AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core i9-11900F Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G and the Intel Core i9-11900F is unusually clean. The AMD part wins 17 of the 25 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel part takes 8. More importantly, the victories cluster by workload type, not by raw core count.

The Ryzen 5 8600G dominates in rendering, general productivity, and single-thread responsiveness. In the Cinebench suite, the AMD chip wins every single test by a consistent margin of approximately 14.6% to 14.7%. This includes both multicore and single-core variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The Geekbench results follow the same pattern: the 8600G leads by 15.2% in multicore and 9.6% in single-core. PassMark multithread shows a 14.4% advantage for AMD, and PassMark single-thread shows a 13.6% edge. The data clearly indicates that the Zen 4 architecture in the 8600G delivers superior per-thread performance and better scaling in lightly threaded and moderately threaded workloads.

The Intel Core i9-11900F takes its wins in a narrower set of areas. Its most significant victories come in the 3DMark thread scaling tests, where it outperforms the 8600G by 22.5% in the 16-thread test and 22.6% in the max-thread test. The Intel chip also wins the 8-thread 3DMark test by 13.8%, the 4-thread test by 2.9%, the 2-thread test by 1.9%, and the single-thread test by 1.1%. Beyond 3DMark, the i9-11900F takes PassMark integer math by 8% and PassMark floating-point math by a narrow 1.3% margin. These are the only two PassMark tests where Intel leads.

The pattern is clear: the i9-11900F leverages its 8 cores and 16 threads to pull ahead in synthetic thread-scaling benchmarks, while the 8600G wins in real-world rendering suites and most PassMark computational workloads. The AMD processor also wins decisively in PassMark physics (52.8% ahead), PassMark prime number finding (57.4% ahead), and PassMark data encryption (26% ahead). The i9-11900F has no comparable large-margin wins; its largest is the 22.6% 3DMark max-thread result.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear overall winner for most users: the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G. It wins the majority of benchmarks, and its victories are concentrated in workloads that matter for everyday desktop use and content creation. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21,503 versus 18,759 for the i9-11900F represents a 14.6% advantage in a widely used rendering benchmark. The Geekbench multicore score of 10,850 versus 9,417 shows a 15.2% lead in general-purpose computing. PassMark multithread at 25,294 versus 22,115 confirms the same story.

The Intel Core i9-11900F should be considered only if the specific workload is dominated by the 3DMark thread-scaling tests or by integer-heavy PassMark operations. For the 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests, the i9-11900F leads by 22.5% and 22.6% respectively. For PassMark integer math, it leads by 8%. These are meaningful margins in those specific tests, but they do not translate into broader benchmark dominance.

The i9-11900F also holds a slight edge in the 3DMark 2-thread, 4-thread, and single-thread tests, but those margins are small: 1.9%, 2.9%, and 1.1% respectively. The Ryzen 5 8600G counters with a 9.6% single-core lead in Geekbench and a 13.6% single-thread lead in PassMark. For users who prioritize single-thread performance in non-3DMark applications, the AMD part is the better choice.

The percentile ranking against all CPUs is identical for both processors at 76. The average benchmark score for the 8600G is 24,089, while the i9-11900F averages 23,254. The Ryzen 5 8600G also has a much more recent release date (January 2024 versus March 2021) and remains in active production, whereas the i9-11900F is end-of-life. The decision is straightforward: the 8600G is the recommended processor for general use, rendering, and most computational tasks. The i9-11900F only makes sense for users who specifically need the 3DMark thread-scaling performance or integer math throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive AMD victories appear in PassMark physics and prime number finding. The 8600G scores 1,450 in PassMark physics versus 949 for the i9-11900F, a 52.8% advantage. In PassMark find prime numbers, the AMD chip scores 96 versus 61, a 57.4% lead. These are the two largest margins in the entire comparison.

The Cinebench suite shows consistent AMD dominance. Cinebench R15 multicore: 2,167 versus 1,890 for Intel, a 14.7% win. Cinebench R15 single-core: 305 versus 266, also 14.7%. Cinebench R20 multicore: 9,031 versus 7,878, a 14.6% win. Cinebench R20 single-core: 1,274 versus 1,112, also 14.6%. Cinebench R23 multicore: 21,503 versus 18,759, a 14.6% win. Cinebench R23 single-core: 3,035 versus 2,648, again 14.6%. The uniformity of these margins suggests an architectural advantage rather than a clock speed effect.

