AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably one-sided contest. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins all 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i7-11850H. The margins vary from modest to overwhelming, but the direction is consistent across every single test.

The largest single advantage appears in the PassMark physics test, where the AMD chip scores 1450 against Intel's 954. That is a 52% lead, the biggest delta in the entire comparison. This test often reflects instruction scheduling and core efficiency under load, and the Zen 4 architecture clearly handles it better.

Geekbench single-core shows the second-largest gap at 42.9%. The AMD part records 2433 points versus 1703 for the Intel chip. This is a substantial per-thread advantage, and it suggests that lightly threaded applications such as older games or legacy productivity tools will favor the AMD processor. Similarly, PassMark extended instructions shows a 43.2% lead, with the AMD part scoring 22610 against 15788. This is relevant for workloads that use modern instruction sets, including AVX-class operations.

PassMark data encryption also shows a large gap: 17181 versus 12214, a 40.7% advantage for AMD. Encryption workloads are often memory-bandwidth sensitive, and the AMD chip's higher memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s compared to 51.2 GB/s likely contributes. The same pattern appears in data compression, where AMD leads by 23.8% (293306 versus 236949).

Multi-core rendering benchmarks tell a consistent story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G scores 21503 versus 16673 for the Intel Core i7-11850H, a 29% advantage. The same 29% delta appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2167 versus 1680) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (9031 versus 7002). This consistency across three generations of the Cinebench suite is noteworthy. It suggests the AMD chip's lead is not an artifact of any single test version but a structural performance difference.

Single-core Cinebench results mirror the multi-core pattern. R15 single-core shows 305 versus 237 (28.7% lead), R20 shows 1274 versus 988 (28.9% lead), and R23 shows 3035 versus 2353 (29% lead). The AMD chip wins every rendering test by nearly identical margins, which points to a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage.

Geekbench multi-core shows a 35.6% lead for AMD: 10850 versus 8002. This is slightly larger than the Cinebench multi-core gaps, possibly reflecting different workload mixes within the test.

PassMark multithread shows a 26.1% lead (25294 versus 20059), while PassMark integer math shows only a 7% lead (77042 versus 71996). Integer math is the tightest contest in the entire dataset. The Intel chip has 8 cores versus 6 for AMD, and integer-heavy parallel workloads can partially compensate for per-core disadvantages. Still, AMD wins even here.

PassMark floating point math shows a 12.6% lead (47919 versus 42540). PassMark find prime numbers shows a 10.3% lead (96 versus 87). PassMark random string sorting shows a 23.5% lead (35067 versus 28395). PassMark single-thread shows a 26.4% lead (3878 versus 3069).

The only tests where the Intel chip comes close are integer math and prime number finding. In both cases, the extra two cores and four threads of the Intel part likely help close the gap. But close is still a loss, and the AMD chip wins those tests as well.

In terms of aggregate standings, the Intel Core i7-11850H sits at the 77th percentile of all CPUs in the database, slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G at the 76th percentile. The Intel part has a higher average benchmark score of 24935 versus 24089 for AMD. This seems contradictory given the head-to-head sweep, but the average score includes a broader set of tests than the 19 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13620H (delta 0.1%), AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (delta -0.1%), Intel Core 5 210H (delta 0.3%), and AMD Ryzen 5 8400F (delta -0.3%). The AMD chip's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U (delta -0.4%), AMD Ryzen 7 8840U (delta 0.4%), Intel Core i5-13400 (delta -0.8%), and Intel Core i7-1360P (delta -1%). Both chips sit in a crowded performance band.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for most users. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every head-to-head benchmark in the comparison, with deltas ranging from 7% to 52%. No recorded test favors the Intel Core i7-11850H.

The AMD chip is the better choice for single-threaded performance. It leads by 42.9% in Geekbench single-core and by roughly 29% across all Cinebench single-core tests. Users running older games, office applications, or any software that relies on a few fast cores will see a tangible benefit.

The AMD chip is also the better choice for most multi-threaded workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core lead of 29% is substantial. The Geekbench multi-core lead of 35.6% is even larger. Data compression, encryption, and extended instruction workloads all favor AMD by margins between 23.8% and 43.2%.

The Intel chip's closest contests are in integer math (7% gap) and prime number finding (10.3% gap). These are narrow losses, not wins. The Intel part does have more cores and threads, which helps in heavily parallel integer workloads, but the AMD chip still edges it out.

