AMD Ryzen 5 7540U vs Intel Core i5-11500 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U and Intel Core i5-11500 are both six-core, twelve-thread processors, but they target fundamentally different markets and deliver contrasting performance profiles. The Ryzen 5 7540U, a mobile chip from AMD’s 7000 series, wins 13 of the 15 direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-11500, a desktop part from the 11th Gen, claims only two victories. The data suggests the Ryzen 5 7540U is the superior choice for the majority of workloads, particularly those involving encryption, physics, and single-threaded tasks. Conversely, the Core i5-11500 shows a decisive advantage in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core, indicating a specific strength in sustained rendering workloads. The AMD chip’s 76th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the Intel chip’s 76th percentile, placing them in the same overall performance tier despite their architectural differences. The choice between them should hinge on whether the user prioritizes the broader, everyday application speed of the Ryzen or the specific Cinebench-heavy rendering performance of the Intel.

The Verdict

The benchmark results paint a clear picture for different use cases. For most users, the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is the better choice. Its 13 head-to-head wins over the Intel part cover a wide range of common tasks, from data compression and encryption to floating-point math and physics calculations. The Ryzen 5 7540U also holds a significant lead in single-threaded performance, which is critical for responsiveness in daily computing. The data shows it is 13.2% ahead in PassMark's single-thread test and 28.2% ahead in Cinebench R15 single-core, making it the more agile processor for most software.

However, the Intel Core i5-11500 is the clear winner for one specific, demanding workload: Cinebench R23. In the multi-core test, the Intel chip scores 14513 against the AMD's 10383, a 28.5% advantage. It also leads by 17.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This suggests that for users whose primary application is heavily optimized for this specific rendering benchmark, the Intel desktop part holds a distinct edge. The Intel chip’s higher 65W TDP, compared to the AMD's 28W, likely contributes to its sustained performance in this test, but the benchmark data does not specify the power draw during testing. The data also shows the Intel part is an end-of-life product, while the AMD is active, suggesting a longer support lifecycle for the latter.

For a new purchase, the Ryzen 5 7540U is the more well-rounded and future-proof option. Its performance in the majority of tests, combined with its active production status and smaller 4nm process node, makes it a superior choice for general-purpose computing. The Intel Core i5-11500 is only recommended if the specific Cinebench R23 workload is the absolute priority, as its performance there is unmatched by the AMD chip in this comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U uses the modern Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, and is fabricated on a 4nm process node at TSMC. Its die size is 178 mm², and it houses 25,000 million transistors. The Intel Core i5-11500, in contrast, uses the older Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14nm process node, with a larger die size of 276 mm². The transistor count for the Intel chip is not listed in the data.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U features 64 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-11500 has a larger L1 cache at 80 KB per core but a smaller L2 cache at 512 KB per core and a smaller shared L3 cache at 12 MB. These differences in cache hierarchy can impact performance in cache-sensitive applications, though the benchmark results provide the ultimate measure.

The processors also differ in memory support and integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-11500 supports DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but with a lower memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. For graphics, the Ryzen 5 7540U integrates a Radeon 740M, while the Intel chip has UHD Graphics 750. Both processors feature Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip’s market segment is mobile, using the AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel chip is a desktop part using Intel Socket 1200.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded applications?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is faster in most single-threaded tests. It leads by 28.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 13.2% in PassMark's single-thread test. However, the Intel Core i5-11500 wins the Cinebench R23 single-core test by 17.1%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11500 outperform the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-11500 wins two of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks. It is significantly ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (28.5%) and Cinebench R23 single-core (17.1%).

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11500 scores 14513, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U scores 10383. This results in a 28.5% advantage for the Intel chip in this specific test.

Q: Which processor has better overall performance across all benchmark categories?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, indicating it is the better overall performer across the tested workloads. Its wins include PassMark integer math, floating-point math, and multithread tests.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance tier compared to all other CPUs?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U and the Intel Core i5-11500 are ranked in the 76th percentile for performance among all CPUs, placing them in the same overall tier.

Q: How do the two processors compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the Intel Core i5-11500's DDR4 support with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7540U | Intel Core i5-11500 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Series | 7000 series | Core 11th Gen |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Rocket Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | 276 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 740M | UHD Graphics 750 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $192 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap in the entire comparison is in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i5-11500 scores 14513 against the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U's 10383, a 28.5% advantage for Intel. This is a significant result, suggesting the Intel desktop processor can handle sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads much more effectively. The single-core version of this test also favors Intel, with a score of 2049 versus 1699, a 17.1% difference. These two wins are the only ones for the Intel chip and highlight its strength in this particular benchmark suite.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U's biggest wins come in the older Cinebench R15 tests. In the multi-core test, it scores 1676 against Intel's 1462, a 14.6% lead. The single-core result is even more decisive, with the AMD chip scoring 264 against Intel's 206, a 28.2% advantage. This pattern suggests the AMD chip’s architecture is more efficient in this older benchmark version.

In the PassMark suite, the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U dominates. Its most significant win is in the data encryption test, scoring 12563 versus 10592, an 18.6% lead. The physics test also shows a substantial gap, with the AMD chip ahead by 17.1% (964 vs 823). The find prime numbers test shows a 29.4% advantage for the AMD chip, scoring 66 against Intel's 51. In the multithread test, the AMD chip is 8.6% ahead (18576 vs 17107). Other wins for the AMD chip include floating-point math (4.8%), integer math (3.1%), and extended instructions (1.3%). The data compression and random string sorting tests are nearly tied, with the AMD chip winning by 0.4% and 1%, respectively. The single-thread test is also a win for the AMD chip, with a 13.2% lead (3544 vs 3131). These results show a clear, broad performance superiority for the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U in the majority of PassMark workloads.