AMD Ryzen 7 5700G vs Intel Core i9-11900K Comparison

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core i9-11900K wins 21 of 23 head-to-head comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G, with the AMD chip securing only two victories. Despite this lopsided win count, the margin of victory varies dramatically by workload, and the Ryzen 7 5700G’s specific strengths reveal a distinct, if narrow, use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-11900K dominates the most demanding multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 21168 versus AMD’s 12830.5, a 39.4% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it underscores a fundamental performance gap in heavily threaded workloads. The 3DMark 16-thread test tells a similar story: Intel scores 8331 against AMD’s 6629, a 20.4% lead. The Geekbench multi-core result reinforces the pattern, with Intel at 13550 and AMD at 9950, a 26.6% gap.

Single-thread performance heavily favors Intel as well. The Cinebench R23 single-core score shows Intel at 2988 versus AMD’s 1494, a 50% advantage. This is the largest percentage delta in any test, and it directly reflects the Intel chip’s higher boost clock. The 3DMark single-thread test confirms the trend, with Intel scoring 1011 against AMD’s 899, an 11.1% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core also goes to Intel by 19.2%, with scores of 300 and 242.5 respectively.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G wins exactly two benchmarks, both in the PassMark suite. The first is data encryption, where AMD scores 20325 versus Intel’s 16000, a 27% advantage. This is a substantial win and suggests an architectural edge in cryptographic workloads. The second is integer math, where AMD scores 91541 against Intel’s 89279, a 2.5% lead. This is a narrow margin, but it is a clear win nonetheless.

Several tests are close enough to be considered statistical ties. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel wins by just 1.2% (2133 vs 2107). PassMark floating-point math is similarly tight, with Intel ahead by only 2.9% (52841 vs 51296). PassMark multi-thread shows Intel winning by 2.5% (25038 vs 24419). These narrow margins suggest that in some lightly threaded or mixed workloads, the two CPUs are nearly interchangeable, but Intel still holds the edge.

The remaining Intel wins span a wide range of deltas. Data compression goes to Intel by 3.8% (330836 vs 318262). Extended instructions favor Intel by 6.7% (23406 vs 21847). Physics tests show Intel leading by 5% (1052 vs 999). Random string sorting gives Intel a 12% win (37942 vs 33384). The 3DMark 8-thread test goes to Intel by 13.5% (6528 vs 5648), while the 4-thread test shows a 10.3% gap (3778 vs 3389). Finally, the 2-thread test gives Intel an 11% win (1975 vs 1758).

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different manufacturing processes and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G uses TSMC’s 7 nm process node, while the Intel Core i9-11900K uses Intel’s 14 nm node. This process difference is reflected in physical characteristics: the AMD chip has a die size of 180 mm², whereas the Intel die is significantly larger at 276 mm². The AMD processor integrates 10,700 million transistors; the Intel chip does not have a transistor count listed in the data.

Both CPUs feature 8 cores and 16 threads, so the architectural differences are not about core counts. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, part of the 5000 series. The Intel Core i9-11900K is based on the Rocket Lake architecture, codenamed Rocket Lake, part of the Core 11th Gen family. The AMD chip’s L1 cache is 64 KB per core, while the Intel chip has 80 KB per core. Both have 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 16 MB of L3 cache, though the Intel L3 is described as shared while the AMD L3 is not explicitly labeled as such.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. AMD pairs the Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while Intel includes UHD Graphics 750. The memory support is identical: both support DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory. PCI Express capabilities differ, with AMD offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and Intel offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The base clocks are 3.80 GHz for AMD and 3.50 GHz for Intel, but the boost clocks tell a different story: Intel’s 5.30 GHz is substantially higher than AMD’s 4.60 GHz. The TDP also differs, with AMD rated at 65 watts and Intel at 125 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900K wins 21 out of 23 head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G wins only 2.

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

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel leads by 50% with a score of 2988 versus AMD’s 1494.

Q: In which workloads does the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G outperform the Intel Core i9-11900K?

