AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11850H and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D occupy different corners of the CPU market, one a 2021 mobile processor for laptops and the other a 2024 desktop chip. The benchmark data shows a complete sweep: the AMD processor wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, though the margin varies dramatically by workload. This analysis breaks down those results, the architectural reasons behind them, and where each chip makes sense.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins every multi-threaded benchmark in the data.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D wins all single-thread tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3071 against Intel’s 2353, a 23.4% advantage. Geekbench single-core data is not available for the AMD chip, but the PassMark single-thread score shows 3605 for AMD versus 3069 for Intel, a 14.9% lead.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark physics, where the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D scores 2906 versus Intel’s 954, a 67.2% difference. The second-largest is in PassMark find prime numbers, with AMD at 234 and Intel at 87, a 62.8% gap.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-11850H has 24 MB. This 4x difference in L3 capacity likely explains the AMD chip’s sizeable wins in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11850H supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D supports DDR5, also dual-channel, but with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel one does not.

Q: What are the release dates of these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H was released on 2021-05-10, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D was released on 2024-08-29. Both are currently listed as active in production.

Architecture Differences

The core designs could not be more different. Intel’s Core i7-11850H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 190 mm². AMD’s Ryzen 5 7600X3D uses Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 71 mm² and 11,270 million transistors. The process node advantage is significant, but the cache structure is the defining feature.

The AMD chip has 96 MB of shared L3 cache versus Intel’s 24 MB. Per-core L1 and L2 caches are also different: Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core. The massive L3 pool on the AMD chip is what gives it the "X3D" designation, and it shows in workloads that benefit from large working sets.

Memory support diverges entirely. Intel uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth; AMD uses DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s. AMD also includes ECC memory support, a feature absent on the Intel part. PCIe connectivity differs too: Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes.

The market segments are explicit: Intel’s part is mobile, AMD’s is desktop. Intel integrates UHD Graphics 750, while AMD has Radeon Graphics. Both have locked multipliers, meaning no manual overclocking. The Intel chip has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD chip is rated at 65 watts, reflecting their intended platforms.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is one-sided, but the margins tell the story. Every single head-to-head benchmark winner is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D. There are zero wins for the Intel Core i7-11850H across all 17 tests.

The most decisive victories for AMD come in physics and prime number finding. The PassMark physics score shows AMD at 2906 versus Intel’s 954, a 67.2% lead. PassMark find prime numbers shows AMD at 234 versus Intel’s 87, a 62.8% gap. These are compute-heavy integer workloads where the newer Zen 4 architecture and higher clock speeds dominate.

Cinebench results are consistent across all versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 2193 against Intel’s 1680, a 23.4% difference. The same 23.4% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (9138 vs 7002) and Cinebench R23 multicore (21758 vs 16673). Single-core Cinebench tests show identical 23.4% margins, with AMD’s R23 single-core score of 3071 beating Intel’s 2353.

PassMark multithread shows AMD at 25855 versus Intel’s 20059, a 22.4% lead. Data compression favors AMD at 281665 versus 236949, a 15.9% difference. Data encryption shows AMD at 16237 against Intel’s 12214, a 24.8% advantage. Extended instructions yield a 25.2% win for AMD (21108 vs 15788). Random string sorting has AMD at 34318 versus Intel’s 28395, a 17.3% gap.

The narrowest margins are in floating point and integer math. PassMark floating point shows AMD at 44289 versus Intel’s 42540, just a 3.9% lead. Integer math is even closer: AMD at 73804 versus Intel’s 71996, only 2.4% ahead. These are the only tests where the Intel chip comes within striking distance, likely due to its 8-core advantage compensating for older architecture.

Single-thread PassMark scores show AMD at 3605 versus Intel’s 3069, a 14.9% lead. This is a smaller gap than the Cinebench single-core tests, suggesting the AMD advantage varies by instruction mix.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11850H | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 71 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB per core | 1 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB shared | 96 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 83.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 24 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | Radeon Graphics |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2021-05-10 | 2024-08-29 |

| Launch MSRP | $395 | $299 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D wins every benchmark in the data set. There is no workload category where the Intel Core i7-11850H comes out ahead. The closest contest is PassMark integer math, where AMD leads by only 2.4%, and floating point math, where the lead is 3.9%. In those two areas, the Intel chip’s extra two cores narrow the gap, but they do not close it.

For productivity and general compute, the AMD chip’s advantage is substantial. Cinebench multicore scores are consistently 23.4% higher, which matters for rendering and video encoding. The PassMark multithread score is 22.4% higher. Data compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads all show AMD leads between 15.9% and 25.2%. These are tasks where the combination of DDR5 bandwidth, higher clock speeds, and the massive 96 MB L3 cache pays off.

The single-core picture is also firmly in AMD’s favor. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 23.4% lead, while PassMark single-thread shows a 14.9% lead. This affects everyday responsiveness, light-threaded applications, and older games that rely on one or two threads.

The Intel chip’s only practical advantages lie outside raw benchmark scores. It is a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP, making it suitable for laptops where power draw is a constraint. The AMD chip is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, requiring a platform with more robust cooling and power delivery. Intel’s BGA 1787 socket is soldered, while AMD’s AM5 socket is standard for desktop builds.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D is the faster processor in every measured test. If you are building a desktop system and want the best performance for compute, rendering, or data-heavy tasks, the AMD chip wins outright. Its 23.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore, 67.2% lead in physics, and 24.8% lead in encryption make it the clear choice for productivity and content creation. The 96 MB L3 cache and DDR5 support are decisive features that the Intel part simply cannot match.

The Intel Core i7-11850H is not without merit, but its strengths are contextual. It is a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP, meaning it fits in laptops where the AMD chip cannot go. If you need 8 cores and 16 threads in a portable form factor, the Intel part is the only option here. Its 2.4% deficit in integer math and 3.9% deficit in floating point math show that the extra cores do help in some workloads, but the overall package is still behind.

For a desktop builder choosing between these two, the answer is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D. It has a lower launch MSRP of $299 versus Intel’s $395, though pricing should not be the deciding factor given the performance gap. The AMD chip is newer, on a smaller process node, and delivers superior results across all 17 benchmarks. There is no scenario in this data where the Intel part wins a benchmark, making the verdict straightforward: pick the AMD chip for performance, pick the Intel chip only if you specifically need a mobile processor with this feature set.