AMD Ryzen 5 7500F vs Intel Core i7-11700KF Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 10 of the 25 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F takes 15. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The Intel chip's largest victories come in heavily threaded 3DMark tests. In 3dmark_16_threads, the i7-11700KF scores 8067 against the 7500F's 6376, a 26.5% advantage. The 3dmark_max_threads result is nearly identical, with Intel leading 8049 to 6379, a 26.2% gap. The 8-thread test shows a 17.2% lead for Intel, 6294 versus 5372. These results reflect the i7's higher core and thread counts, as it offers 8 cores and 16 threads compared to the Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads.

Intel also wins in several PassMark integer and floating-point workloads. PassMark integer math favors Intel by 7.9%, 85377 to 79108. Floating-point math goes Intel's way by 7.2%, 50571 to 47176. Data compression is a narrower Intel win, 317712 versus 305925, a 3.9% margin. Random string sorting is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 0.3%, 36309 to 36191. The 2-thread and 4-thread 3DMark tests are also extremely close, with Intel leading by 0.4% and 0.7% respectively, and the single-thread 3DMark test shows a 0.4% Intel edge, 978 to 974.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F responds with broad and often decisive wins across Cinebench, Geekbench, and several PassMark tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the 7500F scores 22799 against 20214, an 11.3% advantage. The R20 multicore test shows a similar 11.3% gap, 9575 to 8489, and R15 multicore is an 11.4% lead, 2298 to 2037. Single-core Cinebench results also favor AMD consistently: R23 single-core is 3218 versus 2853, an 11.3% gap, R20 single-core is 1351 versus 1198, also 11.3%, and R15 single-core is 324 versus 287, an 11.4% lead.

Geekbench delivers the widest AMD margins. In Geekbench single-core, the 7500F scores 2374 against 1938, an 18.4% advantage. The multicore test shows a 14.5% gap, 12362 to 10565. PassMark multithread goes to AMD by 11.2%, 26825 to 23819. PassMark physics is a standout result: the 7500F scores 1788 versus 985, a 44.9% lead for AMD. PassMark find prime numbers shows the largest relative difference of all, with AMD scoring 199 against Intel's 62, a 68.8% advantage. Data encryption favors AMD by 13%, 17510 to 15229, and extended instructions go to AMD by 2.3%, 22776 to 22247. PassMark single-thread is an AMD win by 12.3%, 3841 to 3368.

The average benchmark scores place the two very close overall. The i7-11700KF has an average score of 25423, while the 7500F sits at 24964. Both processors sit in the 77th percentile against all CPUs in the database. The i7's nearest rival list includes the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U at 25432 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U at 25446 (-0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at 25365 (0.2%). The 7500F's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11850H at 24935 (0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F at 25005 (-0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-13620H at 24911 (0.2%). These surrounding scores indicate that both chips are competitive within the same performance tier, despite their different architectures and launch dates.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations. The Intel Core i7-11700KF uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Raphael codename, manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process with a die size of 71 mm². The AMD chip packs 6,570 million transistors into that smaller die.

Core configurations differ substantially. The i7-11700KF provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 7500F provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache layouts also diverge: Intel uses 80 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3. The larger shared L3 on the AMD part helps explain its strong performance in physics and prime-number workloads, which benefit from larger caches.

Memory support marks another major divide. The i7-11700KF supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a peak memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The 7500F supports DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, but with a peak bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. The Ryzen's higher memory bandwidth is a factor in its Geekbench and Cinebench leads.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Intel chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, and neither includes integrated graphics.

Production status and release timing set them apart. The i7-11700KF was released on March 15, 2021, and is now marked as end-of-life. The 7500F was released on July 21, 2023, and remains active in production. The Intel part uses the LGA1200 socket, while the AMD part uses the AM5 socket. The process node difference, 14 nm versus 5 nm, explains the die size and transistor density gap.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F wins 15 of the 25 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 10.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in either direction?

