AMD Ryzen 5 8500G vs Intel Core i7-11800H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G and the Intel Core i7-11800H. The AMD part wins 19 of the 25 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part takes 6. The margins, however, are not uniform. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G dominates in single-thread and lightly threaded workloads, while the Intel Core i7-11800H shows strength in certain multi-threaded and math-heavy tests.

The largest single-thread win for the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 2354 against 1666 for the Intel part, a delta of 41.3%. This is the biggest percentage gap in the entire comparison. The PassMark single-thread test tells a similar story: 3891 versus 3043, a 27.9% advantage. In 3DMark single-thread, the AMD part leads by 9.9% (998 versus 908). Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core results all show the AMD part ahead by roughly 10.2% to 10.6%. These are consistent, substantial wins for the Zen 4 architecture in lightly threaded tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G also wins in several multi-threaded benchmarks, despite having fewer cores and threads. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 9444 against 7986, a 18.3% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 18368 versus 16663, a 10.2% advantage. Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core also favor the AMD part by 10.2%. PassMark multi-thread shows 21610 versus 20012, an 8% lead. PassMark physics is another strong win for the AMD part: 1318 versus 938, a 40.5% delta. PassMark data encryption shows a 16.2% lead (14220 versus 12241), and extended instructions show 18.9% (19098 versus 16068). Even in data compression, the AMD part leads by 4.6% (250197 versus 239304).

The Intel Core i7-11800H, however, takes the 3DMark multi-threaded tests decisively. In 3DMark 16 threads, it scores 6518 against 5224, a 19.9% lead. In 3DMark max threads, the gap is 20.4% (6548 versus 5213). 3DMark 8 threads shows a 15.2% lead (5384 versus 4565), and 3DMark 4 threads a 4.2% lead (3268 versus 3130). These results suggest the Intel part scales better with thread count in this particular suite. The Intel part also wins in PassMark integer math (71423 versus 63123, an 11.6% lead) and PassMark floating-point math (42423 versus 39074, a 7.9% lead). These are the only two PassMark tests where Intel comes out ahead.

The overall average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is 20425, while the Intel Core i7-11800H sits at 19998. Both parts land at the 74th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD part's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9454P with an average score of 20422 and a delta of 0%, while the Intel part's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 7713P at 20024 with a delta of -0.1%. These figures place both processors in a similar performance tier overall, but with very different distribution of strengths.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize single-thread performance and general productivity. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the stronger processor in the majority of benchmarks. It leads in every Cinebench test, both single and multi-core, and in Geekbench by wide margins. The 41.3% lead in Geekbench single-core is particularly notable, as is the 40.5% lead in PassMark physics. For tasks like application responsiveness, web browsing, and lightly threaded creative work, the AMD part is the better option.

The Intel Core i7-11800H, on the other hand, is the better choice for workloads that specifically benefit from its 8 cores and 16 threads in the 3DMark suite. The 20.4% lead in 3DMark max threads and the 19.9% lead in 3DMark 16 threads indicate that the Intel part handles high thread counts more effectively in that particular benchmark. It also wins in integer and floating-point math, which could matter for certain scientific or financial computations. However, these wins are confined to a smaller set of tests.

For a user who values overall versatility, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the safer pick. It wins 19 out of 25 comparisons, including all Cinebench and Geekbench tests, and its average benchmark score is higher. The Intel part is only preferable if the specific workload is heavily weighted toward the 3DMark multi-threaded tests or pure math operations. The AMD part also offers a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz) and a lower base clock (3.50 GHz versus 1900.00 MHz), which aligns with its single-thread dominance.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins every single-thread benchmark in the database. The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 2354 versus 1666, a 41.3% lead. PassMark single-thread shows a 27.9% lead (3891 versus 3043), and 3DMark single-thread shows a 9.9% lead (998 versus 908).

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins most multi-threaded tests, including Geekbench multi-core (9444 versus 7986, 18.3% lead) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (18368 versus 16663, 10.2% lead). The Intel Core i7-11800H wins the 3DMark multi-threaded tests, with a 20.4% lead in 3DMark max threads (6548 versus 5213).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite the lower core count, the AMD part wins the majority of multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core i7-11800H has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-11800H supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core i7-11800H has a TDP of 35 watts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock is 3.50 GHz for the AMD part and 1900.00 MHz for the Intel part. The boost clock is 5.00 GHz for the AMD part and 4.60 GHz for the Intel part. TDP is 65 watts for the AMD part and 35 watts for the Intel part.

The socket is AMD Socket AM5 for the AMD part and Intel BGA 1787 for the Intel part. The AMD part uses a 4 nm process node from TSMC, while the Intel part uses a 10 nm process node from Intel. The AMD part has a die size of 137 mm² and 20,900 million transistors, while the Intel part has a die size of 190 mm² and no transistor count is recorded.

Cache configurations differ as well. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR5 for the AMD part and DDR4 for the Intel part. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for the AMD part and 51.2 GB/s for the Intel part. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe support is Gen 4 for both, but the AMD part has 14 lanes (CPU only) while the Intel part has 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Radeon 740M for the AMD part and UHD Graphics 750 for the Intel part. The release date is 2024-01-07 for the AMD part and 2021-05-10 for the Intel part. The launch MSRP is $179 for the AMD part and $395 for the Intel part. The part numbers are 100-000001491 for the AMD part and SRKT3 for the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the codename Phoenix2, part of the 8000 series. The Intel Core i7-11800H uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the codename Tiger Lake-H, part of the Core 11th Gen series. The process nodes are fundamentally different: the AMD part uses a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel part uses a 10 nm process from Intel. This process advantage likely contributes to the AMD part's higher boost clock and lower power draw per core, though the Intel part has a lower overall TDP.

The cache hierarchy reflects different design philosophies. The Intel part has more L1 cache per core (80 KB versus 64 KB) and more L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 1 MB), as well as more total L3 cache (24 MB versus 16 MB). Despite this, the AMD part wins most cache-sensitive benchmarks, suggesting that the Zen 4 memory subsystem is more efficient. The AMD part also supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, compared to the Intel part's DDR4 support at 51.2 GB/s. This memory bandwidth advantage is substantial and likely influences the AMD part's strong performance in data compression and encryption tests.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD part features Radeon 740M, while the Intel part features UHD Graphics 750. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which is not available on the Intel part. The PCIe lane count is higher on the Intel part (20 lanes versus 14 lanes), which could matter for systems with multiple high-bandwidth devices. The transistor count is recorded only for the AMD part at 20,900 million, while the Intel part's transistor count is not listed. The die size is smaller for the AMD part (137 mm² versus 190 mm²), which aligns with the more advanced process node.