AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Intel Core i5-11600 are both desktop processors, but they represent very different approaches to CPU design. The data shows a clear overall winner, with the Ryzen 7 5700X3D taking 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel chip manages only 2 wins. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 24,709, slightly ahead of the Intel's 24,563, a delta of 0.6% in favor of AMD. Both CPUs sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing, yet the individual workload results tell a story of distinct strengths and weaknesses.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic victory for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D comes in the PassMark physics test, where it scores 2,686 against Intel's 891. This represents a massive 201.5% lead, highlighting a significant advantage in simulated physics calculations. Similarly, in the PassMark find prime numbers test, the AMD chip scores 224 versus a mere 56 for the Intel, a 300% difference. These results indicate that the Ryzen 7 5700X3D's architecture is exceptionally well-suited for integer-heavy, parallel workloads that stress core count and cache.

Across the entire Cinebench suite, the AMD processor is consistently faster. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 22,366 compared to 15,269 for the Intel, a 46.5% advantage. The single-core results are equally lopsided: the Ryzen 7 5700X3D scores 3,157 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 2,155 for the i5-11600, also a 46.5% gap. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 and R15, with the AMD chip leading by 46.4% to 46.6% in both single and multi-threaded tests. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 5700X3D's higher core count and larger cache provide a fundamental performance edge in rendering and 3D modeling tasks.

In PassMark's multithread test, the AMD chip scores 26,318 versus 17,918, a 46.9% lead. Data encryption shows a 69.9% advantage for AMD (18,788 vs. 11,060), and data compression favors AMD by 40.9% (307,237 vs. 218,062). Extended instructions and integer math both show AMD ahead by 35.1%, with scores of 21,202 vs. 15,698 and 81,257 vs. 60,158 respectively. Floating point math sees AMD ahead by 31% (46,492 vs. 35,478), and random string sorting is 25.1% faster on the AMD side (31,492 vs. 25,178). These results paint a picture of a CPU that dominates in nearly every computational category.

The Intel Core i5-11600's only victories come in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 3,284 versus AMD's 2,970, a 9.6% advantage. This is the sole bright spot for Intel, indicating that its architecture, despite having fewer cores, can deliver higher peak performance on a single thread. However, this single win is not enough to offset the AMD processor's sweeping dominance across all other metrics. The data clearly shows that for anyone prioritizing multi-threaded performance, the Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the superior choice.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D has an average benchmark score of 24,709, while the Intel Core i5-11600 has an average score of 24,563. The difference is 0.6% in favor of AMD.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-11600 outperform the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 wins the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 3,284 compared to the AMD's 2,970, which is a 9.6% advantage for Intel.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D scores 22,366 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 46.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600's score of 15,269.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark win for the AMD processor?

A: The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 224 versus Intel's 56, a 300% difference. The PassMark physics test is also a major win, with AMD ahead by 201.5%.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and the Intel Core i5-11600 are in the 77th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How does the AMD chip compare to other rivals in its nearestRivals list?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, with a deltaPct of -0.1%, meaning they are nearly identical in performance. It is also 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i5-12450HX and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and is part of the 5000 series. It is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 74 mm² and 8,850 million transistors. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-11600 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, part of the Core 11th Gen series, and is built on Intel's 14 nm process. The Intel die is significantly larger at 276 mm², and its transistor count is not listed in the data. This difference in process node is a key architectural distinction, with AMD's smaller node potentially contributing to efficiency and density advantages.

The cache configurations are starkly different. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a massive 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-11600 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The 96 MB L3 cache on the AMD part is a defining feature, likely providing a significant advantage in workloads that benefit from large, fast access to data.

In terms of core and thread counts, the AMD processor offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel chip provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Both support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and have a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Both also support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. A notable difference is that the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-11600 does not. The AMD processor does not have integrated graphics, while the Intel's integrated graphics status is listed as null in the data. The AMD part is produced on a 7 nm process, while Intel uses a 14 nm process, and the AMD processor has a production status of Active, while the Intel chip is End-of-life.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification differences are in core and thread counts. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock of the AMD processor is 3.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel's 2.80 GHz. However, the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz compared to the AMD's 4.10 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) also differs, with the AMD part rated at 105 W and the Intel part at 65 W.

The sockets are incompatible: the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i5-11600 uses Intel Socket 1200. The process node is another key difference, with AMD at 7 nm and Intel at 14 nm. The die size also varies, with AMD at 74 mm² and Intel at 276 mm². The L3 cache is a major differentiator, with AMD offering 96 MB shared and Intel only 12 MB shared. The L1 cache per core is 64 KB for AMD and 80 KB for Intel, while L2 cache per core is 512 KB for both.

The AMD processor supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not. The release dates are also different, with AMD launching on 2024-01-07 and Intel on 2021-03-15. The Intel Core i5-11600 has a launch MSRP of $213, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D has a launch MSRP of $249. The production status differs, with AMD listed as Active and Intel as End-of-life. The part numbers are also unique, with AMD's being 100-000001503100-100001503WOF and Intel's being SRKNW. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the superior processor for nearly all workloads. It wins 15 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench tests and the vast majority of PassMark tests. The AMD chip is particularly dominant in multi-threaded scenarios, with leads of 46.5% in Cinebench R23 multicore and 46.9% in PassMark multithread. Its massive 96 MB L3 cache and 8-core, 16-thread configuration deliver a decisive advantage in rendering, physics, and data-heavy tasks. Users who run heavily parallel applications, content creation software, or scientific simulations should choose the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D without hesitation, as the data shows it is consistently faster.

The Intel Core i5-11600 is not without merit. Its only win is in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 9.6% higher than the AMD part. This indicates that for tasks that rely heavily on a single core, such as some older games or lightly-threaded applications, the Intel chip may offer slightly better responsiveness. However, this narrow advantage is a small consolation given that the AMD chip wins in every other category. The Intel part also has a lower TDP of 65 W, which could be a consideration for users building a system with strict power or cooling constraints. However, the data shows that the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw performance. The Intel Core i5-11600 might be suitable for a user who only cares about single-thread speed and has a limited power budget, but the overall performance picture strongly favors the AMD processor.