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

The benchmark data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-11700KF wins every single head-to-head comparison against the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, with 17 wins out of 17 tests. The AMD processor does not record a single victory in any of the evaluated workloads. This is a one-sided matchup where the Intel desktop part’s advantages in core count, clock speed, and architecture are consistently reflected across all measured metrics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory for the Intel Core i7-11700KF occurs in the Cinebench R23 tests, where it delivers nearly double the performance of the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 20214 against the AMD’s 10322, representing a 48.9% advantage. The single-core Cinebench R23 result is equally lopsided, with Intel scoring 2853 versus AMD’s 1458, again a 48.9% lead. These are the most dramatic differences in the entire benchmark suite, indicating a substantial gap in both sustained multi-threaded throughput and peak single-thread performance.

The Cinebench R15 tests show a similar but slightly narrower pattern. In multi-core R15, Intel scores 2037 compared to AMD’s 1681.5, a 17.5% difference. The single-core R15 result gives Intel 287 versus AMD’s 234, an 18.5% margin. While still a clear win for Intel, the R15 deltas are significantly smaller than the R23 ones, suggesting that the newer R23 workload amplifies the architectural and clock-speed differences between the two processors.

In Geekbench, the Intel Core i7-11700KF maintains its lead but with varying margins. The multi-core test shows Intel at 10565 against AMD’s 7444, a 29.5% difference. The single-core Geekbench result is closer, with Intel scoring 1938 versus AMD’s 1566, a 19.2% gap. These results indicate that while Intel wins decisively in multi-threaded scenarios, its single-core advantage, while still present, is less pronounced in this particular benchmark.

The PassMark suite offers a broader view across specialized workloads. The largest single PassMark delta is in random string sorting, where Intel scores 36309 against AMD’s 23888, a 34.2% advantage. Data compression shows Intel at 317712 versus AMD’s 229879, a 27.6% lead. Extended instructions give Intel 22247 against AMD’s 15903, a 28.5% margin. Floating-point math shows Intel at 50571 versus AMD’s 36796, a 27.2% difference. Integer math follows with Intel at 85377 against AMD’s 64927, a 24% lead. The smallest head-to-head margin in the entire dataset is in PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 3368 against AMD’s 3178, a modest 5.6% advantage. Data encryption shows a similarly narrow gap, with Intel at 15229 versus AMD’s 14277, a 6.3% difference. The PassMark multithread test gives Intel 23819 against AMD’s 18669, a 21.6% lead, while the physics test shows Intel at 985 versus AMD’s 891, a 9.5% margin. Prime number finding gives Intel 62 against AMD’s 52, a 16.1% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and market segments. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H is a mobile processor built on the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, and manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Intel Core i7-11700KF is a desktop part using the Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel, with 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

The process node difference is substantial: AMD uses a 6 nm TSMC process, while Intel relies on a 14 nm process. This is reflected in the die sizes, with AMD at 208 mm² and Intel at 276 mm². The thermal design power (TDP) also differs dramatically, with AMD at 45 W and Intel at 125 W, indicating the desktop part is designed for much higher power draw and cooling requirements. The AMD processor is marked as Active in production status, while the Intel chip is End-of-life, with a release date of 2021-03-15.

Cache configurations show some similarities and key differences. Both have 16 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the L1 cache differs: AMD has 64 KB per core, while Intel has 80 KB per core. Memory support diverges significantly, with AMD supporting DDR5 and Intel supporting DDR4, both in dual-channel configurations. The memory bandwidth reflects this, with AMD at 76.8 GB/s and Intel at 51.2 GB/s. Both processors use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). A notable difference is that the AMD part includes integrated graphics (Radeon 660M), while the Intel KF variant has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD one does not.

Where Each One Wins

Given the data, the Intel Core i7-11700KF wins in every single benchmark category. There is no workload in the provided dataset where the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H outperforms it. The Intel chip’s largest wins come in multi-core scenarios, particularly Cinebench R23 multi-core where it is 48.9% ahead, and in memory-intensive operations like random string sorting, where it is 34.2% ahead. The Intel processor also shows strong results in computational workloads, with a 28.5% lead in extended instructions and a 27.2% lead in floating-point math.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H’s closest approach to victory comes in single-threaded workloads, where the Intel advantage shrinks to 5.6% in PassMark single-thread and 6.3% in data encryption. These narrow margins suggest that in lightly-threaded, short-duration tasks, the two processors are closer in performance than the multi-core results would imply. However, the AMD part still loses these tests. The AMD processor’s higher memory bandwidth (76.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s) does not translate into a benchmark win in any of the tested workloads, despite the theoretical advantage in DDR5 support.

For practical use cases, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the clear choice for any application that benefits from high multi-threaded performance, such as rendering, video encoding, or software compilation. Its 48.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a strong indicator of sustained all-core performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, while losing all tests, shows its most competitive results in single-threaded and encryption tasks, where the gap narrows to under 7%. This suggests that for basic productivity or light workloads, the AMD mobile part offers reasonable performance, but it cannot match the Intel desktop chip in any measured metric.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 20214, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H scores 10322, giving Intel a 48.9% lead.

Q: What is the smallest performance difference between the two processors?

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 3368 and AMD scores 3178, a 5.6% difference. Data encryption is close behind at 6.3%.

Q: Do both processors support the same type of memory?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H supports DDR5, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel configurations.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

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

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H includes Radeon 660M integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF is listed as End-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 6600H | Intel Core i7-11700KF |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Zen 3+ | Rocket Lake |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 208 mm² | 276 mm² |

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

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 660M | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the superior processor in every benchmark test included in this comparison. It wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 5.6% to 48.9%. The Intel chip’s 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz, give it a decisive advantage in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The 48.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is particularly telling, as it represents a near-doubling of performance in a demanding, all-core rendering workload.

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, despite its more modern 6 nm process node and higher memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, cannot overcome the Intel part’s raw compute advantages. Its closest results come in single-threaded tasks, where the Intel lead narrows to under 6%, but it still loses every test. The AMD mobile processor is designed for a different power envelope (45 W versus 125 W), making it suitable for laptops where thermal and power constraints are paramount. The Intel desktop chip, with its unlocked multiplier and end-of-life status, is aimed at enthusiasts building high-performance desktop systems.

For a user prioritizing maximum performance in CPU-intensive applications like rendering, simulation, or content creation, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the clear choice based on the benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, while losing all comparisons, offers integrated graphics and a much lower TDP, making it appropriate for mobile platforms where power efficiency and an iGPU are more important than raw performance. The percentile rankings confirm their overall positioning: Intel sits at the 77th percentile, and AMD at the 78th percentile, with nearly identical average benchmark scores of 25423 and 25550 respectively, yet the head-to-head data shows a consistent Intel victory across every specific workload tested.