A: The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the biggest difference, with the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F scoring 199 against the Intel Core i7-11700KF's 62, a 68.8% AMD advantage.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any multicore tests?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-11700KF wins the 3DMark 16-thread test by 26.5%, the 3DMark max-thread test by 26.2%, and the 3DMark 8-thread test by 17.2%, despite losing Cinebench and Geekbench multicore tests.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has a peak memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s with DDR5 support, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF has 51.2 GB/s with DDR4 support.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit in the 77th percentile against all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close, with Intel at 25423 and AMD at 24964.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a split decision based on workload type. For heavily threaded 3DMark tasks, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the clear choice, leading by 26.5% in the 16-thread test and 26.2% in the max-thread test. It also wins integer math, floating-point math, data compression, and random string sorting. Users running those specific workloads will see tangible advantages from the Intel chip.

For nearly everything else, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F dominates. It wins all Cinebench tests by roughly 11.3% to 11.4%, Geekbench single-core by 18.4%, Geekbench multicore by 14.5%, PassMark multithread by 11.2%, PassMark physics by 44.9%, PassMark find prime numbers by 68.8%, and PassMark single-thread by 12.3%. The 7500F also provides higher memory bandwidth, 83.2 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, and a larger shared L3 cache, 32 MB versus 16 MB.

The launch MSRP for the Intel Core i7-11700KF is $374, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has a launch MSRP of $179. The database does not include pricing beyond these figures, so no cost analysis beyond that statement is possible.

Given the benchmark results, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F is the stronger all-around performer in most measured tests, particularly in single-threaded, physics, and prime-number workloads. The Intel chip retains a meaningful edge only in specific 3DMark multithreaded scenarios and a handful of PassMark math and compression tasks. The verdict from the data is that the 7500F offers superior performance in a majority of recorded benchmarks, while the i7-11700KF holds niche advantages in certain synthetic multithreaded and integer-heavy tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for Intel and 3.70 GHz for AMD, while both boost to 5.00 GHz. The TDP figures differ sharply: Intel rates at 125 W, AMD at 65 W.

Socket compatibility separates them completely, with Intel using LGA1200 and AMD using AM5. The process node is 14 nm for Intel and 5 nm for AMD. The Intel die measures 276 mm², while the AMD die measures 71 mm², and the AMD chip contains 6,570 million transistors. Cache structures differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 32 MB shared L3.

Memory support is another key differentiator. Intel supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. AMD supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC enabled. PCIe capabilities also differ, with Intel offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes and AMD offering Gen 5 with 24 lanes. Both have unlocked multipliers and no integrated graphics. Release dates are March 15, 2021, for Intel and July 21, 2023, for AMD. Intel is end-of-life, while AMD remains active.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins in scenarios that leverage its higher core and thread count alongside specific math and compression strengths. The 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests, with margins of 26.5% and 26.2%, indicate that applications using 16 or more threads will favor Intel. The 8-thread test, with a 17.2% lead, extends this advantage to moderately threaded workloads. PassMark integer math and floating-point math, with 7.9% and 7.2% leads, point to compute-heavy numerical tasks favoring Intel. Data compression, with a 3.9% edge, and random string sorting, with a 0.3% edge, are narrow but consistent Intel wins. The 2-thread and 4-thread 3DMark tests, while close, also go to Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F wins in the majority of measured workloads, making it the more versatile choice. All Cinebench versions, R15, R20, and R23, show AMD ahead by around 11.3% to 11.4% in both single-core and multicore tests, indicating strong rendering and general CPU performance. Geekbench single-core shows an 18.4% AMD lead, and multicore shows a 14.5% lead, suggesting advantages in everyday applications and productivity software. PassMark multithread goes to AMD by 11.2%, and PassMark single-thread by 12.3%. The physics test, with a 44.9% AMD lead, and the prime-number test, with a 68.8% lead, highlight AMD's strength in cache-sensitive and math-heavy workloads. Data encryption also favors AMD by 13%, and extended instructions by 2.3%.

In practical terms, users running 3DMark-style multithreaded synthetic tests, integer-heavy calculations, or data compression tasks may prefer the Intel chip. Users running Cinebench rendering, Geekbench-based productivity benchmarks, physics simulations, prime-number calculations, or encryption workloads should expect the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F to deliver substantially better results. The AMD processor also brings DDR5 memory support with higher bandwidth, ECC capability, and a more modern 5 nm process, all of which contribute to its broader benchmark superiority.