AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE, which takes 14 of the 17 recorded benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i9-11950H manages only three wins, but those wins are substantial in the workloads where it strikes.

The most dramatic single-score gap belongs to the AMD part in single-threaded performance. In PassMark single-thread testing, the Ryzen 5 8500GE posts 3914 against the Intel chip's 3141, a 24.6% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and signals a clear architectural superiority in per-core throughput. The Cinebench single-core results reinforce the pattern, with the AMD chip leading by 4.1% in R15 (255 vs 245) and 3.8% in both R20 (1063 vs 1024) and R23 (2532 vs 2439).

In multi-threaded Cinebench workloads, the Ryzen maintains a consistent edge. The R15 multicore test shows 1808 for AMD versus 1741 for Intel, a 3.8% lead. The same 3.8% delta appears in R20 (7534 vs 7257) and R23 (17940 vs 17279). These are modest but uniform margins across all three Cinebench generations, suggesting the AMD chip's efficiency translates directly into sustained multicore output.

The PassMark multithread score tells a similar story, with AMD ahead by 1.1% (21135 vs 20900), a narrow but real margin. The physics test, which often reflects real-world simulation workloads, favors AMD by 13.5% (1150 vs 1013). Data encryption shows a 12.2% AMD advantage (14197 vs 12658), and extended instruction performance is 9.8% higher (17962 vs 16361).

The Intel chip's wins are concentrated in math-heavy PassMark tests. Integer math goes to Intel by 16.1% (74649 vs 62666), floating-point math by 11.5% (44137 vs 39065), and prime number finding by 15.1% (93 vs 79). These are meaningful margins, but they represent only three out of seventeen tests. Data compression is essentially a tie, with AMD ahead by just 0.1% (246397 vs 246195), and random string sorting shows a 0.4% AMD lead (29501 vs 29375).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE dominates in single-threaded responsiveness, Cinebench rendering workloads, encryption, and physics simulation. The 24.6% lead in PassMark single-thread is the headline number, but the consistent 3.8% edge across all three Cinebench versions matters more for content creation and rendering tasks where those benchmarks are the standard reference. Data encryption at 12.2% ahead and physics at 13.5% ahead make the AMD chip the better choice for security-sensitive workloads and simulation-heavy applications.

The Intel Core i9-11950H claims the math-intensive territory. Integer math, floating-point math, and prime number finding are all areas where the Intel chip leads by double-digit percentages. For users running number-crunching applications, scientific computing, or financial modeling that relies heavily on integer operations, the Intel part delivers 16.1% higher throughput in integer math. Floating-point workloads see an 11.5% advantage, and the prime number test, which often reflects recursive and branching logic, goes to Intel by 15.1%.

For all-purpose productivity, the AMD chip is the safer pick. It wins multithread performance, single-thread performance, encryption, physics, and extended instructions. The Intel chip only becomes preferable when the workload is specifically math-bound, and even then, the three wins are isolated to PassMark's synthetic math tests rather than real-world application benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and process technologies. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-11950H uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Tiger Lake-H codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The die sizes reflect this gap: AMD's chip measures 137 mm² with 20,900 million transistors, while Intel's die is 190 mm² with no transistor count listed in the database.

Core counts favor Intel on paper, with 8 cores and 16 threads against AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip still wins the majority of multicore benchmarks, which points to a significant per-core efficiency advantage. Both chips boost to 5.00 GHz, but the base clocks differ substantially: AMD starts at 3.40 GHz while Intel starts at 2.10 GHz. The 35 W TDP is identical for both.

Cache configurations are quite different. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has more total cache, but the AMD chip's smaller core count means less contention for that L3. Memory support also diverges: AMD uses DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. AMD also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not.

PCIe lanes favor Intel with 20 Gen 4 lanes versus AMD's 14 Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD featuring Radeon 740M and Intel featuring UHD Graphics 750. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. The AMD part is still in active production with a release date of April 2024, while the Intel chip is end-of-life with a release date of May 2021.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE leads by 24.6% in PassMark single-thread (3914 vs 3141) and by 3.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2532 vs 2439).

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-11950H wins three: integer math by 16.1%, floating-point math by 11.5%, and prime number finding by 15.1%.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Intel chip supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: Are both processors currently available?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE is listed as active production, released in April 2024. The Intel Core i9-11950H is end-of-life, released in May 2021.

Q: Which chip has the higher overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H has a slightly higher average score of 28332 compared to the AMD chip's 27712, despite losing 14 of 17 head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE | Intel Core i9-11950H |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| 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 |

| Die size | 137 mm² | 190 mm² |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not listed |

| 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 | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe lanes | 14 Gen 4 | 20 Gen 4 |

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

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | April 2024 | May 2021 |

| Part number | 100-000001495 | SRKT6 |

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE as the better all-around processor for most users. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench versions, single-threaded PassMark, multithreaded PassMark, encryption, physics, and extended instructions. The 24.6% single-thread advantage is particularly notable, as it suggests snappier application responsiveness and better per-core performance in lightly threaded workloads. The consistent 3.8% Cinebench edge across all versions indicates reliable rendering and content creation performance.

The Intel Core i9-11950H should be chosen only when specific math-heavy workloads are the priority. Its 16.1% integer math lead, 11.5% floating-point lead, and 15.1% prime number advantage are real and substantial. Users running scientific simulations, financial modeling, or other number-crunching tasks may find the Intel chip more suitable. The Intel part also offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 14) and a larger L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB), which could matter for certain expansion and data-heavy scenarios.

The AMD chip's advantages extend beyond raw scores. It is actively in production, supports ECC memory, uses faster DDR5 with significantly higher bandwidth, and has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The Intel chip is end-of-life, locked, and limited to DDR4. For a new system build, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE is the data-backed recommendation. The Intel Core i9-11950H remains a niche choice for math-bound workloads where its specific strengths outweigh its overall benchmark deficit.