The Intel Core i7-11850H does hold a slightly higher average benchmark score (24935 versus 24089) and a slightly higher percentile rank (77th versus 76th). This is driven by tests outside the head-to-head set, but it does not change the direct comparison outcome. In every direct test, the AMD part wins.

For a desktop user choosing between these two processors, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is the stronger performer according to the recorded data. The Intel chip may still be relevant in mobile contexts where its 35W TDP and BGA socket fit specific laptop designs, but on raw benchmark performance, the AMD chip dominates.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins all 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i7-11850H wins none.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark physics, where the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G leads by 52% (1450 versus 954).

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G scores 21503, while the Intel Core i7-11850H scores 16673. That is a 29% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11850H loses every head-to-head test. Its smallest deficit is 7% in PassMark integer math (77042 versus 71996).

Q: Which chip has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H has a higher average benchmark score of 24935, versus 24089 for the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G. The Intel chip also sits at the 77th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 76th percentile for AMD.

Q: How do the two compare in single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G leads by 42.9% in Geekbench single-core (2433 versus 1703). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip leads by 29% (3035 versus 2353).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11850H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part offers two additional cores and four additional threads.

Base clock speeds differ significantly. The AMD chip runs at 4.30 GHz base, while the Intel chip runs at 2.10 GHz base. Boost clocks are closer: 5.00 GHz for AMD versus 4.80 GHz for Intel.

Thermal design power differs by a wide margin. The AMD chip has a 65W TDP, while the Intel chip has a 35W TDP. The Intel part is rated for lower power draw, which makes sense given its mobile market segment.

The AMD chip uses the AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket. These are not interchangeable. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked.

Memory support differs. The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel chip supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Integrated graphics differ. The AMD chip features the Radeon 760M, while the Intel chip features the UHD Graphics 750.

Market segments differ. The AMD chip is a desktop part, while the Intel chip is a mobile part. The AMD chip was released on January 7, 2024, while the Intel chip was released on May 10, 2021.

The AMD chip has a launch MSRP of $229. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $395.

Part numbers differ: 100-000001237 for AMD, SRKT4 for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix codename, part of the 8000 series. The Intel Core i7-11850H uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Tiger Lake-H codename, part of the Core 11th Gen series.

Process nodes differ. The AMD chip is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel chip is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry.

Die size is similar but not identical. The AMD chip measures 178 mm², while the Intel chip measures 190 mm². The AMD chip packs 25,000 million transistors, while the Intel chip has no transistor count recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has more L3 cache (24 MB versus 16 MB), but the AMD chip makes up for it with higher clock speeds and a more efficient architecture.

Neither chip supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Both have dual-channel memory buses.

The AMD chip's Zen 4 architecture is several generations newer than Intel's Tiger Lake. The release dates confirm this: January 2024 versus May 2021. The process node advantage (4 nm versus 10 nm) likely contributes to the AMD chip's efficiency and per-clock performance.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins in every recorded benchmark category, but the size of the win varies by workload type.

Single-threaded applications favor the AMD chip heavily. The 42.9% lead in Geekbench single-core and the 29% leads in Cinebench single-core tests mean that everyday responsiveness, legacy software, and lightly threaded games will run noticeably better on the AMD part.

Multi-threaded rendering favors the AMD chip as well. The 29% leads across all Cinebench multi-core tests, plus the 35.6% lead in Geekbench multi-core, make the AMD chip the stronger choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation workloads.

Data-heavy workloads favor the AMD chip. Data compression shows a 23.8% lead, data encryption shows a 40.7% lead, and extended instructions show a 43.2% lead. The higher memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s likely plays a role here.

Physics simulation and floating point math favor the AMD chip. The physics test shows a 52% lead, and floating point math shows a 12.6% lead.

The Intel Core i7-11850H has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its closest relative performance comes in PassMark integer math (7% deficit) and PassMark find prime numbers (10.3% deficit). In these heavily parallel integer workloads, the Intel chip's 8 cores and 16 threads partially offset the AMD chip's architectural advantages, but not enough to secure a win.

The Intel chip does have a higher average benchmark score (24935 versus 24089) and a higher percentile rank (77th versus 76th). This suggests that in a broader test suite beyond the 19 head-to-head comparisons, the Intel chip holds its own. But within the direct comparison, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is the clear winner.

The Intel chip's lower 35W TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for laptops, while the AMD chip's 65W TDP and desktop socket target stationary systems. Users building a desktop should choose the AMD chip based on the recorded data. Users constrained to a mobile platform with the Intel BGA 1787 socket would have no choice but the Intel part, but they should expect lower performance in every measured category.