AMD Ryzen 7 4800H vs Intel Core i9-11900H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900H and AMD Ryzen 7 4800H are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors, but the benchmark data reveals two very different performance profiles. The Intel part wins 16 of the 21 head-to-head comparisons, but the AMD chip secures decisive victories in specific workloads that may matter more to some users. The data shows a clear split: Intel dominates single-threaded and modern multi-threaded tests, while AMD counters in legacy rendering and data-intensive tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Core i9-11900H scores 2367 against the Ryzen 7 4800H’s 1253.5, a massive 88.8% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights the Intel chip’s superior per-thread performance. The 3DMark single-thread test reinforces this, with Intel leading 917 to 721, a 27.2% margin. Even in 3DMark 2-thread, Intel wins by 20.2%, scoring 1708 versus 1421.

Multi-threaded results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i9-11900H posts 16772 against 11135.5 for the Ryzen 7 4800H, a commanding 50.6% lead. The 3DMark 16-thread test also goes Intel’s way, 6072 to 5876, though the margin shrinks to just 3.3%. PassMark multithread shows Intel ahead by 10.6%, scoring 20162 versus 18222. The Intel chip also wins 3DMark 4-thread by 13.3% and 3DMark 8-thread by 4.4%, suggesting its advantage persists as thread counts rise.

AMD’s wins are concentrated in specific areas. The most significant is Cinebench R15 multicore, where the Ryzen 7 4800H scores 1854 against Intel’s 1690, an 8.8% victory. Data compression is another AMD stronghold: PassMark data compression shows 269334 for AMD versus 239366 for Intel, an 11.1% lead. The encryption workload is even more lopsided, with AMD winning 15530 to 12232, a 21.2% margin. AMD also edges out Intel in extended instructions (17035 vs 16123, +5.4%) and random string sorting (29181 vs 28328, +2.9%).

In the remaining categories, Intel’s wins are decisive. PassMark find prime numbers shows Intel at 87 versus AMD’s 33, a 163.6% blowout. Floating point math goes Intel’s way by 15.5% (43094 vs 37312), and integer math by 13.9% (72882 vs 63999). PassMark physics favors Intel 953 to 754, a 26.4% edge, and single-thread PassMark scores 3102 for Intel against 2597 for AMD, a 19.4% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. Intel’s Core i9-11900H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture built on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a die size of 190 mm². AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800H employs the Zen 2 architecture on TSMC’s 7 nm node, packing 9,800 million transistors into a smaller 156 mm² die. This process advantage gives AMD a density edge, though it does not translate into a performance win in most tests.

Clock speeds tell a story of their own. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.10 GHz but boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the AMD part runs at 2.90 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. Intel’s higher boost clock explains its dominance in single-threaded workloads. The TDP rating differs too: Intel is rated at 35 W, while AMD is rated at 45 W, suggesting the AMD chip may draw more power under sustained loads.

Cache configurations are starkly different. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD counters with 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and just 8 MB of shared L3. Intel’s triple-sized L3 cache likely contributes to its lead in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory with identical 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, though AMD also supports LPDDR4.

PCIe connectivity differs significantly. Intel offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while AMD is limited to PCIe Gen 3. This gives Intel a theoretical advantage for future storage and GPU bandwidth. Integrated graphics also differ: Intel includes UHD Graphics 750, while AMD features Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier not unlocked). Intel’s release date is May 2021, while AMD launched in January 2020, and Intel is now end-of-life while AMD remains active.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner for most users: the Intel Core i9-11900H. It wins 16 of 21 comparisons and posts especially strong results in modern benchmarks like Cinebench R23, where its 50.6% multicore lead and 88.8% single-core lead are decisive. The Intel chip also shows a higher average benchmark score of 21367 versus AMD’s 21749, though that difference is marginal, and both sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs.

However, the Ryzen 7 4800H is not without merit. It wins in legacy Cinebench R15 multicore by 8.8%, suggesting that older rendering workloads may favor AMD’s architecture. It also leads in data compression by 11.1% and encryption by 21.2%, making it a stronger choice for file archiving and security-focused tasks. The AMD chip’s 7 nm process and 9,800 million transistors indicate a more modern manufacturing approach, and its active production status means it remains available.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel chip is the obvious pick — its 27.2% lead in 3DMark single-thread and 19.4% lead in PassMark single-thread are too large to ignore. For multi-threaded productivity, Intel again leads in most modern tests, but the AMD chip’s wins in compression and encryption show it can handle specific data-heavy workflows better. The choice ultimately depends on workload priorities, but the benchmark data favors Intel in the majority of scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H wins every single-threaded test in the comparison. It leads by 88.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2367 vs 1253.5), 27.2% in 3DMark single-thread (917 vs 721), and 19.4% in PassMark single-thread (3102 vs 2597).

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded performance?

A: Intel wins most multi-threaded tests, including Cinebench R23 multicore by 50.6% (16772 vs 11135.5) and 3DMark 16-thread by 3.3% (6072 vs 5876). AMD wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 8.8% (1854 vs 1690).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where Intel scores 87 against AMD’s 33, a 163.6% advantage. The second-largest is Cinebench R23 single-core at 88.8%.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: Intel provides significantly more L3 cache: 24 MB shared versus AMD’s 8 MB shared. Intel also has more L2 cache per core (1.25 MB vs 512 KB), though AMD has 64 KB L1 per core versus Intel’s 80 KB.

Q: Are there workloads where AMD wins?

A: Yes. AMD wins data encryption by 21.2% (15530 vs 12232), data compression by 11.1% (269334 vs 239366), extended instructions by 5.4% (17035 vs 16123), and random string sorting by 2.9% (29181 vs 28328). It also wins Cinebench R15 multicore.

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: Intel uses a 10 nm process with a 190 mm² die, while AMD uses a 7 nm process from TSMC with a 156 mm² die and 9,800 million transistors.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11900H is the choice for users who prioritize raw computational speed in modern applications. It wins every 3DMark test, from 2-thread (1708 vs 1421) to 16-thread (6072 vs 5876), indicating strong scaling across thread counts. Its Cinebench R23 performance is exceptional, with a 50.6% multicore lead and an 88.8% single-core lead, making it ideal for current-generation rendering and simulation workloads. The PassMark results show Intel ahead in floating-point math (43094 vs 37312), integer math (72882 vs 63999), physics (953 vs 754), and find prime numbers (87 vs 33). This chip also offers PCIe Gen 4 support, which the AMD part lacks, and a lower TDP of 35 W versus 45 W.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H wins in data-centric workloads that involve moving or transforming large datasets. Its 21.2% lead in data encryption and 11.1% lead in data compression suggest it handles cryptographic operations and archiving more efficiently. The 5.4% edge in extended instructions and 2.9% lead in random string sorting point to strengths in specialized instruction sets and string manipulation. AMD also wins the legacy Cinebench R15 multicore test by 8.8%, which may matter for older software that relies on that benchmark’s workload characteristics. The chip’s 7 nm process and 9,800 million transistors indicate a more advanced manufacturing node, and its active production status means it remains available for purchase. For users running encryption-heavy or compression-heavy tasks, the Ryzen 7 4800H offers measurable advantages despite losing the overall benchmark count.