AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U vs Intel Core i7-11700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11700 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U are both 75th-percentile performers, but they achieve that status through entirely different means. The data is unambiguous: the i7-11700 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from a narrow 3.6% in single-threaded PassMark to a massive 97.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is a 15W mobile part designed for efficiency, while the i7-11700 is a 65W desktop processor built for sustained throughput. For anyone choosing between them, the decision is not about which is faster — it is about whether the platform (desktop vs. mobile) and power envelope matter more than raw performance. The i7-11700 is the clear performance victor; the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is the only choice for a thin-and-light laptop.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-11700 is the definitive winner in every measured benchmark, making it the only rational pick for desktop users who need maximum compute throughput. Its average benchmark score of 21891 edges out the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U’s 21874 by a mere 0.1%, but that aggregate figure masks the true story — the i7-11700 leads by double-digit percentages in most workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-11700 scores 17504 versus 8854 for the Ryzen, a 97.7% advantage that reflects the Intel part’s 8 cores and 16 threads against the AMD’s 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-11700 also wins in Geekbench multi-core by 27.4% (9003 vs. 7065) and in PassMark multi-thread by 25.8% (20672 vs. 16429). The Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U cannot claim a single benchmark victory, even in single-threaded tests where its higher 2.90 GHz base clock might suggest competitiveness — the i7-11700 still wins PassMark single-thread by 3.6% (3263 vs. 3149).

The Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the benchmark suite. It is an active, mobile-market processor with a 15W TDP, making it suitable for laptops where the i7-11700’s 65W TDP and Intel Socket 1200 desktop platform are non-starters. The Ryzen uses a 6nm TSMC process versus Intel’s 14nm, and it supports DDR5 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth compared to the i7-11700’s DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. For a laptop user, the Ryzen is the only viable option. For a desktop builder, the i7-11700 is overwhelmingly faster. The data does not support any other conclusion: the i7-11700 wins 17 of 17 comparisons, and the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U wins 0.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700 dominates. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 17504 versus 8854 for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U, a 97.7% lead. Geekbench multi-core shows a 27.4% gap (9003 vs. 7065), and PassMark multi-thread shows a 25.8% gap (20672 vs. 16429).

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U competitive in single-threaded workloads?

A: No, but it is close. The i7-11700 wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 68.9% (2471 vs. 1463), but the gap narrows to 14.7% in Geekbench single-core (1895 vs. 1652) and just 3.6% in PassMark single-thread (3263 vs. 3149). The Ryzen’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz helps, but the i7-11700’s 4.90 GHz boost clock ultimately wins.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11700 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U supports DDR5 with dual-channel 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part has 50% higher theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U has 6 cores and 12 threads. This 2-core, 4-thread advantage is the primary driver of the i7-11700’s large multi-core wins.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 75th percentile vs. all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (21891 for Intel, 21874 for AMD, a 0.1% difference), and they are listed as nearest rivals to each other.

Q: Which processor is for mobile devices?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is the mobile part, using AMD Socket FP7 and a 15W TDP. The Intel Core i7-11700 is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1200 with a 65W TDP and is marked as end-of-life, while the Ryzen is active in production.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11700 uses Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14nm process with a die size of 276 mm². It is a desktop-first design with 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U uses Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt), manufactured by TSMC on a 6nm process with a smaller 208 mm² die. This process advantage allows AMD to pack 6 cores and 12 threads into a 15W thermal envelope, versus Intel’s 65W TDP.

Cache structures are similar in total L3 capacity — both have 16 MB shared L3 — but differ in L1. The Intel part has 80 KB L1 per core, while the AMD has 64 KB L1 per core. Both use 512 KB L2 per core. The memory interface diverges significantly: Intel pairs with DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s, while AMD pairs with DDR5 at 76.8 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and both lack ECC memory support. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 750, while AMD uses Radeon 660M.

Production statuses reflect their market positions. The i7-11700 is end-of-life, released on 2021-03-15, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is active, released on 2022-04-18. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are designed for their respective sockets (Intel Socket 1200 vs. AMD Socket FP7). The foundry difference — Intel for the i7-11700, TSMC for the Ryzen — is a key architectural divergence, with the 6nm process enabling the AMD part’s dramatically lower power draw.

