AMD Ryzen 7 3800X vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i9-11980HK wins only 4 of those tests.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X scores 19,588 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK scores 18,617. That puts AMD ahead by 5%.

Q: Which chip has the higher single-thread score in PassMark?

A: The Intel Core i9-11980HK leads PassMark single-thread with a score of 3,261 versus 2,712 for the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X. That is a 20.2% advantage for Intel.

Q: Are both CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-11980HK and the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X have their multipliers unlocked.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i9-11980HK is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X uses TSMC's 7 nm process. The AMD chip integrates 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip has a 190 mm² die.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-11980HK belongs to the Core 11th Gen family, using the Tiger Lake-H architecture with a 10 nm process node built by Intel. It is a mobile processor with a TDP of 45 W and a die size of 190 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X comes from the 3000 series, based on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Matisse), manufactured by TSMC on a 7 nm process. Its die size is 74 mm², and it packs 3,800 million transistors.

Both CPUs have 8 cores and 16 threads, but their cache layouts differ. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. The larger L3 on the AMD side is notable for workloads that benefit from a bigger shared pool.

Clock speeds also separate the two. The Intel Core i9-11980HK runs at a 2.60 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X has a higher base clock of 3.90 GHz but a lower boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The TDP gap is substantial: 45 W for the Intel mobile part versus 105 W for the AMD desktop part.

The Intel processor includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X has no integrated graphics. PCIe support differs as well: Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while AMD offers Gen 4 with 24 lanes (CPU only). Socket compatibility is entirely different, with Intel using BGA 1787 and AMD using Socket AM4.

The Intel part is a mobile segment chip, released on 2021-05-10, and is marked end-of-life in the database. The AMD chip is a desktop part, released on 2019-07-06, and remains active in production. Both have unlocked multipliers.

The Verdict

The recorded data paints a clear picture. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X dominates the head-to-head count with 13 wins, including every Cinebench test (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multi-core modes. Its margins in Cinebench are consistent at roughly 5% across the board. It also wins PassMark multi-thread (23,046 versus 22,436), data compression (304,853 versus 266,571), data encryption (19,337 versus 13,813), extended instructions (20,037 versus 17,654), physics (1,226 versus 1,112), random string sorting (32,869 versus 31,709), and prime number finding (103 versus 100).

The Intel Core i9-11980HK wins where raw math throughput and single-thread efficiency matter. It beats AMD by 16.4% in floating point math (46,262 versus 39,759), by 16.2% in integer math (78,682 versus 67,725), and by 20.2% in PassMark single-thread (3,261 versus 2,712). Those are significant wins in their respective categories.

Who should pick which? For users prioritizing sustained multi-core rendering, compression, encryption, and general desktop throughput, the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X is the stronger choice based on the benchmark record. For workloads that lean heavily on single-thread performance, math-heavy tasks, or environments where a mobile form factor with integrated graphics is required, the Intel Core i9-11980HK has clear advantages. The Intel part also carries a higher launch MSRP of $583, while the AMD part launched at $399. Both CPUs sit at the 81st percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating comparable overall standing. The AMD chip edges out in average benchmark score at 29,447 versus 30,422 for Intel, though the Intel average is slightly higher due to its PassMark wins.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-11980HK | AMD Ryzen 7 3800X |

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

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 105 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-H | Matisse |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 3,800 million |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 74 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB shared | 32 MB |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 24 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2021-05-10 | 2019-07-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $583 | $399 |

| Part Number | SRKSZ | 100-000000025 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X takes the majority of the head-to-head tests, and its wins are spread across both single-thread and multi-thread workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 1,974 against Intel's 1,876, a 5% edge. The same margin applies in R15 single-core (278 versus 264), R20 multi-core (8,226 versus 7,819), R20 single-core (1,161 versus 1,103), R23 multi-core (19,588 versus 18,617), and R23 single-core (2,765 versus 2,628). The consistency of that 5% delta across every Cinebench iteration suggests a uniform performance advantage in rendering workloads.

PassMark tells a more varied story. AMD wins data compression by a wide margin: 304,853 versus 266,571, a 12.6% gap. Data encryption is even more lopsided, with AMD at 19,337 and Intel at 13,813, a 28.6% deficit for Intel. Extended instructions favor AMD by 11.9% (20,037 versus 17,654). Multi-thread performance also goes to AMD, though narrowly: 23,046 versus 22,436, only 2.6% apart. Physics favors AMD at 1,226 versus 1,112, a 9.3% gap. Random string sorting goes to AMD at 32,869 versus 31,709, a 3.5% margin. Prime number finding is close, with AMD at 103 and Intel at 100, a 2.9% difference.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK counters with four wins, and they are decisive in their categories. PassMark single-thread shows Intel at 3,261 versus AMD's 2,712, a 20.2% advantage, the largest single delta in the entire comparison. Floating point math goes to Intel by 16.4% (46,262 versus 39,759), and integer math by 16.2% (78,682 versus 67,725). These math-heavy wins indicate that the Intel architecture handles arithmetic workloads with notably higher efficiency despite losing most other tests.

The overall win count is 13 for AMD and 4 for Intel. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800X also holds a higher PassMark multi-thread score and a higher physics score, reinforcing its position as the more balanced performer in the database's recorded tests. The Intel chip's single-thread PassMark lead and math victories make it the better option for specific computation-bound tasks, but the aggregate data favors AMD across the broader benchmark suite.