AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear split between these two eight-core, sixteen-thread processors, despite both landing at the 80th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D wins the majority of head-to-head matchups, taking 12 of 15 benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i9-11950H claims only 3 wins. The AMD part’s average benchmark score of 27,896 is slightly below the Intel’s 28,332, but that aggregate figure masks the AMD processor’s dominance in most specialized workloads.

The Intel Core i9-11950H should be the pick for users whose priority is single-core Cinebench performance. Its 68% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1.7% lead in R15 single-core are decisive. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, however, is the better choice for data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, prime number calculations, floating-point math, integer math, multithreaded PassMark, physics simulation, and random string sorting. The data shows the AMD part leading by margins ranging from 2.9% in single-thread PassMark to 64.9% in PassMark physics.

For mobile users, the Intel part fits a laptop socket with a 35 W TDP, while the AMD part is a desktop chip with a 105 W TDP. The Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 750 provides display output without a discrete GPU, whereas the AMD processor has no integrated graphics. The AMD’s launch MSRP was $449, and the Intel’s launch MSRP was $556.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D wins overwhelmingly in PassMark’s compute-oriented tests. In data compression, it scores 329,688 versus 246,195, a 25.3% advantage. Data encryption shows a 37.5% lead (20,258 versus 12,658). Extended instructions favor AMD by 27.5% (22,580 versus 16,361). The largest single margin is in PassMark physics, where AMD scores 2,884 versus Intel’s 1,013, a 64.9% gap. Prime number finding also heavily favors AMD: 227 versus 93, a 59% difference.

The AMD part also leads in PassMark multithread (28,309 versus 20,900, up 26.2%), integer math (88,608 versus 74,649, up 15.8%), floating-point math (50,100 versus 44,137, up 11.9%), and random string sorting (33,776 versus 29,375, up 13%). Even in PassMark single-thread, where Intel’s architecture typically shines, AMD edges ahead by 2.9% (3,234 versus 3,141).

The Intel Core i9-11950H wins in three specific areas. Cinebench R23 multicore is its biggest victory: 17,279 versus 14,317, a 20.7% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows an even larger percentage gap of 68% (2,439 versus 1,452). Cinebench R15 single-core is a narrow win at 1.7% (245 versus 241). Notably, the Intel part loses Cinebench R15 multicore by 27.8% (1,741 versus 2,413), which indicates that the AMD part’s advantage grows in older Cinebench versions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-11950H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture on Intel’s 10 nm process, built by Intel itself. The die size is 190 mm². It packs 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D uses the Zen 3 architecture on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with the codename Vermeer. It contains 8,850 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. Base clock is 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its caches are smaller per core (64 KB L1, 512 KB L2) but the shared L3 is much larger at 96 MB, a fourfold increase over the Intel part’s 24 MB. This large L3 cache likely explains the AMD part’s strong showing in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Both CPUs support DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part has integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD part has none. The AMD supports ECC memory; the Intel does not. The Intel’s TDP is 35 W versus 105 W for AMD. The Intel uses the BGA 1787 socket (mobile), while the AMD uses Socket AM4 (desktop). The Intel was released on 2021-05-10, the AMD on 2022-04-19. Both are end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H scores 17,279 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s 14,317, giving Intel a 20.7% lead.

Q: How large is the AMD’s L3 cache compared to Intel’s?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i9-11950H has 24 MB. That is a 4x difference.

Q: Does the AMD processor have integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D has no integrated graphics. The Intel Core i9-11950H includes UHD Graphics 750.

Q: Which chip wins in PassMark physics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D wins decisively with 2,884 versus Intel’s 1,013, a 64.9% advantage.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for both CPUs?

A: Both support dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D boosts to 4.50 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D comes in PassMark physics, where it posts 2,884 against the Intel’s 1,013. That 64.9% margin is nearly twice the size of the next biggest gap. Find prime numbers shows a 59% difference (227 versus 93), and data encryption is 37.5% apart (20,258 versus 12,658). These are workload-specific advantages that point to the AMD’s efficiency in integer-heavy and physics-simulation tasks.

The Intel Core i9-11950H’s biggest win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2,439 versus 1,452, a 68% lead. That is the largest percentage difference in either direction across all compared tests. The same test in multicore mode gives Intel a 20.7% win (17,279 versus 14,317), which is unusual because the AMD wins the older Cinebench R15 multicore by 27.8% (2,413 versus 1,741). This suggests the Intel part scales better in the newer Cinebench version, while the AMD part dominates the older one.

In PassMark multithread, the AMD wins by 26.2% (28,309 versus 20,900). Data compression favors AMD by 25.3% (329,688 versus 246,195). Extended instructions show AMD ahead by 27.5% (22,580 versus 16,361). Integer math is 15.8% in AMD’s favor (88,608 versus 74,649). Floating-point math is 11.9% apart (50,100 versus 44,137). Random string sorting gives AMD a 13% edge (33,776 versus 29,375).

The narrowest margins are interesting. PassMark single-thread shows AMD ahead by just 2.9% (3,234 versus 3,141), despite Intel’s higher boost clock. Cinebench R15 single-core has Intel ahead by only 1.7% (245 versus 241). These close results indicate that the two architectures are nearly matched on lightly threaded tasks, with the AMD’s larger cache offsetting Intel’s clock advantage.

Overall, the head-to-head record is 12 wins for AMD and 3 for Intel. The AMD leads in every PassMark test except none (it wins all PassMark comparisons), while Intel wins exclusively in Cinebench tests. The AMD’s average benchmark score of 27,896 is only 1.5% below Intel’s 28,332, but the distribution of wins suggests the AMD is the more versatile part for general compute workloads, with Intel holding a specific niche in Cinebench rendering performance.