AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G vs Intel Core i7-11850HE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11850HE and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G present a classic showdown between a mobile-focused octa-core and a desktop-focused hexa-core. Across the benchmark suite, the AMD part claims six of eight head-to-head victories, but the Intel chip wins the two most lopsided contests by a wide margin. The aggregate data shows the Intel i7-11850HE holding a 5095 average benchmark score against the Ryzen's 5002, placing both within a hair of each other in the 59th and 60th percentiles of all CPUs respectively. The practical takeaway is that the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G edges out the i7 in sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, while the i7-11850HE decisively wins in Geekbench tests that favor its architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The closest competition comes in the Cinebench suite, where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G wins every single test, but by margins so thin they border on statistical noise. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 1762 against Intel's 1753, a delta of just -0.5%. The single-core R15 result is even tighter: 248 versus 247, a -0.4% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds with the AMD chip winning multi-core 7345 to 7308 and single-core 1036 to 1031, both at -0.5% deltas. The R23 results mirror this exactly, with the Ryzen scoring 17490 to Intel's 17402 in multi-core and 2469 to 2456 in single-core, again at -0.5%. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD part's advantage never exceeds half a percentage point, meaning that for any real-world rendering task, these two processors are effectively interchangeable.

The story flips dramatically in Geekbench, where the Intel Core i7-11850HE turns the tables with substantial wins. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7 scores 8576 against the Ryzen's 7911, a commanding 8.4% lead. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: Intel at 1984 versus AMD at 1754, representing a 13.1% advantage. These are not marginal differences; they indicate that the Intel architecture handles the specific workloads in Geekbench's test suite far more efficiently. The i7-11850HE's 8 cores and 16 threads likely contribute to the multi-core win, but the single-core victory suggests superior per-thread performance in that benchmark, despite the Ryzen's higher 4.40 GHz boost clock versus Intel's 4.70 GHz. The data shows a processor that wins where it matters most for productivity and loses by a whisker in pure rendering throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE has an average benchmark score of 5095, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G scores 5002. This places the Intel chip in the 60th percentile of all CPUs, one point higher than the Ryzen's 59th percentile.

Q: How big is the Geekbench single-core performance gap?

A: The Intel i7-11850HE leads by 13.1% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1984 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G's 1754. This is the largest margin of victory in any benchmark between the two processors.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G win any benchmark by more than 1%?

A: No. The AMD processor wins all six Cinebench tests, but its largest margin is -0.5% in the R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests. The closest race is Cinebench R15 single-core at -0.4%.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the Ryzen wins the multi-core Cinebench tests, though only marginally.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE does not. Both processors support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G has a TDP of 65 watts. This means the Intel chip is rated for significantly lower power consumption, typical of its mobile market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is the clear winner for Cinebench-style rendering workloads. It beats the Intel chip in every single Cinebench test, from R15 through R23, covering both multi-core and single-core scenarios. While the margins are slim at -0.5% or less, a win is a win, and for users who spend hours in CPU rendering applications that rely on Cinebench-like instruction patterns, the Ryzen offers a slight but consistent edge. The Ryzen also wins on the specification sheet with ECC memory support, a feature that matters for professionals who need error correction in memory-intensive tasks. Its higher base clock of 3.90 GHz versus Intel's 2.10 GHz also suggests better responsiveness at lower thread counts in short bursts.

The Intel Core i7-11850HE wins decisively in Geekbench tests, both single-core and multi-core. The 13.1% single-core advantage and 8.4% multi-core advantage are substantial, indicating that the Intel chip handles the mixed integer, floating-point, and memory-access patterns in Geekbench far more efficiently. This makes the i7-11850HE the better choice for general productivity software, web browsing, office applications, and any workload where Geekbench scores correlate with real-world responsiveness. The Intel chip also wins on core count with 8 cores versus 6, and it offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes compared to the Ryzen's PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which matters for users who want the fastest possible NVMe storage or external GPU connectivity.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i7-11850HE is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 190 mm², while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G uses TSMC's 7 nm process with a die size of 180 mm² and a transistor count of 10,700 million. The Intel chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds differ significantly: the Intel part runs at a 2.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, whereas the AMD part runs at 3.90 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. The TDP ratings are starkly different at 35 watts for Intel and 65 watts for AMD.

Cache configurations also differ. The Intel i7-11850HE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with identical 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, but only the AMD chip supports ECC. The Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket and is a mobile part, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4 and is a desktop part. PCIe support differs: Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are also different, with Intel using UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) and AMD using Radeon Vega 7.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. The Intel Core i7-11850HE is based on Tiger Lake-H, part of the Core 11th Gen family, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is based on Zen 3, codenamed Cezanne, from the 5000 series. Intel's Tiger Lake-H uses a 10 nm process manufactured by Intel's own foundry, while AMD's Cezanne uses a 7 nm process manufactured by TSMC. This process advantage likely explains the AMD chip's higher base clock and lower power draw per transistor, though the Intel chip compensates with a higher boost clock.

The core designs differ in cache hierarchy. Intel allocates a massive 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, whereas AMD uses 16 MB of L3 and 512 KB of L2 per core. The Intel L1 cache is also larger at 80 KB per core versus AMD's 64 KB per core. These differences affect how each processor handles data locality and multi-threaded workloads. The Intel chip's larger caches may contribute to its Geekbench wins, while the AMD chip's Zen 3 architecture with its smaller but more efficient cache design manages to eke out Cinebench wins. The Intel chip is built for mobile with a 35-watt TDP and BGA socket, while the AMD chip is a desktop part at 65 watts with a socketed AM4 design. Intel's integrated graphics are Xe-LP based, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 7, and only the AMD chip includes ECC support, reflecting its prosumer desktop positioning.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear division of labor. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is the pick for users who prioritize Cinebench rendering performance, ECC memory support, and a desktop socket that allows for easier upgrades. Its wins across all six Cinebench tests, even at sub-1% margins, show that its 6-core, 12-thread configuration with a 3.90 GHz base clock is more than adequate for rendering tasks, and the 65-watt TDP is a reasonable trade-off for that performance. The Ryzen also carries a 59th percentile ranking, placing it just one point below the Intel chip in global standing, despite having fewer cores.

The Intel Core i7-11850HE is the better choice for Geekbench-style workloads and general productivity. Its 13.1% single-core and 8.4% multi-core wins in Geekbench are too large to ignore, and its 8-core, 16-thread design with 24 MB of L3 cache provides headroom for heavily parallelized applications that follow Geekbench's patterns. The 35-watt TDP makes it significantly more power-efficient, and the PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes offers future-proofing for storage and expansion. The Intel chip's 60th percentile ranking and higher average score of 5095 versus 5002 give it the overall edge in aggregate performance. Users who need rendering throughput should lean AMD; users who need a versatile, efficient mobile chip with superior Geekbench scores should lean Intel.