AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous picture: the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D wins 17 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-11850H wins only 2. The AMD part’s average benchmark score of 24709 places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, matching the Intel part’s percentile exactly. However, the similarity ends there. The Intel chip’s average score of 24935 is slightly higher, but this is driven entirely by its two single-thread PassMark victories. Across Cinebench, Geekbench, and nearly every PassMark workload, the Ryzen 7 5700X3D leads by margins ranging from 7.9% to 64.5%.

The data suggests a desktop-class performer in the Ryzen 7 5700X3D versus a mobile-oriented chip in the i7-11850H. The Ryzen part’s 105 W TDP and desktop AM4 socket contrast with the Intel part’s 35 W TDP and BGA 1787 socket. Users prioritizing sustained multi-core workloads, physics simulation, or data encryption should choose the AMD processor. The i7-11850H retains a narrow edge only in single-threaded PassMark tests, where it scores 3069 versus 2970, a 3.3% advantage. For anyone building a desktop system with AM4 compatibility, the Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the data-backed choice. The Intel part makes sense only for those constrained to a mobile platform with the BGA 1787 socket and needing its 4.80 GHz boost clock for lightly threaded tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D scores 22366 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 25.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-11850H’s 16673.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i7-11850H wins?

A: Yes, the Intel part wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3069 versus 2970 for the AMD, a 3.3% advantage. This appears twice in the data (as passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread).

Q: How do the two chips compare in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D scores 11086, which is 27.8% higher than the Intel Core i7-11850H’s 8002. The single-core Geekbench gap is smaller, with AMD leading 1849 to 1703, a 7.9% difference.

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

A: The biggest delta is in PassMark physics, where the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D scores 2686 versus 954 for the Intel Core i7-11850H, a 64.5% lead for AMD.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type and bandwidth?

A: Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses and identical 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

Q: Are these processors in the same market segment?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11850H is a Mobile processor with a 35 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a Desktop processor with a 105 W TDP.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-11850H is built on Tiger Lake-H architecture, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. Its die size is 190 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D uses Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename, built on a 7 nm process node from TSMC. The AMD die is significantly smaller at 74 mm², yet it packs 8,850 million transistors versus the Intel part’s unspecified transistor count.

Cache hierarchies diverge substantially. The Intel part features 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part uses 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 cache is 96 MB — four times larger than Intel’s. This 96 MB L3 is the defining architectural feature of the X3D series, and the benchmark results reflect its impact on cache-sensitive workloads like physics and data compression.

Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads, so core count does not differentiate them. The Intel part integrates UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics (N/A). The Intel chip uses the BGA 1787 socket, indicating a soldered mobile design, whereas the AMD chip uses the AM4 socket for desktop builds. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. Process nodes differ by foundry and size: Intel’s 10 nm versus TSMC’s 7 nm, with the latter being the more advanced process as measured by feature size.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. Clock speeds favor the Intel part in boost: the i7-11850H has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz, while the Ryzen 7 5700X3D has a higher base of 3.00 GHz but a lower boost of 4.10 GHz. TDP is drastically different: 35 W for Intel versus 105 W for AMD, reflecting their mobile and desktop design targets.

Socket and market segment differ: Intel uses BGA 1787 (Mobile), AMD uses AM4 (Desktop). Integrated graphics are present only on the Intel chip (UHD Graphics 750); the AMD chip has none. ECC memory support is exclusive to the AMD part. Release dates are separated by over two and a half years: the Intel chip launched on 2021-05-10, while the AMD chip launched on 2024-01-07. The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $395; for the AMD part it is $249.

Cache sizes differ as noted: Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, AMD has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. L3 cache is 24 MB for Intel versus 96 MB for AMD. Die size and transistor count also differ: Intel’s die is 190 mm² with unspecified transistors, AMD’s is 74 mm² with 8,850 million transistors. The process node is 10 nm (Intel foundry) for the Intel part and 7 nm (TSMC) for the AMD part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D dominates the head-to-head results, but the magnitude varies by workload. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2254 against Intel’s 1680, a 25.5% lead. The same 25.5% delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core (318 versus 237), Cinebench R20 multi-core (9393 versus 7002), Cinebench R20 single-core (1325 versus 988), Cinebench R23 multi-core (22366 versus 16673), and Cinebench R23 single-core (3157 versus 2353). This consistent 25.5% gap across all Cinebench versions suggests a systematic per-clock advantage for the AMD architecture in rendering workloads.

Geekbench results show a similar but slightly varied pattern. Multi-core performance favors AMD by 27.8% (11086 versus 8002), while single-core narrows to 7.9% (1849 versus 1703). This indicates that the AMD chip’s advantage grows with thread count in this benchmark.

PassMark tests reveal the widest deltas. The physics test shows AMD leading by 64.5% (2686 versus 954), the largest margin in the entire comparison. Prime number finding shows AMD ahead by 61.2% (224 versus 87). Data encryption shows AMD ahead by 35% (18788 versus 12214). These three workloads — physics simulation, prime computation, and encryption — are typically cache- and memory-latency sensitive, which aligns with the AMD chip’s 96 MB L3 cache advantage.

Other PassMark tests show smaller but still decisive AMD wins. Data compression: 307237 versus 236949, a 22.9% lead. Extended instructions: 21202 versus 15788, a 25.5% lead. Multithread: 26318 versus 20059, a 23.8% lead. Integer math: 81257 versus 71996, an 11.4% lead. Floating point math: 46492 versus 42540, an 8.5% lead. Random string sorting: 31492 versus 28395, a 9.8% lead.

The only Intel wins come in PassMark single-thread tests, where the i7-11850H scores 3069 against 2970 for the Ryzen, a 3.3% advantage. This appears twice in the data, confirming consistency. Notably, this Intel win contradicts the Cinebench and Geekbench single-core results, where AMD wins by 25.5% and 7.9% respectively. The discrepancy likely reflects different instruction mixes and the Intel chip’s higher 4.80 GHz boost clock versus AMD’s 4.10 GHz.

The overall scoreboard stands at 17 wins for AMD and 2 for Intel. The data indicates that the Ryzen 7 5700X3D is the superior performer in the vast majority of measured workloads, with particularly strong showings in physics, cryptography, and rendering. The i7-11850H’s single-thread PassMark edge is real but narrow, and it does not translate to wins in other single-thread benchmarks. For users prioritizing raw performance across a broad workload spectrum, the AMD part is the clear choice based on this benchmark data.