AMD Ryzen 5 8540U vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U has an average benchmark score of 26187, while the Intel Core i7-11700K scores 25812. The AMD part holds a small overall lead of about 1.5%, though both sit at the 78th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K posts a score of 20666 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is roughly 112.6% higher than the Ryzen 5 8540U's 9721.5. The delta is −53% from the AMD chip's perspective, making this the largest multi-core gap in the comparison.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins three tests: PassMark find prime numbers (69 vs 66, a 4.5% advantage) and PassMark single thread (3639 vs 3390, a 7.3% advantage, recorded in two identical entries).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-11700K supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD chip's bandwidth is about 75% higher.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U is listed as Active in production status, while the Intel Core i7-11700K is marked End-of-life.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-11700K's launch MSRP known?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-11700K had a launch MSRP of $399. The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U and Intel Core i7-11700K represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by process technology and market intent. The AMD part is built on TSMC's 4 nm process, while the Intel chip uses Intel's 14 nm node. That process gap helps explain why the mobile Ryzen 5 8540U, with a 28 W TDP, can deliver competitive single-thread performance against a desktop chip with a 125 W TDP.

The core configurations differ significantly. AMD uses 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point. Intel uses 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Rocket Lake architecture. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip manages to stay competitive in aggregate benchmark scores. The Ryzen 5 8540U's 78th percentile ranking matches the Intel chip's 78th percentile, highlighting how efficient the Zen 4 design is.

Cache layouts reveal another contrast. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core. Both share 16 MB of L3 cache. The AMD chip's larger per-core L2 could benefit workloads that repeatedly access a working set that fits in that tier.

Memory architecture differs as well. AMD supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This gives the Ryzen 5 8540U a substantial theoretical memory bandwidth advantage, which may help in memory-sensitive tasks even if raw CPU throughput lags.

The integrated graphics also differ: the AMD chip features the Radeon 740M, while the Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 750. Both support PCIe Gen 4, though Intel provides 20 lanes versus AMD's 14 lanes. The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part does not. The Intel chip is a desktop part on Socket 1200, while the AMD chip is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP7.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear pattern: the Intel Core i7-11700K dominates multi-threaded and heavy compute workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U takes narrow wins in specific single-thread and prime-number tests.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Intel chip scores 20666 versus 9721.5 for AMD, a 53% deficit for the Ryzen 5 8540U. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar story, with Intel at 2082 and AMD at 1557.5, a 25.2% gap. The Intel chip's extra two cores and 16 threads clearly pay off in fully parallel rendering workloads.

Single-core Cinebench results also favor Intel. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2917 against AMD's 1714.5, a 41.2% difference. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads 294 to 253, a 13.9% margin. These are substantial margins in Intel's favor, suggesting the Rocket Lake desktop design holds a clock and IPC advantage at lower thread counts in this benchmark suite.

PassMark tests paint a similar picture. Intel wins data compression (322689 vs 208619, a 35.3% lead), extended instructions (22964 vs 14900, a 35.1% lead), floating point math (51119 vs 34958, a 31.6% lead), integer math (86390 vs 57755, a 33.1% lead), multithread (24408 vs 18332, a 24.9% lead), and random string sorting (36755 vs 24375, a 33.7% lead). The Intel part also wins data encryption (15638 vs 12245, a 21.7% lead) and physics (1039 vs 1028, a narrow 1.1% lead).

The AMD chip's wins are smaller but notable. In PassMark find prime numbers, AMD scores 69 versus Intel's 66, a 4.5% advantage. In PassMark single thread, AMD scores 3639 versus Intel's 3390, a 7.3% advantage. These results suggest the Zen 4 architecture handles certain integer and latency-sensitive workloads more efficiently per thread, even against a higher-clocked desktop rival.

Overall, Intel wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while AMD wins 3. The magnitude of Intel's wins, however, is far larger than AMD's, which is why the average benchmark scores end up so close.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11700K uses 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ: AMD starts at 3.20 GHz, Intel at 3.60 GHz. Boost clocks also differ: AMD reaches 4.90 GHz, Intel reaches 5.00 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The AMD chip draws 28 W, while the Intel chip draws 125 W. This reflects their different market segments: mobile versus desktop. The process nodes are also starkly different: AMD uses 4 nm, Intel uses 14 nm.

Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR5, Intel uses DDR4. Memory bandwidth follows: AMD at 89.6 GB/s, Intel at 51.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe support differs in lane count: AMD provides 14 lanes, Intel provides 20 lanes, both Gen 4.

Cache organization differs. AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core, Intel has 80 KB. AMD has 1 MB of L2 per core, Intel has 512 KB. Both have 16 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 740M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 750.

The AMD chip is on AMD Socket FP7, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1200. The AMD part is not multiplier-unlocked; the Intel part is. The AMD chip is active in production; the Intel chip is end-of-life. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $399; the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. The AMD chip was released on 2023-12-05, while the Intel chip was released on 2021-03-15.

The Verdict

The data tells a straightforward story. The Intel Core i7-11700K is the stronger processor for multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads, winning 12 of 15 head-to-head tests. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core lead of 53% is decisive. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, rendering, compression, encryption, or math-heavy tasks, the Intel chip is the clear choice based on benchmark results.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U wins the overall average benchmark score race by a slim margin (26187 vs 25812), despite losing most individual tests. This is because its wins, while fewer, come in tests where the scoring scale differs. The AMD chip also wins PassMark single thread by 7.3%, which is notable given its much lower TDP and mobile positioning.

The Intel chip's 125 W TDP versus AMD's 28 W TDP suggests the AMD part achieves its results with far lower power draw. However, the database does not provide power measurements, so this remains an inference from the TDP specification alone, not a tested result. The Intel chip is also end-of-life, while the AMD chip remains active.

For a mobile platform, the Ryzen 5 8540U offers competitive average performance with DDR5 memory support and a modern 4 nm process. For a desktop platform where power constraints are less pressing, the Core i7-11700K delivers superior multi-core performance, though it is based on older 14 nm technology.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2082 vs 1557.5), Cinebench R15 single-core (294 vs 253), Cinebench R23 multi-core (20666 vs 9721.5), and Cinebench R23 single-core (2917 vs 1714.5). It also wins PassMark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting. These are the workloads where extra cores, higher clocks, and the desktop power envelope matter most.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8540U wins in PassMark find prime numbers (69 vs 66) and PassMark single thread (3639 vs 3390). These wins suggest the Zen 4 architecture has an edge in certain integer-heavy, latency-sensitive single-thread tasks. The prime number test in particular rewards efficient branch handling and low-latency execution, areas where the newer 4 nm design appears to excel.

The overall average benchmark score favors AMD (26187 vs 25812), meaning the Ryzen 5 8540U edges out the Intel chip when all recorded tests are averaged together. This makes the AMD part the better choice for a balanced workload profile that includes its winning tests, especially in a mobile form factor where the 28 W TDP is far more feasible than the 125 W Intel part. The Intel chip remains the pick for desktop users who need maximum multi-core throughput and do not face the same power constraints.