Specification Differences

The core specification gap is straightforward. The Intel Core i7-11700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks favor AMD: 2.90 GHz versus Intel’s 2.50 GHz. Boost clocks favor Intel: 4.90 GHz versus AMD’s 4.50 GHz. The TDP difference is stark — 65W for Intel, 15W for AMD — reflecting the desktop versus mobile market split.

Memory support is another clear differentiator. Intel uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth; AMD uses DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s. The L1 cache differs (80 KB per core for Intel, 64 KB per core for AMD), while L2 and L3 are identical in per-core and shared capacities (512 KB per core L2, 16 MB shared L3). The process node and foundry differ: Intel uses 14nm from its own fabs, while AMD uses 6nm from TSMC. Die sizes are 276 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD.

Market segment, socket, and production status also differ. Intel is a desktop chip on Socket 1200, end-of-life. AMD is a mobile chip on Socket FP7, active. The i7-11700 has a launch MSRP of $323; the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U has no launch MSRP listed. Both have integrated graphics, but different models (UHD Graphics 750 vs. Radeon 660M). Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes and dual-channel memory buses. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-11700 wins every single head-to-head benchmark, but the margins tell a nuanced story. The largest victory is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 17504 versus AMD’s 8854 — a 97.7% delta that nearly doubles the AMD result. This is the clearest evidence of the core-count advantage: 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 and 12. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a smaller but still decisive 20.9% lead (1764 vs. 1459.5).

PassMark tests reveal where the gap is widest. Extended instructions show a 49.4% Intel advantage (18323 vs. 12261), and random string sorting shows a 48.5% lead (30147 vs. 20299). Floating-point math favors Intel by 42.4% (46369 vs. 32571), while data compression is 38.6% better (263563 vs. 190180). Integer math is 32.7% ahead (79687 vs. 60045), and multi-thread is 25.8% ahead (20672 vs. 16429).

Geekbench results are closer. Multi-core shows Intel leading 9003 to 7065, a 27.4% delta. Single-core is tighter: 1895 versus 1652, a 14.7% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a surprising 68.9% Intel advantage (2471 vs. 1463), which is much larger than the Geekbench single-core gap. Cinebench R15 single-core is the narrowest multi-core-adjacent result at 6.7% (248 vs. 232.5).

The closest margins are in PassMark single-thread tests. Intel wins PassMark single-thread by just 3.6% (3263 vs. 3149), and PassMark physics by 3.7% (868 vs. 837). Data encryption is a 4.5% Intel win (12704 vs. 12159), and find prime numbers is 5.8% (55 vs. 52). These small margins suggest that in lightly-threaded, short-duration tasks, the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is nearly competitive — but it never overtakes.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700 wins in every workload category measured, making its use-case list exhaustive. It is the superior choice for multi-threaded rendering: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 97.7% lead, and R15 multi-core shows 20.9%. For content creation and 3D workloads that scale with cores, the i7-11700’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides roughly double the performance of the Ryzen in the most demanding test. It also dominates in PassMark integer math (32.7% lead), floating-point math (42.4%), and extended instructions (49.4%), making it the pick for scientific computing, code compilation, and any SIMD-heavy workload.

For data-heavy tasks, the i7-11700 wins decisively: data compression is 38.6% faster, and random string sorting is 48.5% faster. Even in single-threaded applications where the Ryzen’s higher base clock might help, the i7-11700 wins — by 3.6% in PassMark single-thread and 14.7% in Geekbench single-core. The i7-11700 is the only choice for desktop users who want maximum performance per benchmark score, with a 75th-percentile ranking that places it alongside server-class EPYC processors in average score.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U wins no benchmarks, but it wins on platform suitability. As a 15W mobile processor on Socket FP7, it is the only option for laptops and thin-and-light devices. Its DDR5 support with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth offers a memory bandwidth advantage that the benchmarks do not capture, and its 6nm TSMC process enables a smaller die (208 mm²) and lower power draw. The Ryzen is also active in production, while the i7-11700 is end-of-life. For a user building a new desktop today, the i7-11700 is the performance pick. For a user buying a laptop, the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U is the only applicable choice — and its benchmark scores, while lower, are still at the 75th percentile, meaning it is no slouch in mobile terms. The data does not show a single scenario where the Ryzen outperforms the i7-11700; it simply serves a different market segment.