AMD Ryzen 7 5700 vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11700K and AMD Ryzen 7 5700 are both 8-core, 16-thread desktop processors, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies from their respective manufacturers. The data shows that the Intel part, built on the 14 nm Rocket Lake architecture, wins 22 of the 25 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD part, built on the 7 nm Zen 3 architecture, manages only 3 wins. However, the magnitude of those wins varies dramatically, from a 22.1% Intel advantage in some 3DMark tests to a 22.2% AMD advantage in data encryption, and both processors sit at the 78th percentile of all CPUs. This makes for a nuanced comparison where the overall average benchmark scores (25812 for Intel vs 25517 for AMD) are separated by just over 1%, yet the individual workload characteristics tell a much more interesting story about what each chip is optimized for.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has an average benchmark score of 25812, which is 1.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 5700's average score of 25517.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K leads in single-threaded tests, scoring 977 in 3DMark single-thread versus 901 for the AMD, and 3390 in PassMark single-thread versus 3296 for the AMD. The Intel advantage is 8.4% in 3DMark and 2.9% in PassMark.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 wins?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 wins 3 benchmarks: PassMark data encryption (20096 vs 15638, a 22.2% advantage), PassMark floating point math (51427 vs 51119), and PassMark integer math (90091 vs 86390).

Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has a TDP of 125 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has a TDP of 65 watts, making the AMD chip significantly more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses and identical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. However, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 supports ECC memory while the Intel Core i7-11700K does not.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K was released on 2021-03-15, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 was released over a year later on 2022-04-03.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply at the architectural level. The Intel Core i7-11700K uses the Rocket Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 uses the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Cezanne) on TSMC's 7 nm process. This process node difference is substantial, with AMD's chip featuring 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while Intel's chip has no published transistor count or die size in the data.

Cache configurations also differ meaningfully. The Intel part has an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, while the AMD part has 64 KB per core. Both have 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache, but the Intel L3 is explicitly labeled as "16 MB (shared)" while the AMD is just "16 MB". The AMD chip includes ECC memory support, which the Intel chip lacks, and the Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has no integrated graphics at all.

PCIe support is another differentiator. The Intel Core i7-11700K offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This gives the Intel platform a potential bandwidth advantage for storage and graphics, though the AMD chip's newer 7 nm process and higher transistor density suggest better power efficiency per unit of performance. The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for AMD, and a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.70 GHz for AMD.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear pattern: Intel wins most tests but often by small margins, while AMD's wins are more specialized. The largest Intel victories come in 3DMark multi-threaded tests, where the 11700K scores 8095 in 16-thread and 8080 in max-thread, both 22.1% ahead of the AMD's 6628 and 6617 respectively. The 8-thread 3DMark test shows a 14.1% Intel lead (6370 vs 5585), and the 2-thread test shows an 8.2% lead (1907 vs 1762).

Single-threaded performance also favors Intel, with the 3DMark single-thread test showing an 8.4% advantage (977 vs 901). Geekbench results follow the same trend, with Intel leading 5.6% in multi-core (10521 vs 9959) and 3.5% in single-core (1974 vs 1907). In Cinebench tests, the two are nearly identical: R15 multi-core is a tie at 2082 for both, R20 multi-core is 8679 vs 8675 (0% delta), and R23 multi-core is 20666 vs 20655 (0.1% delta). Single-core Cinebench results are similarly close, with deltas of 0.3% or less.

The AMD wins are concentrated in specific PassMark workloads. The data encryption test shows a dramatic 22.2% AMD advantage (20096 vs 15638), which is the largest margin in either direction across all benchmarks. AMD also wins floating point math (51427 vs 51119, a 0.6% advantage) and integer math (90091 vs 86390, a 4.1% advantage). Intel wins the remaining PassMark tests, including data compression (1.9% ahead), extended instructions (4.6% ahead), find prime numbers (13.8% ahead), physics (5.6% ahead), random string sorting (10.9% ahead), single-thread (2.9% ahead), and multithread (0.4% ahead).

The Verdict

The data paints a picture of two processors that are remarkably close in overall performance but with distinct strengths. The Intel Core i7-11700K is the clear winner in 3DMark tests, with advantages ranging from 8% to 22.1% across all thread counts, and it maintains a consistent edge in single-threaded workloads. This suggests it is the better choice for gaming and applications that rely on high-frequency, low-latency single-thread performance. The 22.1% lead in 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests is particularly notable, indicating that Intel's architecture handles the 3DMark workload significantly better than AMD's.

However, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is not without its merits. Its 22.2% advantage in data encryption is substantial and suggests that for cryptographic workloads, the AMD architecture has a significant edge. The smaller wins in integer and floating point math, while modest, indicate that AMD's Zen 3 cores are competitive in pure computational tasks. The AMD chip also offers ECC memory support and a much lower TDP of 65 watts versus 125 watts, which could be critical for certain professional or always-on use cases.

For most users, the Intel Core i7-11700K appears to be the stronger performer, especially given its wins in 22 out of 25 benchmarks and its higher average benchmark score. The data suggests that the 11700K is the better choice for gamers and general desktop users who want maximum performance across a wide range of tasks. The Ryzen 7 5700, meanwhile, is the better choice for users who prioritize data encryption performance, ECC memory support, or power efficiency, as its 65-watt TDP is nearly half that of the Intel chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Intel Core i7-11700K has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The TDP difference is significant: 125 watts for Intel versus 65 watts for AMD.

The manufacturing process differs, with Intel using 14 nm and AMD using 7 nm. The AMD chip is manufactured by TSMC with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not listed. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core on Intel versus 64 KB per core on AMD, though both have 512 KB L2 per core and 16 MB L3.

The Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 20 lanes. ECC memory support is present on AMD but not on Intel. The Intel chip has integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics. The socket types also differ: Intel Socket 1200 for the 11700K versus AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen 7 5700. The Intel chip was released on 2021-03-15 and is end-of-life, while the AMD chip was released on 2022-04-03 and is still active.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K wins decisively in 3DMark workloads, with advantages of 22.1% in 16-thread and max-thread tests, 14.1% in 8-thread, 8% in 4-thread, 8.2% in 2-thread, and 8.4% in single-thread. This makes it the clear choice for gaming and any workload that resembles the 3DMark suite. It also wins in Geekbench multi-core (5.6%), Geekbench single-core (3.5%), PassMark physics (5.6%), PassMark random string sorting (10.9%), PassMark find prime numbers (13.8%), PassMark extended instructions (4.6%), PassMark single-thread (2.9%), and PassMark data compression (1.9%). In Cinebench tests, the two are essentially tied, with Intel winning by 0.1% or less in all cases.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 wins in PassMark data encryption by a massive 22.2%, making it the standout choice for encryption-heavy workloads such as secure communications, VPN processing, or any task involving heavy cryptographic operations. It also wins in PassMark integer math (4.1% ahead) and PassMark floating point math (0.6% ahead), suggesting a slight edge in raw computational math tasks. Additionally, the AMD chip's support for ECC memory and its 65-watt TDP make it the better choice for systems that require error-correcting memory or where power consumption is a primary concern.

For users who need a processor for gaming and general desktop use, the Intel Core i7-11700K is the stronger choice based on its 22 wins and consistent leads across most benchmarks. For users who prioritize encryption performance, ECC memory support, or power efficiency, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 offers specific advantages that the Intel chip cannot match, despite its lower overall benchmark score.