AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database, 17 wins to zero. If you are choosing between these two, the only rational pick is the 8600G, unless you have a strict platform requirement for Intel Socket 1200 or a need for the specific characteristics of the older Rocket Lake part.

The Intel Core i5-11600 does retain one advantage in the database: its percentile ranking is 77 versus 76 for the AMD part, and its average benchmark score of 24563 is higher than the 8600G's 24089. This is a quirk of the aggregate scoring, as the 8600G's benchmark suite includes additional 3DMark tests that weigh down its average. In every directly comparable test, the AMD processor is faster.

For a new build, the 8600G is the clear choice. It is faster in every measured workload, supports DDR5 memory, has an integrated Radeon 760M GPU, and remains an active product. The 11600 is end-of-life, uses DDR4, and offers no integrated graphics in the database records. The 8600G also has an unlocked multiplier, making it the better option for users who want to extract additional performance. The 11600 should only be considered if you already own a Socket 1200 motherboard and want a drop-in upgrade, but even then, the data shows you are leaving significant performance on the table.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different design generations and manufacturing approaches. The Intel Core i5-11600 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G uses the Zen 4 architecture, built on TSMC's 4 nm process with a die size of 178 mm². The AMD part integrates 25,000 million transistors, while the Intel part has no transistor count listed in the database. The smaller, denser process gives the 8600G a fundamental efficiency and clock speed advantage.

Both processors have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the thread count is identical. The cache layouts differ significantly. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. 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 AMD part has more total cache, particularly in the L2 and L3 levels, which helps with workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The Intel 11600 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD 8600G supports DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, with a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. That is a 62.5% higher theoretical memory bandwidth for the AMD part, which matters for cache-heavy and memory-bound workloads.

The integrated graphics situation is also different. The 8600G includes a Radeon 760M integrated GPU. The 11600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database, meaning it requires a discrete graphics card to output video. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. The 8600G was released on 2024-01-07, while the 11600 was released on 2021-03-15. The 11600 is end-of-life, the 8600G is active.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every multi-threaded test in the database. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21503 versus 15269 for the Intel 11600, a 29% advantage. In PassMark multithread, it scores 25294 versus 17918, a 29.2% advantage.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11600 better in single-threaded performance?

A: No. The AMD 8600G wins all single-threaded tests as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3035 versus 2155, a 29% lead. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3878 versus 3284, a 15.3% lead.

Q: Can I use the same motherboard for both processors?

A: No. The Intel 11600 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the AMD 8600G uses AMD Socket AM5. They are not cross-compatible.

Q: Which processor is better for a system without a discrete GPU?

A: The AMD 8600G is the only option with integrated graphics listed in the database. It includes a Radeon 760M, while the Intel 11600 has no integrated graphics recorded.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The AMD 8600G supports DDR5 with a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel 11600 supports DDR4 with a recorded bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor is better for overclocking?

A: The AMD 8600G has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel 11600 does not. The database records this as a feature difference that favors the AMD part.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count (6), thread count (12), TDP (65 W), dual-channel memory bus, and PCIe configuration (Gen 4, 20 lanes from CPU). Both are desktop parts with ECC support absent. Everything else differs.

The base clock is 2.80 GHz for the Intel 11600 and 4.30 GHz for the AMD 8600G. The boost clock is 4.80 GHz for the Intel part and 5.00 GHz for the AMD part. The process node is 14 nm for Intel versus 4 nm for AMD. The die size is 276 mm² for Intel versus 178 mm² for AMD. The transistor count is only listed for AMD at 25,000 million.

Cache configuration differs at every level. The Intel part has 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for Intel versus 83.2 GB/s for AMD. Integrated graphics are absent on the Intel part and present as Radeon 760M on the AMD part.

The socket is different, the architecture is different, the foundry is different, and the production status is different: the 11600 is end-of-life, the 8600G is active. The Intel part has a locked multiplier; the AMD part is unlocked. The release dates are 2021-03-15 for Intel and 2024-01-07 for AMD. The launch MSRP is $213 for the Intel 11600 and $229 for the AMD 8600G. The part numbers are SRKNW for Intel and 100-000001237 for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is a clean sweep. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins all 17 recorded benchmark comparisons. The margin varies by workload, but the direction never changes.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 8600G scores 21503 against 15269, a 29% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3035 against 2155, also a 29% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20: multi-core is 9031 versus 6412, single-core is 1274 versus 905, both 29% leads. Cinebench R15 shows 2167 versus 1538 multi-core and 305 versus 217 single-core, with deltas of 29% and 28.9% respectively.

The PassMark suite shows the largest individual margins. In find prime numbers, the 8600G scores 96 versus 56, a 41.7% lead. In physics, it scores 1450 versus 891, a 38.6% lead. Data encryption shows 17181 versus 11060, a 35.6% lead. Extended instructions show 22610 versus 15698, a 30.6% lead. Random string sorting is 35067 versus 25178, a 28.2% lead.

The smallest margins are still decisive. In PassMark single-thread, the 8600G scores 3878 versus 3284, a 15.3% lead. Integer math is 77042 versus 60158, a 21.9% lead. Floating point math is 47919 versus 35478, a 26% lead. Data compression is 293306 versus 218062, a 25.7% lead. PassMark multithread is 25294 versus 17918, a 29.2% lead.

The AMD part also has additional 3DMark results that the Intel part does not have in the database: 985 single-thread, 1869 for 2 threads, 3510 for 4 threads, 5187 for 8 threads, 6199 for 16 threads, and 6161 for max threads. These results are not directly comparable, but they show the 8600G scales consistently as thread count increases.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every measured category. There is no workload in the head-to-head data where the Intel Core i5-11600 comes out ahead. The AMD part is faster in single-threaded, multi-threaded, integer, floating point, encryption, compression, physics, and prime number workloads.

The closest category for the Intel part is PassMark single-thread, where the 8600G leads by 15.3%. That is still a comfortable margin, but it suggests the Intel architecture is least disadvantaged in lightly threaded, simple workloads. Every other category shows a lead of at least 21.9% for the AMD part.

The AMD 8600G is the better choice for essentially every use case. Its higher memory bandwidth (83.2 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s) benefits memory-bound applications. Its larger L3 cache (16 MB versus 12 MB) helps with repeated data access. Its integrated Radeon 760M makes it the only option here for a system without a discrete GPU. Its unlocked multiplier gives it headroom for overclocking. Its active production status means it remains available for new builds.

The Intel 11600 has no benchmark wins to point to. Its only advantages in the database are its lower launch MSRP of $213 versus $229, its higher aggregate percentile ranking (77 versus 76), and its higher average benchmark score (24563 versus 24089). Those aggregate numbers are misleading, as they include the AMD part's additional 3DMark results, which lower its average. In direct comparisons, the AMD part wins everything.

For a builder choosing between these two today, the data supports one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is the superior processor in every recorded benchmark. The Intel 11600 is a legacy part that should only be chosen if platform compatibility with Socket 1200 is a hard requirement.