AMD Ryzen 5 7500F vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and Intel Core i5-11600 are both 6-core, 12-thread desktop processors with a 65 W TDP. The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons between them, and the AMD part wins all 17. This analysis walks through the architectural differences, specification gaps, and benchmark results that separate the two.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-11600 boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F supports DDR5, while the Intel Core i5-11600 supports DDR4.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 12 MB on the Intel Core i5-11600.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-11600 is locked.

Q: Which processor is still in active production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i5-11600 is End-of-life.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has an average benchmark score of 24964, compared to 24563 for the Intel Core i5-11600.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 71 mm². The Intel Core i5-11600 uses the Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 276 mm². The smaller process node and die size for the AMD part reflect a more modern design.

Cache organization also differs. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor offers substantially more L3 cache, which can benefit workloads that repeatedly access a large working set.

Memory support is another major split. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-11600 supports DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The AMD processor provides PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part uses the AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1200. The AMD multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, whereas the Intel multiplier is locked.

Production status and release timing also separate the two. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F was released on 2023-07-21 and is still Active. The Intel Core i5-11600 was released on 2021-03-15 and is End-of-life. The launch MSRP for the AMD part is $179, and for the Intel part it is $213.

The Verdict

The recorded data points decisively to the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F. It wins every one of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and its average benchmark score of 24964 is higher than the Intel part's 24563. The AMD processor also offers a newer platform with DDR5 support, a larger L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-11600, while matching the core count, thread count, and TDP, trails in every measured test and is no longer in active production.

For users who prioritize the benchmark results in this database, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is the clear choice. The Intel Core i5-11600 may still be relevant for existing Socket 1200 platforms, but the data shows no performance category where it leads. The AMD part is also the only one with an unlocked multiplier, which can be relevant for users who plan to overclock.

Specification Differences

| Feature | AMD Ryzen 5 7500F | Intel Core i5-11600 |

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

| Base clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Rocket Lake |

| Process node | 5 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 71 mm² | 276 mm² |

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

| L2 cache (per core) | 1 MB | 512 KB |

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

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2023-07-21 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $179 | $213 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent advantage for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F across all 17 tests. The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD scores 199 versus 56 for the Intel part, a delta of 255.4%. This is an extreme outlier, but it reflects a strong lead in integer-heavy prime calculation.

PassMark physics also shows a large gap: the AMD scores 1788 against 891, a 100.7% advantage. Data encryption follows with 17510 versus 11060, a 58.3% lead. In multi-threaded workloads, the AMD part leads by 49.7% in PassMark multithread (26825 vs 17918) and by 49.3% in Cinebench R23 multicore (22799 vs 15269). The Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore tests show similar margins of 49.4% and 49.3% respectively.

Single-thread performance also favors the AMD part, though by a smaller margin. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD scores 3841 versus 3284, a 17% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger gap: 3218 versus 2155, a 49.3% advantage. The same 49.3% delta appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests.

Other PassMark tests continue the pattern. Data compression shows 305925 versus 218062, a 40.3% lead. Extended instructions show 22776 versus 15698, a 45.1% lead. Floating point math shows 47176 versus 35478, a 33% lead. Integer math shows 79108 versus 60158, a 31.5% lead. Random string sorting shows 36191 versus 25178, a 43.7% lead.

The smallest delta in the entire set is the 17% in PassMark single-thread, which still clearly favors the AMD part. No test in the head-to-head list records a win for the Intel Core i5-11600.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F wins in every recorded benchmark category. The Intel Core i5-11600 has zero wins across the 17 head-to-head tests. This means the AMD part is the stronger choice for all workloads represented in the database, including multi-threaded rendering, single-thread responsiveness, encryption, compression, and mathematical operations.

The closest contest is in single-thread PassMark, where the AMD leads by 17% (3841 vs 3284). Even there, the margin is substantial. The largest margin is in prime number finding, where the AMD leads by 255.4% (199 vs 56). The AMD part also leads by more than 100% in physics (100.7%) and by more than 50% in data encryption (58.3%).

For users who need the highest measured performance in any of these tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is the only option that wins. The Intel Core i5-11600, while matching the core and thread count, does not outperform the AMD part in any single recorded benchmark. The data shows a clear, one-sided result.