AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear pattern: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-11600 takes 5. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story.

In Cinebench, the AMD part sweeps every test. The multicore results are consistent: R15 shows a 1.2% lead (1557 vs 1538), R20 shows 1.2% (6491 vs 6412), and R23 shows 1.2% (15456 vs 15269). Single-core results are similarly tight, with the AMD winning R15 by 0.9% (219 vs 217), R20 by 1.2% (916 vs 905), and R23 by 1.3% (2182 vs 2155). These are narrow victories, but they are uniform across all six Cinebench metrics.

The Passmark suite reveals where each chip flexes. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U dominates in encryption, scoring 12319 against 11060, a 11.4% advantage. Prime number finding shows an even bigger gap: 66 versus 56, a 17.9% win for AMD. The physics test also favors AMD, 983 to 891, a 10.3% margin. The single-thread Passmark result is a decisive 8.5% win for AMD (3563 vs 3284), and the multithread score goes to AMD by 1.7% (18218 vs 17918).

The Intel Core i5-11600 counters in specific workloads. Data compression is its best result: 218062 versus 205703, a 5.7% win. Integer math also goes to Intel by 5.7% (60158 vs 56738). Floating point math favors Intel by 1.7% (35478 vs 34865), extended instructions by 1.8% (15698 vs 15410), and random string sorting by 1.5% (25178 vs 24797).

The data implies a workload-dependent relationship. The AMD chip wins the broad majority, and its single-thread advantage is substantial. Yet the Intel chip holds ground in memory-heavy and arithmetic-heavy tasks. The 17.9% gap in prime number finding is the largest single delta in either direction, suggesting the AMD architecture has a particular strength in integer-heavy loop computation.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is built on Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, using TSMC's 4 nm process node. The Intel Core i5-11600 uses Rocket Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm node. The process difference is stark: 4 nm versus 14 nm, which partly explains the power envelope gap.

Transistor counts and die sizes reflect the manufacturing disparity. The AMD chip packs 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel chip's data lists no transistor count but shows a 276 mm² die, roughly double the area. The AMD design achieves higher density on a smaller physical footprint.

Cache hierarchies differ per core. The AMD part uses 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel part uses 80 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD has a larger L2 per core and 4 MB more L3, while the Intel has more L1 per core.

Memory support diverges completely. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U uses DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-11600 uses DDR4, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. That is a 75% bandwidth advantage for the AMD part. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not.

Integrated graphics are present on the AMD part (Radeon 740M) but absent on the Intel chip. PCIe lanes differ: the Intel offers 20 lanes of Gen 4, while the AMD provides 14 lanes of Gen 4. Sockets and market segments are entirely separate: AMD uses Socket FP7 for mobile, Intel uses Socket 1200 for desktop. The AMD chip is active in production, while the Intel chip is end-of-life. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $213; the AMD has no launch MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-11600 boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the AMD chip in single-threaded Passmark performance?

A: The AMD scores 3563 versus 3284 for Intel, a 8.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11600 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins 5 of the 17 head-to-head tests: data compression, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The AMD supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has 16 MB of shared L3, compared to 12 MB on the Intel Core i5-11600.

Q: Are both processors in active production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is listed as active, while the Intel Core i5-11600 is marked end-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U | Intel Core i5-11600 |

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

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die size | 137 mm² | 276 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 4, 14 lanes | Gen 4, 20 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 740M | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

The Verdict

The data positions the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U as the better overall performer. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and the Passmark multithread and single-thread scores. The 8.5% single-thread Passmark margin and the 17.9% prime number finding lead are the most decisive gaps in the dataset.

The Intel Core i5-11600 is not without merit. Its 5.7% wins in data compression and integer math, plus its 1.7% floating point and 1.8% extended instruction results, show a chip that handles arithmetic and compression tasks well. But those wins are narrower than the AMD's best margins, and they cover fewer categories.

The architecture gap is significant. The AMD uses a 4 nm process, DDR5 memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC support. The Intel uses 14 nm, DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s, and no ECC. The AMD also ships with integrated graphics, while the Intel requires a separate GPU. For a mobile platform, the 28 W TDP of the AMD versus the 65 W TDP of the Intel is a major efficiency difference.

The Intel chip does offer more PCIe lanes (20 versus 14) and a higher L1 cache per core, which may matter for specific desktop workloads. The Intel also has a recorded launch MSRP of $213, while the AMD has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins in: all Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multicore), Passmark data encryption (11.4% ahead), Passmark find prime numbers (17.9% ahead), Passmark multithread (1.7% ahead), Passmark physics (10.3% ahead), and Passmark single-thread (8.5% ahead).

The Intel Core i5-11600 wins in: Passmark data compression (5.7% ahead), Passmark extended instructions (1.8% ahead), Passmark floating point math (1.7% ahead), Passmark integer math (5.7% ahead), and Passmark random string sorting (1.5% ahead).

The use-case split is clear from the numbers. The AMD chip is the choice for encryption-heavy workloads, physics simulations, prime number computation, and general single-threaded tasks. Its DDR5 memory bandwidth and larger L3 cache likely contribute to these wins. The Intel chip suits data compression, integer-heavy arithmetic, and floating point workloads, where its per-core L1 cache and architecture appear to give it an edge.

For a mobile user prioritizing efficiency, integrated graphics, and modern memory support, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is the data-backed pick. For a desktop user with specific compression and integer math needs who already has a discrete GPU, the Intel Core i5-11600 holds its own. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the AMD averages 23709, while the Intel averages 24563, a difference driven by the Intel's wins in the Passmark arithmetic tests. The percentile rankings are close, 76th for AMD versus 77th for Intel, suggesting both chips sit in a similar performance tier overall despite their architectural differences.