AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT outperforms the Intel Core i9-11980HK in every single measured test in this comparison. The AMD processor wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 7.8% to 35.6%. Despite both CPUs holding the same 81st percentile ranking among all processors, the Ryzen 7 5800XT delivers consistently superior performance across single-threaded, multi-threaded, and specialized workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant gap between these two processors appears in data encryption workloads. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT scores 21,461 in PassMark data encryption, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK manages only 13,813. That represents a 35.6% advantage for AMD, the largest delta in the entire comparison. This suggests the AMD chip handles cryptographic operations with substantially greater efficiency.

The Cinebench suite shows a remarkably consistent pattern across all six tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT beats the Intel chip by 21.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core, and by 21.9% in R15 single-core. The specific scores tell the story: in R23 multi-core, AMD scores 23,794 versus Intel's 18,617; in R23 single-core, AMD scores 3,359 versus Intel's 2,628. This uniformity across both single and multi-threaded tests indicates a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Extended instruction performance favors the AMD chip by 27.3%, with scores of 24,270 versus 17,654. Data compression shows a 24.3% gap, with AMD at 352,002 and Intel at 266,571. Integer math tests reveal a 16.2% difference (93,942 vs 78,682), while floating-point math shows a 14% gap (53,808 vs 46,262). The PassMark multi-thread score shows AMD ahead by 20% (28,053 vs 22,436), and even the closest contest, single-thread performance, still favors AMD by 7.8% (3,535 vs 3,261).

The narrowest margin is in random string sorting, where AMD leads by 11.7% (35,911 vs 31,709). Prime number finding shows a 16% gap (119 vs 100), and physics tests show a 17.9% difference (1,355 vs 1,112). The consistent nature of these results — every test going the same direction — leaves no ambiguity about which processor delivers higher raw performance.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental design philosophies diverge sharply between these two chips. The Intel Core i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT uses the Zen 3 architecture codenamed Vermeer, manufactured by TSMC on a 7 nm process. The process node difference alone — 10 nm versus 7 nm — helps explain the efficiency gap, though the architectures themselves also differ substantially.

Both processors feature 8 cores and 16 threads, but their cache hierarchies diverge. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while AMD offers a smaller 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core. However, AMD compensates with a larger shared L3 cache: 32 MB versus Intel's 24 MB. The Intel die measures 190 mm², while AMD's is just 74 mm², and AMD packs 4,150 million transistors into that smaller space. The Intel chip has no transistor count listed in the data.

Clock speeds also differ meaningfully. The Intel chip has a 2.60 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock, while AMD runs at 3.80 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The AMD chip starts at a much higher base frequency, which contributes to its consistent lead in single-threaded workloads. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz does not translate into benchmark victories, highlighting that peak frequency alone cannot overcome architectural efficiency.

The market positioning reveals different design priorities. The Intel Core i9-11980HK is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP, designed for laptops, and includes integrated UHD Graphics 750. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a desktop processor with a 105 W TDP and no integrated graphics. Intel uses an Intel BGA 1787 socket, while AMD uses Socket AM4. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and identical 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, and both offer PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. AMD supports ECC memory; Intel does not.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the superior processor for every workload measured here. With 17 wins out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, there is no category where the Intel Core i9-11980HK comes out ahead. The smallest margin of victory for AMD is 7.8% in single-thread performance, and the largest is 35.6% in data encryption. This is not a close competition.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the clear choice. Its larger L3 cache, higher base clock, and more modern 7 nm process from TSMC combine to deliver superior results across rendering, encryption, math operations, and general multi-threaded workloads. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz cannot compensate for the architectural advantages of the Zen 3 design.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK does retain one practical advantage: it is a mobile processor with integrated graphics. For applications requiring a laptop form factor without a discrete GPU, the Intel chip's inclusion of UHD Graphics 750 and its 45 W TDP make it functional in ways the AMD desktop chip cannot match. However, these are form-factor advantages, not performance advantages. The benchmark data shows no performance scenario where the Intel chip wins.

The production status also favors AMD. The Ryzen 7 5800XT is listed as active, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK is end-of-life. For new system builds, AMD offers an actively supported product. The Intel chip's 2021 release date versus AMD's 2024 release date further underscores the generational gap. The AMD chip represents a newer, more efficient design that dominates in all measured performance categories.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-11980HK | AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 105 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 4,150 million |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 32 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | N/A |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-05-10 | 2024-07-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $583 | $249 |

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 23,794 versus Intel's 18,617, a 21.8% advantage. PassMark multi-thread also favors AMD at 28,053 versus 22,436.

Q: Does the Intel chip's 5.00 GHz boost clock give it a single-thread advantage?

A: No. Despite the higher boost clock, AMD wins all single-thread tests. In PassMark single-thread, AMD scores 3,535 versus Intel's 3,261, a 7.8% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 3,359 versus Intel's 2,628.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark data encryption, where AMD leads by 35.6% with a score of 21,461 versus Intel's 13,813. Data compression shows the second-largest gap at 24.3%.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads. However, they differ in cache configuration, with Intel offering more L1 and L2 cache per core while AMD provides a larger 32 MB shared L3 cache versus Intel's 24 MB.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK does not. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the processors compare in terms of production status?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is listed as active production, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK is end-of-life. The AMD chip was released on 2024-07-30, while Intel's chip was released on 2021-05-10.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT wins in every benchmark category measured, making it the default choice for performance-oriented workloads. Its largest advantages come in data encryption (35.6% ahead), extended instructions (27.3% ahead), and data compression (24.3% ahead). These workloads benefit from the Zen 3 architecture's larger 32 MB L3 cache and more efficient instruction handling. Content creation tasks using Cinebench will see a consistent 21.8% improvement across all rendering tests, whether single or multi-threaded.

The AMD chip also excels in math-intensive workloads, with a 16.2% lead in integer math and 14% lead in floating-point math. Its 20% advantage in PassMark multi-thread performance makes it suitable for heavily parallel applications. The 7.8% single-thread advantage ensures that even lightly threaded applications run faster on the AMD platform.

The Intel Core i9-11980HK does not win any benchmark category, but it holds distinct use-case advantages outside of raw performance. As a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 750, it is designed for laptop systems where power consumption and integrated display output matter. The Intel chip's 5.00 GHz boost clock and BGA 1787 socket target thin-and-light gaming laptops and mobile workstations, whereas the AMD chip's 105 W TDP and Socket AM4 target desktop towers with discrete graphics.

For users building desktop systems, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is the clear winner in all measured performance metrics. For users requiring a mobile form factor with integrated graphics, the Intel chip remains viable despite its performance deficit. The data shows no scenario where the Intel chip outperforms AMD, but its mobile design and integrated GPU make it functional for laptop applications where the AMD desktop chip cannot be used at all.