AMD Ryzen 5 8500G vs Intel Core i7-11600H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and Intel Core i7-11600H are both six-core, twelve-thread mobile processors, but the recorded data shows a decisive performance gap between them. The Ryzen 5 8500G wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, 19 wins to 0, with margins that range from modest to overwhelming. This analysis breaks down those results, examines the architectural reasons behind them, and clarifies which processor suits which workload based purely on the measurements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison comes from the PassMark physics test, where the Ryzen 5 8500G scores 1318 against the Intel Core i7-11600H's 763, a 72.7% advantage. This is not a close contest by any measure; the AMD part delivers nearly three-quarters more performance in this specific simulation workload. The PassMark extended instructions test tells a similar story, with the 8500G scoring 19098 versus 12938, a 47.6% lead. Data encryption also heavily favors AMD, at 14220 versus 9718, a 46.3% delta, suggesting the newer architecture handles cryptographic workloads far more efficiently.

The Geekbench multicore test shows a 43.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 8500G, with scores of 9444 against 6563. This is one of the larger gaps in the suite, and it reflects a substantial advantage in all-core throughput. Single-core performance is closer but still clearly AMD's territory: the 8500G scores 2354 versus 1924 in Geekbench single-core, a 22.3% delta, and 2593 versus 1875 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a 38.3% delta. These numbers indicate that the AMD chip is not just faster when all cores are active, but also has a commanding lead in lightly threaded tasks.

The Cinebench series shows remarkable consistency across the board. In Cinebench R15, the 8500G scores 1851 multicore and 261 singlecore, versus 1339 and 188 for the Intel part, deltas of 38.2% and 38.8% respectively. Cinebench R20 follows with 7714 versus 5580 multicore (38.2%) and 1089 versus 787 singlecore (38.4%). Cinebench R23 continues the pattern with 18368 versus 13286 multicore (38.3%) and 2593 versus 1875 singlecore (38.3%). This uniformity across rendering generations suggests a fundamental IPC advantage for the Zen 4 core, not just a clock speed or boost behavior quirk.

Integer math shows the narrowest margin of the entire comparison. The Ryzen 5 8500G scores 63123 versus 55437 for the Intel Core i7-11600H, a 13.9% delta. Floating-point math is also relatively close, with 39074 versus 32963, an 18.5% lead. These are still clear wins for AMD, but the smaller gaps indicate that the Intel Tiger Lake core remains competitive in pure arithmetic throughput. The PassMark single-thread test shows a 28.9% delta, with 3891 versus 3019, and the multithread test shows 21610 versus 16093, a 34.3% lead.

The data compression test favors AMD significantly, 250197 versus 190721, a 31.2% delta. Random string sorting also goes to the 8500G, 29407 versus 22217, a 32.4% advantage. Prime number finding is less dramatic but still AMD's, 87 versus 65, a 33.8% delta. In every recorded workload, the Ryzen 5 8500G is faster, and in most cases the margin exceeds 30%. The Intel part's best showing is in integer math, where it trails by less than 14%, but it never comes close to taking a single benchmark win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins every multi-threaded test in the database. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 18368 against the Intel Core i7-11600H's 13286, a 38.3% advantage. Geekbench multicore shows an even larger gap of 43.9%, with scores of 9444 versus 6563.

Q: How large is the single-core performance difference?

A: Single-core results consistently favor the Ryzen 5 8500G by a wide margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2593 versus 1875, a 38.3% delta, while Geekbench single-core shows 2354 versus 1924, a 22.3% delta. PassMark single-thread tests show a 28.9% lead, with 3891 versus 3019.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-11600H boosts to 4.60 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for the Intel chip.

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

A: The largest delta is in the PassMark physics test, where the Ryzen 5 8500G scores 1318 and the Intel Core i7-11600H scores 763, a 72.7% advantage for AMD. The next largest gaps are in PassMark extended instructions (47.6%) and PassMark data encryption (46.3%).

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Intel Core i7-11600H wins?

A: No. The database records 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins all 19. The Intel part never takes first place in any tested workload, though it comes closest in PassMark integer math, trailing by 13.9%.

Q: How do these processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 5 8500G has an average benchmark score of 20425, placing it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-11600H has an average score of 19921, placing it in the 73rd percentile. The AMD part leads by roughly 2.5% in average score, despite winning every individual test by much larger margins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and foundries. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 137 mm² and 20,900 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-11600H uses Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 190 mm² and no transistor count recorded in the database. The smaller process node and denser design give AMD a significant manufacturing advantage, which likely contributes to the performance gap.

The core architectures are fundamentally different. The 8500G uses Zen 4 under the codename Phoenix2, while the 11600H uses Tiger Lake-H under the Tiger Lake architecture. Zen 4 is a newer design with higher IPC, which aligns with the observed single-core performance lead. The cache hierarchy also differs: the AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. Intel actually has more cache at every level, yet still loses in every benchmark, indicating that raw cache size is not the deciding factor.

Memory support represents another major split. The Ryzen 5 8500G supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-11600H supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD part offers over 60% more memory bandwidth, which directly benefits memory-sensitive workloads like data compression and encryption. The 8500G also supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not.

PCIe connectivity is similar in generation but different in lane count. Both support PCIe Gen 4, but the AMD part provides 14 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides 20 lanes. This gives Intel more headroom for discrete GPUs or storage, but the recorded benchmarks do not include any PCIe-dependent tests. The integrated graphics differ as well: the 8500G has a Radeon 740M, while the 11600H has UHD Graphics 750. The database does not include iGPU benchmarks, so no direct comparison is possible from the data.

The power envelope is notably different. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i7-11600H has a TDP of 35 watts. This means the AMD part draws more power, which is a trade-off for its higher performance. The Intel chip is rated for a much lower power draw, which could matter in thin-and-light laptops, but the performance cost is evident in every benchmark result.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the faster processor in every single measured workload. If the priority is raw performance, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the 8500G is the clear choice. The 38% leads in Cinebench R23 across both single and multi-core tests indicate that Zen 4 offers a generational leap over Tiger Lake. The 72.7% win in PassMark physics and the 47.6% win in extended instructions further confirm that the AMD part dominates in compute-heavy tasks.

Users who need maximum throughput for rendering, encryption, or data compression should pick the Ryzen 5 8500G without hesitation. The benchmark results show consistent 30% to 46% advantages in these areas. The Intel Core i7-11600H has no recorded winning scenario, so it is difficult to recommend it on performance grounds alone. The only area where the gap narrows is integer math, where the 8500G leads by just 13.9%, but it still leads.

The Intel part does have a lower TDP of 35 watts versus 65 watts, which could be relevant for battery life or thermal constraints in a mobile chassis. However, the database does not include power efficiency benchmarks, so this remains a qualitative consideration. The Intel chip also offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 14), which could matter for future expansion, but again, no benchmark verifies this advantage. For any workload represented in the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the superior processor.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8500G | Intel Core i7-11600H |

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

| Series | 8000 series | Core 11th Gen |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1787 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Phoenix2 | Tiger Lake-H |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | 190 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

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

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2021-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $179 | $395 |

| Part Number | 100-000001491 | SRKT9 |