.2 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750 on Intel and Radeon 660M on AMD. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not. The market segments are Desktop and Mobile, respectively, and the sockets are Intel Socket 1200 and AMD Socket FP7. The production status shows Intel as end-of-life and AMD as active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K scores 20666, which is 100.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H's score of 10322.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H boosts to 4.50 GHz.

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

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Intel Core i7-11700K scores 3390 versus the AMD's 3178, a 6.7% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the lead is 26.1% (1974 vs 1566).

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has a TDP of 125W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H has a TDP of 45W.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H supports DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core i7-11700K supports DDR4. The AMD chip also has higher memory bandwidth at 76.8 GB/s compared to Intel's 51.2 GB/s.