AMD Ryzen 5 7545U vs Intel Core i9-11900KF Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U and the Intel Core i9-11900KF is stark. The Intel part wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD mobile processor takes four. Those four wins, however, cluster in specific workload types that reveal a clear division of labor.

The Ryzen 5 7545U claims the single-threaded Passmark tests, scoring 3673 in both `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread` against Intel's 3527, a 4.1% advantage. It also wins `passmark_find_prime_numbers` with a score of 68 versus 66, a 3% edge, and `passmark_physics` at 1057 against 1034, a 2.2% lead. These are narrow margins, but they are consistent across the three tests that measure pure per-core integer and physics workloads. The data suggests the Zen 4 architecture in the 7545U delivers better efficiency per thread in these specific tasks, even though the Intel chip has a higher boost clock.

The Core i9-11900KF dominates everything else. Its largest margins come in `passmark_integer_math` (89023 vs 60206, a 32.4% lead) and `passmark_floating_point_math` (52640 vs 36754, a 30.2% lead). It also wins all six Cinebench tests, every iteration from R15 through R23, with a uniform 17.2% margin in both single-core and multi-core runs. The `passmark_data_compression` test shows a 26.8% gap (325688 vs 238345), and `passmark_extended_instructions` shows a 21.3% gap (22703 vs 17865). Even the smaller wins, like `passmark_data_encryption` at 9.1% and `passmark_random_string_sorting` at 18.8%, reinforce the same conclusion: the Intel desktop part is built for sustained throughput across a wide range of compute-heavy tasks.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. The Ryzen 5 7545U wins where the workload is short, single-threaded, or physics-simulation oriented. The Core i9-11900KF wins where the workload scales with core count, memory bandwidth, or raw instruction throughput. The 7545U is a mobile part with a 28 W TDP; the 11900KF is a desktop part with a 125 W TDP. The benchmark data reflects that fundamental design difference.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for each processor, depending on the use case.

The Intel Core i9-11900KF is the choice when the task is multi-threaded, math-heavy, or compression-intensive. Its 17.2% lead across all Cinebench versions, combined with 30% or greater leads in integer and floating-point math, makes it the stronger option for content creation, software compilation, and data processing. The 32.4% gap in integer math and the 26.8% gap in data compression are decisive. If the workload can use 8 cores and 16 threads, the Intel part wins. It also holds a 78th percentile in the database, just one point below the Ryzen's 79th, despite being an older design.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U is the pick when the workload is single-threaded, physics-based, or power-constrained. Its 4.1% lead in Passmark single-thread and 2.2% lead in physics show that Zen 4's per-core performance is competitive or better in these narrow cases. The 3% win in prime number finding further supports this. For users who prioritize fast response in lightly-threaded applications, or who need a mobile processor that delivers this level of performance at a 28 W TDP, the 7545U is the rational choice. Its 79th percentile overall ranking, slightly above the Intel chip's 78th, indicates that the database averages place them nearly equal, but the distribution of wins matters more than the aggregate.

There is no all-around winner here. The Intel part is the throughput king; the AMD part is the efficiency and single-thread specialist. Pick based on the workload, not the brand.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a perfectly uniform pattern. The Core i9-11900KF beats the Ryzen 5 7545U by exactly 17.2% in all six tests: R15 multi-core (2100 vs 1739), R15 single-core (296 vs 245), R20 multi-core (8751 vs 7246), R20 single-core (1235 vs 1022), R23 multi-core (20838 vs 17253), and R23 single-core (2941 vs 2435). This consistency suggests the 17.2% gap is architectural, not workload-specific. The Intel chip's 8 cores and 16 threads against the AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads explains the multi-core gap, but the same margin in single-core tests points to higher per-clock performance in Rocket Lake, at least as recorded in these runs.

