AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11600 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H are both 6-core, 12-thread processors, but they are built for entirely different platforms and deliver contrasting performance profiles. The data shows a clear split: the Intel part wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks (9 wins vs. 6), with its most decisive victories coming in modern multi-threaded workloads. However, the AMD chip counters with superior efficiency and wins in several key single-thread and encryption tests. The verdict is straightforward: choose the Intel Core i5-11600 for raw multi-core compute and desktop-centric tasks, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H is the better option for mobile platforms where its integrated graphics and lower power draw are decisive advantages, despite being slower in the most demanding CPU benchmarks.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i5-11600 is the performance winner for heavy, sustained workloads. Its most striking advantage is in Cinebench R23, where it scores 15,269 points in multi-core versus the AMD's 9,561—a massive 59.7% lead. This is not a marginal difference; it suggests the Intel processor is significantly better suited for video rendering, 3D modeling, and other tasks that scale with thread count. The Intel chip also dominates in single-core Cinebench R23, posting a 46.5% higher score (2,155 vs. 1,471), indicating superior per-core performance in this specific benchmark.

Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H is the pick for mobile and integrated-graphics scenarios. It is the only one of the two with an iGPU (Radeon 660M), making it a functional choice for a laptop without a discrete graphics card. While it loses the multi-core crown, it wins in PassMark's integer math (62,838 vs. 60,158) and data encryption (13,518 vs. 11,060), showing strengths in specific computational patterns. Its lower TDP of 45W (vs. 65W) and more modern 6nm process node suggest better power efficiency, though the data pack does not include power consumption benchmarks. For users who need a capable all-in-one mobile processor, the AMD is the logical choice; for pure CPU throughput on a desktop, the Intel is superior.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent fundamentally different design philosophies and process technologies. The Intel Core i5-11600 is built on Intel's 14nm process with the Rocket Lake architecture, a desktop-oriented design. It features a larger die size of 276 mm² and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. Its memory support is limited to DDR4, providing 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H, in contrast, utilizes TSMC's 6nm process with the Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt), resulting in a smaller die at 208 mm². It offers a larger 16 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR5 memory with a higher theoretical bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

The cache layouts differ in the L1 as well, with the Intel part offering 80 KB per core versus AMD's 64 KB per core, while both have 512 KB of L2 per core. Neither supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false). The most significant architectural distinction beyond the process node is the inclusion of the Radeon 660M integrated graphics on the AMD chip; the Intel i5-11600 has no integrated graphics listed. Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, but the Intel targets the Socket 1200 desktop platform, while the AMD uses the FP7 mobile socket.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11600 wins decisively in the Cinebench R23 tests, which are classic indicators of sustained multi-core and single-core rendering performance. Its 59.7% lead in multi-core and 46.5% lead in single-core are the largest deltas in the entire head-to-head set. It also shows clear wins in more niche tasks: PassMark's random string sorting (10.3% faster), find prime numbers (7.7% faster), and physics (6.3% faster). These results point to strengths in algorithmic processing and physics simulations. The Intel chip also edges ahead in extended instructions (4.3%) and data compression (0.2%), though the latter is nearly a tie.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H wins in the areas that matter for specific mobile workloads and general integer math. Its largest victory is in data encryption, where it scores 18.2% higher, suggesting a hardware advantage in cryptographic tasks. It also leads in integer math (4.3%) and floating-point math (0.7%), indicating better raw arithmetic performance in some scenarios. In the older Cinebench R15 tests, the AMD chip wins both multi-core (1,550 vs. 1,538) and single-core (236 vs. 217), with the single-core delta at 8.1%. The PassMark multi-thread score is essentially a tie, with the AMD winning by a negligible 0.1%. This split suggests that the Intel processor's advantage is specific to the newer Cinebench R23 workload, while the AMD chip holds its own in older tests and specific instruction patterns.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 15,269 compared to the AMD's 9,561, a 59.7% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes the Radeon 660M. The Intel Core i5-11600 does not have any integrated graphics listed in the data.

Q: Which CPU is better for single-threaded tasks?

A: The results are mixed. The Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 46.5% (2,155 vs. 1,471), but the AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.1% (236 vs. 217). The Intel also wins PassMark single-thread by 5.6%.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 supports DDR4 memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H supports DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H has a base clock of 3.30 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-11600's 2.80 GHz. However, the Intel has a higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz versus the AMD's 4.50 GHz.

Q: How do their overall benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 has an average benchmark score of 24,563, placing it in the 77th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H has an average score of 24,364, in the 76th percentile. The difference is less than 1%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant performance gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-11600 scores 15,269 against the AMD's 9,561. This 59.7% delta is the single largest in the comparison and establishes the Intel part as the clear choice for heavily threaded rendering workloads. The single-core Cinebench R23 result reinforces this, with the Intel at 2,155 versus AMD's 1,471, a 46.5% lead. These two benchmarks alone paint a picture of superior IPC and multi-core scaling for the Intel chip in the Cinebench engine.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H demonstrates its own strengths in other areas. The largest win for AMD is in PassMark's data encryption, where it scores 13,518 versus Intel's 11,060—an 18.2% advantage. This suggests the AMD chip has a cryptographic acceleration advantage. In Cinebench R15, the AMD also wins both tests, with a 0.8% lead in multi-core (1,550 vs. 1,538) and an 8.1% lead in single-core (236 vs. 217). This is a notable reversal from the R23 results, indicating that the Intel's advantage is workload-specific rather than universal.

The remaining benchmarks are closer. Intel wins PassMark random string sorting (25,178 vs. 22,823, +10.3%), find prime numbers (56 vs. 52, +7.7%), physics (891 vs. 838, +6.3%), and single-thread (3,284 vs. 3,110, +5.6%). AMD counters with wins in integer math (62,838 vs. 60,158, +4.3%) and floating-point math (35,743 vs. 35,478, +0.7%). The PassMark multi-thread test is a virtual tie, with AMD winning by just 0.1% (17,936 vs. 17,918). Data compression is also nearly identical, with Intel winning by 0.2% (218,062 vs. 217,700). This pattern shows that while Intel wins more tests, the AMD chip is competitive in a broad range of arithmetic and encryption tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their physical and platform specifications. The Intel Core i5-11600 is a desktop chip (market segment: Desktop) on the Intel Socket 1200, with a TDP of 65W and a launch MSRP of $213. Its process node is 14nm, and it uses the Rocket Lake architecture. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H is a mobile processor (market segment: Mobile) on the AMD Socket FP7, with a lower TDP of 45W and no launch MSRP provided. It uses TSMC's 6nm process and the Zen 3+ architecture.

Clock speeds differ, with the AMD having a higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs. 2.80 GHz) but the Intel having a higher boost clock (4.80 GHz vs. 4.50 GHz). The cache configurations are different: Intel has 80 KB of L1 per core and 12 MB of shared L3, while AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of shared L3. Both have 512 KB of L2 per core. Memory support is a key differentiator, with Intel limited to DDR4 and AMD supporting DDR5, resulting in different memory bandwidth figures (51.2 GB/s vs. 76.8 GB/s). The most critical difference is the integrated graphics: the AMD includes a Radeon 660M, while the Intel has none listed. Production status also differs, with the Intel being end-of-life and the AMD still active.