Geekbench results reinforce the AMD lead. The 8600G scores 10,850 multicore versus 9,417 for Intel, a 15.2% margin. Single-core Geekbench shows 2,433 versus 2,220, a 9.6% lead. PassMark extended instructions go to AMD by 16.3% (22,610 versus 19,443). PassMark data encryption goes to AMD by 26% (17,181 versus 13,636). PassMark data compression goes to AMD by 4.4% (293,306 versus 280,847). PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD by 7.8% (35,067 versus 32,520).

The Intel victories are concentrated in 3DMark. The 16-thread test shows 7,995 versus 6,199, a 22.5% Intel lead. The max-thread test shows 7,961 versus 6,161, a 22.6% lead. The 8-thread test shows 6,018 versus 5,187, a 13.8% lead. The 4-thread test shows 3,613 versus 3,510, a 2.9% lead. The 2-thread test shows 1,905 versus 1,869, a 1.9% lead. The single-thread 3DMark test shows 996 versus 985, a 1.1% lead. PassMark integer math goes to Intel by 8% (83,718 versus 77,042). PassMark floating-point math goes to Intel by 1.3% (48,562 versus 47,919).

The overall win count is 17 for AMD and 8 for Intel. The AMD margins are generally larger and span more diverse workload categories. The Intel margins are mostly small except for the two 3DMark thread-scaling tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins with a score of 21,503 versus 18,759 for the Intel Core i9-11900F, a 14.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-11900F win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, the i9-11900F leads by 22.5% in 3DMark 16-thread and by 22.6% in 3DMark max-thread. It also leads by 13.8% in 3DMark 8-thread.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the 8600G leads by 9.6% (2,433 versus 2,220). In PassMark single-thread, the 8600G leads by 13.6% (3,878 versus 3,413). In 3DMark single-thread, the i9-11900F leads by 1.1% (996 versus 985).

Q: How do the two processors compare in PassMark integer math?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900F wins PassMark integer math with 83,718 versus 77,042 for the 8600G, an 8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has an average benchmark score of 24,089, while the Intel Core i9-11900F averages 23,254. Both sit at the 76th percentile against all CPUs.

Q: What are the largest single-test margins in either direction?

A: The AMD 8600G leads by 57.4% in PassMark find prime numbers and by 52.8% in PassMark physics. The Intel i9-11900F leads by 22.6% in 3DMark max-thread.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is built on Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix codename, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i9-11900F uses Rocket Lake architecture with a 14 nm process from Intel. This process gap explains much of the performance difference: the 8600G delivers higher performance while maintaining the same 65 watt TDP as the i9-11900F.

Core configuration differs significantly. The 8600G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i9-11900F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part wins most multicore benchmarks, indicating that its per-core efficiency and clock speeds compensate for the two-core deficit. The 8600G has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i9-11900F has a much lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The higher sustained base clock of the AMD part likely contributes to its consistent multicore wins.

Cache hierarchies are similar in total L3 capacity but differ in layout. Both processors have 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8600G has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. The i9-11900F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The AMD part has double the L2 cache per core, which benefits workloads with high cache reuse.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The 8600G supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-11900F supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The DDR5 memory bandwidth advantage of 32 GB/s (roughly 63% more) directly contributes to the AMD part's wins in memory-sensitive workloads like data compression and encryption.

Process node and die size tell the manufacturing story. The 8600G uses a 4 nm process with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The i9-11900F uses a 14 nm process on a 276 mm² die, with transistor count not recorded. The newer, denser process allows the 8600G to pack more performance per watt and per square millimeter.

Integrated graphics differ completely. The 8600G includes Radeon 760M integrated graphics. The i9-11900F has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the 8600G a more complete desktop package for systems without a discrete GPU.

Socket compatibility also diverges. The 8600G uses AMD Socket AM5, while the i9-11900F uses Intel Socket 1200. The 8600G has an unlocked multiplier, while the i9-11900F is locked. PCIe support is identical: both offer Gen 4 with 20 CPU-only lanes. Neither supports ECC memory. The i9-11900F is end-of-life in production status, while the 8600G remains active.