AMD Ryzen 5 8640U vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i7-11700K dominates the multi-threaded and heavily threaded workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U shows its strength in specific single-threaded and efficiency-oriented tasks.

The biggest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel chip scores 20,666 against the AMD's 10,433, a delta of -49.5% for the Ryzen. This is a massive difference, nearly double the performance. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar trend, with Intel at 2,082 and AMD at 1,663, a 20.1% deficit. This indicates that for rendering or any workload that scales across all cores, the Intel part is the clear winner.

In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel chip leads again, scoring 10,521 versus 8,185, a 22.2% advantage. The PassMark multi-thread test also favors Intel, with a score of 24,408 compared to 20,322, a 16.7% difference. The pattern is consistent: the Intel processor's additional cores and higher power budget translate directly into higher multi-threaded throughput.

The single-core results are more nuanced. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U actually wins Geekbench single-core, scoring 2,131 against Intel's 1,974, an 8% advantage. It also wins PassMark single-thread, scoring 3,534 versus 3,390, a 4.2% lead. However, Intel fights back in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2,917 versus 1,651, a massive 43.4% victory, and in Cinebench R15 single-core with 294 versus 256, a 12.9% lead. These conflicting results suggest different performance characteristics depending on the specific instruction set and workload being tested.

Outside of the major benchmarks, Intel wins the vast majority of the specialized PassMark tests. It leads in data compression (322,689 vs 230,080, a 28.7% gap), data encryption (15,638 vs 14,013, a 10.4% gap), extended instructions (22,964 vs 16,500, a 28.1% gap), floating point math (51,119 vs 40,330, a 21.1% gap), integer math (86,390 vs 68,051, a 21.2% gap), and random string sorting (36,755 vs 28,066, a 23.6% gap). The Intel chip is decisively faster in these compute-heavy scenarios.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U manages a narrow victory in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 69 versus 66, a 4.5% lead. The PassMark physics test is essentially a tie, with Intel scoring 1,039 against AMD's 1,033, a negligible 0.6% difference. Overall, the data shows Intel winning 13 benchmark comparisons to AMD's 4.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, and is manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. This is a mobile-focused chip, with a TDP of 28 watts. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

The Intel Core i7-11700K uses the Rocket Lake architecture, a 14 nm process from Intel. This is a desktop part with a much higher TDP of 125 watts. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip is still in active production.

The cache layouts vary considerably. The AMD processor uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the AMD chip has faster per-core L2 cache, but the Intel chip has more total L1 cache across its eight cores.

Memory support is another major difference. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus and a maximum bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-11700K supports DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but with a maximum bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This gives the AMD chip a theoretical memory bandwidth advantage. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics are also different, with the AMD featuring a Radeon 760M and the Intel featuring UHD Graphics 750. The AMD chip is not multiplier unlocked, while the Intel chip is, making the Intel part more flexible for overclocking in the right system.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K is the clear winner for any task that can utilize multiple cores. The data shows a 49.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a 22.2% lead in Geekbench multi-core, and a 16.7% lead in PassMark multithread. This makes it the better choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, software compilation, and other professional content creation workloads. The Intel chip also wins in specialized math and encryption tasks, with a 21.2% lead in integer math and a 21.1% lead in floating point math, making it strong for scientific computing and data analysis.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U wins specifically in Geekbench single-core, leading by 8%, and in PassMark single-thread, leading by 4.2%. It also wins the prime number finding test by 4.5%. This suggests that for some single-threaded applications, the AMD chip can be competitive or even faster. However, its single-core lead is not universal, as Intel wins the Cinebench single-core tests by a wide margin.

The AMD chip is a mobile processor with a 28W TDP, so it is designed for efficiency and battery life in laptops. The Intel chip is a desktop processor with a 125W TDP, designed for maximum performance regardless of power consumption. The data shows that the Intel chip generally delivers on that promise, but the AMD chip can hold its own in certain single-threaded tasks while using significantly less power.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: AMD 6, Intel 8
• Threads: AMD 12, Intel 16
• Base Clock: AMD 3.50 GHz, Intel 3.60 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD 4.90 GHz, Intel 5.00 GHz
• TDP: AMD 28W, Intel 125W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP8, Intel Socket 1200
• Architecture: Zen 4, Rocket Lake
• Process Node: 4 nm (TSMC), 14 nm (Intel)
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core, 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 1 MB per core, 512 KB per core
• Memory Support: DDR5, DDR4
• Memory Bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s, 51.2 GB/s
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon 760M, UHD Graphics 750
• Market Segment: Mobile, Desktop
• Production Status: Active, End-of-life
• Unlocked Multiplier: No, Yes
• Foundry: TSMC, Intel

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K is significantly faster, scoring 20,666 compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U's 10,433, a 49.5% difference.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins Geekbench single-core (2,131 vs 1,974, an 8% lead), PassMark single-thread (3,534 vs 3,390, a 4.2% lead), and PassMark find prime numbers (69 vs 66, a 4.5% lead).

Q: What is the difference in TDP between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Intel Core i7-11700K has a TDP of 125 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-11700K has 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors still being manufactured?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is still in active production, while the Intel Core i7-11700K is end-of-life.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal. The Intel Core i7-11700K is the superior processor for almost all performance metrics. It wins 13 out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including all the major multi-core tests. If you are building a desktop PC for rendering, gaming, or any CPU-intensive task and have the power budget, the Intel chip is the obvious choice based on the recorded data.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has its place, but it is a different class of product. It is a mobile chip designed for laptops, with a TDP that is nearly five times lower. Its wins in Geekbench and PassMark single-threaded tests show it has a competitive architecture, but it cannot match the raw core count and clock speeds of the desktop Intel part. It is the right choice for a thin and light laptop where power efficiency is paramount, and its DDR5 support and 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth are notable features.

For a user prioritizing performance, the Intel Core i7-11700K is the clear winner. For a user prioritizing efficiency and mobile use, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is the only viable option among these two.