AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE vs Intel Core i7-11700KF Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE and the Intel Core i7-11700KF occupy very different corners of the desktop processor market, but benchmark data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy between them. The Intel part wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison, often by a substantial margin. The Ryzen part, however, counters with a much lower power envelope, an integrated GPU, and a more modern manufacturing process. The data tells a story of raw throughput versus efficiency and feature integration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the faster processor in every test recorded in the database. Across the entire suite of Cinebench and Passmark tests, the Intel chip claims 17 wins out of 17 head-to-head comparisons.

The most significant gap appears in the Passmark physics and random string sorting tests, where the Intel processor leads by 34.2% and 34.5%, respectively. In the physics test, the scores are 985 for the Intel versus 648 for the AMD, a difference that reflects the Intel part's superior multi-threaded execution capability. Random string sorting shows a similar story, with 36,309 points versus 23,769 points.

The Cinebench suite shows a very consistent pattern. In Cinebench R23, the Intel processor scores 20,214 in multi-core and 2,853 in single-core, against 15,504 and 2,188 for the AMD chip. That translates to a 23.3% advantage for Intel in both metrics. The same 23.3% delta appears across Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, while the R20 single-core test shows a 23.4% gap. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural throughput advantage for Intel, not a workload-specific quirk.

Passmark integer math shows a 20.8% lead for Intel, with scores of 85,377 versus 67,582. Floating point math is closer in percentage terms but still a clear Intel win, 50,571 versus 38,204, a 24.5% gap. Extended instructions show the largest margin after the sorting tests, with Intel ahead by 29.4%, scoring 22,247 against 15,714.

The narrowest margins are in the single-threaded Passmark tests and data encryption. Passmark single thread shows Intel ahead by just 3.8%, with scores of 3,368 versus 3,240. Data encryption is close as well, with Intel leading by 4.7%, scoring 15,229 versus 14,509. Data compression shows a 28.2% Intel advantage, 317,712 versus 228,037, while the find prime numbers test has a 21% gap in favor of Intel.

Notably, the AMD processor never wins a single test. The data shows zero wins for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE across all recorded benchmarks. However, the average benchmark score for the AMD part is 25,880, which places it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part, with an average score of 25,423, sits in the 77th percentile. This means that while the Intel chip dominates this direct comparison, the AMD part actually has a slightly higher overall average score, driven by its performance in a broader set of tests outside this head-to-head list.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, and manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i7-11700KF uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process. This process gap is significant: the AMD chip packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, while the Intel chip uses a larger 276 mm² die with no transistor count listed in the database.

Core and thread counts differ as well. The AMD part has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 8 cores and 16 threads. This two-core, four-thread advantage for Intel is a primary driver of its multi-threaded benchmark wins. Cache layouts also differ: the AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3.

Clock speeds tell a similar story. The AMD processor has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel processor has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The higher boost clock on the Intel part helps explain its single-threaded advantages, even in the Passmark test where the gap narrows to 3.8%.

The Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the AMD chip is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The AMD processor includes integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF has no integrated graphics at all. This is a major functional difference: the Intel chip requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Power and thermals are starkly different. The AMD part has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel part has a TDP of 125 watts. This nearly doubles the power budget for the Intel chip, which helps explain its performance advantage but also its much higher heat output. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 20,214, which is 23.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE's score of 15,504.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to 4.40 GHz for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, only the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-11700KF does not.

Q: Which processor is more efficient in terms of TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF has a TDP of 125 watts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE | Intel Core i7-11700KF |

|----------------|------------------------|------------------------|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Rocket Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 276 mm² |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 16 MB (shared) |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 7 | None |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2024-05-06 | 2021-03-15 |

| Part Number | 100-000001514 | SRKNN |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins on pure performance. Every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison goes to Intel, with margins ranging from 3.8% in single-threaded Passmark to 34.5% in random string sorting. If the workload is heavily multi-threaded, such as video rendering, 3D modeling, or data compression, the Intel chip's 8 cores and 16 threads deliver a 20% to 30% advantage across the board. The 5.00 GHz boost clock also gives it a solid edge in lightly threaded tasks, though the gap narrows to under 4% in single-thread Passmark tests. The Intel chip is also the only one with an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking for users who want to push beyond stock performance.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE wins on efficiency and integration. Its 65 watt TDP is nearly half the Intel part's 125 watt budget, making it suitable for compact or thermally constrained systems. The integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics means it can run without a discrete GPU, which is a decisive advantage for basic desktop use, office productivity, or media playback. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel part, making it viable for error-sensitive workloads like small-scale servers or data processing. Its 7 nm process node and 10,700 million transistors in a smaller 180 mm² die indicate a more modern manufacturing approach. While the AMD chip loses every benchmark, its higher average score percentile (78th versus 77th) and its active production status suggest it remains a relevant choice in its segment, especially for users who prioritize low power draw and system simplicity over raw computational output.