AMD Ryzen 5 7540U vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this matchup into two distinct profiles. The Intel Core i7-11850H takes the overall win count 11 to 6, driven by its 8-core/16-thread configuration and higher sustained multi-core output. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U, despite having fewer cores (6 versus 8) and threads (12 versus 16), wins the single-threaded efficiency battles by a wide margin, including a 22.3% lead in Geekbench single-core and an 11.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, particularly in long-duration rendering or compilation workloads, the Intel chip is the data-backed choice: it leads by 37.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 16.5% in PassMark integer math. For users whose workloads favor short-burst single-thread responses, or who need lower power draw (28W TDP versus 35W) alongside competitive encryption performance, the AMD part presents a compelling alternative. The AMD chip also holds the advantage in physics simulation (1% lead) and data encryption (2.9% lead), making it a reasonable pick for scientific computing that is not heavily multi-threaded.

The database places the Intel part at the 77th percentile of all CPUs and the AMD part at the 76th, with average benchmark scores of 24935 and 24188 respectively. That 3% gap in average score is smaller than the headline Cinebench R23 delta suggests, indicating that the AMD chip's strong single-core results partially offset its multi-core deficit in the aggregate.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and process generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U is built on TSMC's 4nm node with a 178 mm² die and 25,000 million transistors, using the Zen 4 architecture (Phoenix codename). It runs 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, housed in an AMD Socket FP7 package. The Intel Core i7-11850H uses Intel's 10nm process with a 190 mm² die, based on the Tiger Lake-H architecture (Tiger Lake codename), and offers 8 cores and 16 threads at a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but a comparable boost clock of 4.80 GHz, mounted in Intel BGA 1787.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The AMD chip allocates 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a larger 24 MB shared L3. That extra 8 MB of L3 likely contributes to the Intel part's strong showing in data compression (10.7% lead) and random string sorting (12.8% lead), where larger working sets benefit from the bigger cache.

Memory support splits them: the AMD part uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. Both use Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes (CPU only), and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The integrated graphics differ: Radeon 740M on the AMD side versus UHD Graphics 750 on the Intel side. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $395; no MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U dominates in single-thread responsiveness. It wins Geekbench single-core by 22.3% (2083 versus 1703), Cinebench R15 single-core by 11.4% (264 versus 237), and PassMark single-thread by 15.5% (3544 versus 3069). These are not marginal gaps; they indicate a meaningful architectural advantage for latency-sensitive tasks like UI responsiveness, scripting, and lightly threaded applications. The AMD chip also wins PassMark physics by 1% (964 versus 954) and data encryption by 2.9% (12563 versus 12214), suggesting a slight edge in cryptographic operations and physics simulation.

The Intel Core i7-11850H wins every multi-threaded benchmark in the head-to-head set, with the exceptions of physics and encryption. Its largest victory is Cinebench R23 multi-core at 37.7% (16673 versus 10383), which is a massive margin and reflects the core-count advantage plus the larger L3 cache. It also leads by 24.1% in PassMark find prime numbers (87 versus 66), 16.5% in integer math (71996 versus 60152), 15.2% in floating-point math (42540 versus 36077), and 10.7% in data compression (236949 versus 211581). The Intel part wins PassMark multithread by 7.4% (20059 versus 18576) and extended instructions by 3% (15788 versus 15307).

The pattern is clear: the AMD chip wins where single-thread latency and specific instruction efficiency matter, while the Intel chip wins where core count and sustained throughput dominate. For gaming, which typically favors single-thread performance, the AMD part's 22.3% Geekbench single-core lead suggests a better fit, though the Intel chip's higher multi-core scores would help in game streaming or background tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U wins every single-core benchmark: 22.3% ahead in Geekbench single-core (2083 versus 1703), 15.5% ahead in PassMark single-thread (3544 versus 3069), and 11.4% ahead in Cinebench R15 single-core (264 versus 237).

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H wins all multi-threaded tests except physics and encryption. Its biggest margin is 37.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (16673 versus 10383), and it also leads by 16.5% in PassMark integer math and 15.2% in floating-point math.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i7-11850H has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-11850H does not.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7540U boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-11850H boosts to 4.80 GHz. The AMD chip also has a higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.10 GHz).

Q: What is the performance percentile ranking for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H sits at the 77th percentile of all CPUs, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U sits at the 76th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 24935 and 24188, respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core i7-11850H is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16673 against the AMD chip's 10383, a 37.7% advantage. This is the single most decisive result in the dataset and stems from the Intel part's 8 cores versus 6, plus its larger 24 MB L3 cache. In the same test's single-core variant, the Intel chip actually wins by 27.8% (2353 versus 1699), which is notable because the AMD chip wins every other single-core test. The R23 single-core result is an outlier compared to Geekbench and PassMark, suggesting that the Intel architecture has a specific strength in this particular rendering workload.

The Intel part's second-largest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, with a 24.1% lead (87 versus 66). This is a highly integer-heavy, branch-prediction-sensitive workload, and the Intel chip's larger L1 cache (80 KB per core versus 64 KB) may play a role. The Intel chip also wins integer math by 16.5% (71996 versus 60152) and floating-point math by 15.2% (42540 versus 36077), indicating a consistent advantage in raw arithmetic throughput.

On the AMD side, the biggest win is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 2083 against the Intel chip's 1703, a 22.3% margin. This is followed by PassMark single-thread at 15.5% (3544 versus 3069) and Cinebench R15 single-core at 11.4% (264 versus 237). The AMD chip also wins PassMark physics by 1% (964 versus 954) and data encryption by 2.9% (12563 versus 12214). The physics win is narrow but consistent with the AMD chip's lower TDP (28W versus 35W) and more efficient Zen 4 core design.

In near-miss benchmarks, Geekbench multi-core is essentially a tie: the Intel chip leads by 0.6% (8002 versus 7956), and Cinebench R15 multi-core is also within 0.2% (1680 versus 1676). These results show that in some multi-threaded scenarios, the AMD chip's higher clock speeds (4.90 GHz boost versus 4.80 GHz) can offset its lower core count. The PassMark extended instructions test is close as well, with the Intel chip leading by 3% (15788 versus 15307).

The overall win count is 11 for Intel and 6 for AMD, but the distribution matters: Intel's wins are mostly in multi-threaded throughput, while AMD's wins are in single-thread efficiency and specific instruction sets. The average benchmark score difference is only 3.1% in Intel's favor (24935 versus 24188), which aligns with the near-identical percentile rankings (77th versus 76th). For a user who already knows whether their workload is single-thread-bound or multi-thread-bound, the choice is clear from the data.