A: The AMD chip wins in PassMark data encryption (20325 vs 16000, a 27% lead) and PassMark integer math (91541 vs 89279, a 2.5% lead).

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the two are nearly equal?

A: Yes, Cinebench R15 multi-core shows Intel ahead by only 1.2% (2133 vs 2107), and PassMark floating-point math shows Intel ahead by just 2.9% (52841 vs 51296).

Q: How do the boost clocks compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900K has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G’s boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is built on a 7 nm process, while the Intel Core i9-11900K is built on a 14 nm process.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-11900K has a lower base clock of 3.50 GHz. However, the Intel chip’s boost clock is 5.30 GHz, significantly higher than AMD’s 4.60 GHz. The TDP differs, with AMD at 65 watts and Intel at 125 watts. The process node differs, with AMD on 7 nm and Intel on 14 nm. The die sizes are 180 mm² for AMD and 276 mm² for Intel. The AMD chip has 10,700 million transistors, while the Intel chip has no listed transistor count. L1 cache differs, with AMD at 64 KB per core and Intel at 80 KB per core. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 for AMD and UHD Graphics 750 for Intel. The sockets are AMD Socket AM4 for the AMD chip and Intel Socket 1200 for the Intel chip. PCI Express support differs, with AMD offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes and Intel offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The production status differs, with AMD listed as Active and Intel as End-of-life. The architecture names differ, with AMD using Zen 3 (Cezanne) and Intel using Rocket Lake. The launch MSRP for the Intel Core i9-11900K is $539, while the AMD chip has no launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11900K is the clear winner in nearly every category. It is the superior choice for multi-threaded rendering, as shown by the 39.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also the better option for synthetic gaming benchmarks, winning all 3DMark tests from 2 threads to 16 threads. The Intel chip’s single-thread advantage, highlighted by the 50% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core, makes it the stronger pick for lightly threaded applications and general responsiveness. In content creation, the Geekbench multi-core score of 13550 versus 9950 indicates a 26.6% advantage for Intel. For data compression, the Intel chip wins by 3.8%, making it the better choice for file archiving and storage workloads. The Intel processor also wins in physics calculations, extended instructions, and random string sorting, with leads of 5%, 6.7%, and 12% respectively.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G wins in two specific areas. The first is data encryption, where the 27% lead over Intel (20325 vs 16000) makes it the clear choice for cryptographic operations and secure data handling. The second is integer math, where AMD’s 2.5% lead (91541 vs 89279) indicates a slight advantage in workloads that rely heavily on integer arithmetic. In addition, the AMD chip’s lower TDP of 65 watts versus Intel’s 125 watts suggests it is more power-efficient, though no specific power consumption benchmarks are provided. The AMD processor also has a smaller die size (180 mm² vs 276 mm²) and a more advanced 7 nm process node, which may contribute to its efficiency.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-11900K is the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads. With 21 wins out of 23 benchmarks, including dominant leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core (39.4%) and single-core (50%), the Intel chip is the better choice for any user prioritizing raw performance. The 26.6% lead in Geekbench multi-core and the consistent wins across all 3DMark tests further cement its position as the stronger all-around performer. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz directly explains its single-thread dominance, and its larger die size and higher TDP of 125 watts are indicative of its performance-oriented design.

Users who need the absolute best in multi-threaded rendering, single-thread responsiveness, or synthetic gaming benchmarks should select the Intel Core i9-11900K. Its 50% single-core lead and 39.4% multi-core lead are decisive advantages that no other benchmark result can offset. The Intel chip is also the better choice for data compression and physics workloads, where it leads by 3.8% and 5% respectively.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is the correct choice only for a narrow set of specific workloads. Its 27% lead in data encryption makes it the superior option for security-focused applications, and its 2.5% lead in integer math provides a small edge in integer-heavy computations. The AMD chip’s lower TDP of 65 watts, smaller die size, and 7 nm process node may appeal to users prioritizing efficiency, though the benchmark data does not include power consumption measurements. For all other tasks, the Intel Core i9-11900K is the clear winner. The verdict is simple: choose Intel for performance, choose AMD only if encryption or integer math is your primary workload.