The Passmark suite is where the margins vary widely. The biggest Intel win is `passmark_integer_math` at 32.4% (89023 vs 60206). The second largest is `passmark_floating_point_math` at 30.2% (52640 vs 36754). These two tests measure raw arithmetic throughput, and the 11900KF's 5.30 GHz boost clock and 8 full cores provide a substantial advantage. Data compression follows at 26.8% (325688 vs 238345), and extended instructions at 21.3% (22703 vs 17865). Multithread score shows a 17.8% gap (24708 vs 20298), random string sorting 18.8% (37383 vs 30358), and data encryption 9.1% (15623 vs 14202). All of these favor Intel.

The AMD wins are smaller but meaningful. Passmark single-thread shows 3673 vs 3527, a 4.1% edge. Physics shows 1057 vs 1034, a 2.2% edge. Find prime numbers shows 68 vs 66, a 3% edge. These are the only tests where the Ryzen 5 7545U comes out ahead, and they all involve per-core integer work or physics simulation. The 7545U's Zen 4 architecture, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, appears to deliver better single-thread efficiency than Intel's 14 nm Rocket Lake design, despite the latter's higher clock speeds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark average?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U has an average benchmark score of 26849, while the Intel Core i9-11900KF averages 26212. The AMD part also ranks at the 79th percentile versus the Intel's 78th.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900KF scores 20838, which is 17.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U's 17253. The same 17.2% margin applies to every Cinebench test in the database.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins four tests: Passmark single-thread (3673 vs 3527, a 4.1% lead), Passmark physics (1057 vs 1034, a 2.2% lead), Passmark find prime numbers (68 vs 66, a 3% lead), and the duplicate Passmark single-thread record.

Q: What is the difference in core counts?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900KF has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part also has a higher boost clock at 5.30 GHz versus 4.90 GHz.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U has a 28 W TDP, while the Intel Core i9-11900KF has a 125 W TDP. This reflects their different market segments: mobile for AMD, desktop for Intel.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Intel Core i9-11900KF has no integrated graphics (the KF suffix indicates that). The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U includes Radeon 740M integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U is built on Zen 4 architecture with the codename Phoenix2, manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process. It integrates 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core i9-11900KF uses Rocket Lake architecture, built by Intel on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 276 mm². The Intel part has no listed transistor count in the database.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. This means the AMD part has twice the L2 per core, while the Intel part has 25% more L1 per core. The shared L3 is identical at 16 MB.

Memory support is another major split. The Ryzen 5 7545U uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The Core i9-11900KF uses DDR4, also dual-channel, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and does not support ECC. The difference in memory bandwidth is substantial: 89.6 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, a 75% advantage for the AMD part. This may explain why the Intel chip wins math-heavy tests despite the memory deficit, as its core count and clock speed compensate.

PCIe support also differs. The AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part offers six more PCIe lanes, which matters for desktop expansion. The AMD part's integrated Radeon 740M graphics is a feature the Intel chip lacks entirely, as the KF variant has no iGPU.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i9-11900KF has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for AMD and 3.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.90 GHz for AMD and 5.30 GHz for Intel. The Intel chip is faster on paper in both metrics.

TDP is a dramatic difference: 28 W for the AMD mobile part versus 125 W for the Intel desktop part. This 97 W gap reflects their intended environments, with the AMD designed for laptops and the Intel for desktop systems with robust cooling.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP7 for the Ryzen 5 7545U, Intel Socket 1200 for the Core i9-11900KF. The production status also differs: the AMD chip is listed as active, while the Intel chip is end-of-life. Release dates are about two and a half years apart: November 2023 for the AMD, March 2021 for the Intel.

The multiplier is unlocked on the Intel chip but locked on the AMD chip. The Intel part number is SRKNF, while the AMD has two part numbers listed: 100-000000930 (FP7r2) and 100-000000929 (FP7). The Intel launch MSRP is $513, which is stated once here per database policy.

Memory support is entirely different: DDR5 for AMD versus DDR4 for Intel. ECC is supported only on the AMD chip. Integrated graphics exist only on the AMD chip (Radeon 740M), while the Intel KF variant has none.

The process node difference is also notable: 4 nm TSMC for AMD versus 14 nm Intel for the Intel chip. This explains the die size gap (137 mm² vs 276 mm²) and likely contributes to the AMD chip's efficiency advantages in single-threaded tests despite lower clock speeds.