AMD Ryzen 7 5825U vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11700K and AMD Ryzen 7 5825U are both 8-core, 16-thread processors, but they occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum: one is a desktop part designed for maximum performance, the other a mobile chip built for efficiency. The benchmark data leaves no ambiguity about their relative performance levels, with the Intel part winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons. However, the context of their designs—125W desktop versus 15W mobile—explains why this comparison yields such a one-sided result.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation occurs in multi-threaded workloads, where the Intel Core i7-11700K’s performance advantage becomes overwhelming. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 20,666 against the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U’s 10,152, a staggering 103.6% delta. This means the desktop part delivers more than double the rendering performance of the mobile part in this test. The single-core Cinebench R23 result tells a similar story: 2,917 for Intel versus 1,452 for AMD, a 100.9% advantage. These are not incremental gains; they represent a generational chasm in computational throughput.

Geekbench results reinforce this pattern. The Intel Core i7-11700K posts a multi-core score of 10,521, which is 44.4% higher than the Ryzen 7 5825U’s 7,288. The single-core gap is narrower but still significant: 1,974 versus 1,618, a 22% delta. This suggests that while the AMD part has competitive IPC (instructions per clock) for its power envelope, it simply cannot match the raw frequency and sustained power delivery of the desktop chip.

PassMark’s suite of specialized tests reveals where the Intel architecture excels most. The largest margin outside of Cinebench comes in extended instructions, where Intel scores 22,964 against AMD’s 14,394—a 59.5% advantage. This test often reflects AVX-512 or similar vectorized workloads, indicating the Rocket Lake architecture’s strength in compute-heavy scientific or media applications. Random string sorting shows a 56.1% delta (36,755 vs. 23,539), and data compression shows 45.4% (322,689 vs. 221,938). These results point to superior memory subsystem performance and more effective utilization of the available cache hierarchy.

Even in tests where the gap is smaller, the Intel chip still leads decisively. PassMark single-thread scores are 3,390 versus 3,053, an 11% delta—the smallest margin in the entire comparison. Data encryption shows the same 11% gap (15,638 vs. 14,088). Integer math, floating-point math, and physics tests all fall in the 19% to 34.2% range (86,390 vs. 72,577; 51,119 vs. 38,482; 1,039 vs. 774, respectively). The 3DMark results for the Intel chip (8,095 in 16-thread, 6,370 in 8-thread, and 977 single-thread) are not directly comparable to any AMD scores in the data, but they establish a baseline for the desktop part’s gaming-relevant performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K wins every benchmark category in this comparison. There is no test where the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U comes out ahead. The closest the AMD chip gets is in single-threaded PassMark tests and data encryption, where it trails by only 11%. This means for any workload where raw CPU performance is the sole criterion—rendering, video encoding, scientific simulation, software compilation, or heavy multitasking—the Intel desktop part is the clear choice.

However, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U’s design goals are entirely different. With a 15W TDP compared to Intel’s 125W, the AMD chip is built for laptops and ultra-thin devices where battery life and thermal management take priority over absolute speed. Its 7nm TSMC process node versus Intel’s 14nm node means it achieves its performance at a fraction of the power draw. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not, making it suitable for certain workstation or server-adjacent mobile applications. Its integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics may also be more capable than Intel’s UHD Graphics 750 in some scenarios, though the benchmark data does not directly compare iGPU performance.

The AMD chip’s active production status versus Intel’s end-of-life status suggests it has a longer availability horizon. For a mobile user who needs 8 cores and 16 threads for occasional heavy tasks but primarily wants a responsive, power-efficient daily driver, the Ryzen 7 5825U offers a balanced package. The Intel chip, by contrast, is a desktop-only part with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, requiring a dedicated cooling solution and a motherboard with the Intel Socket 1200.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear verdict: the Intel Core i7-11700K is vastly more powerful in every measurable benchmark. For anyone building a desktop workstation or high-performance gaming rig, the Intel part’s 103.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 44.4% lead in Geekbench multi-core make it the only rational choice from this pair. Its 78th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the AMD chip’s percentile, but this equivalence is misleading given the massive score differences—the percentile reflects the broader market, not the head-to-head comparison.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U should be selected for an entirely different reason: it operates within a 15W power envelope, making it suitable for fanless or passively cooled laptops, ultra-portables, and devices where battery longevity is paramount. The data shows it is not competitive with the Intel chip in any performance metric, but it was never designed to be. Its 7nm process and 10,700 million transistors in a 180 mm² die demonstrate a far more efficient implementation of 8 cores and 16 threads.

The choice between these two processors is not about which is faster—the Intel chip wins every test—but about which form factor and power budget suits the user’s needs. A desktop user with access to adequate cooling should pick the Intel Core i7-11700K without hesitation. A mobile user who values portability and efficiency should pick the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U, accepting the performance trade-off as the cost of a 15W operating envelope.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i7-11700K in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 20,666 versus the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U’s 10,152, which is 103.6% faster. This means it completes the same rendering workload in roughly half the time.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U win any benchmark?

A: No. The data shows 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core i7-11700K wins all 17. The AMD chip’s closest result is an 11% deficit in PassMark single-thread and data encryption tests.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K scores 2,917 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,452 for the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U, a 100.9% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the gap is 22% (1,974 vs. 1,618).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Intel chip’s base clock is also higher at 3.60 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K has a 125W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U has a 15W TDP. This makes the AMD chip suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs, whereas the Intel chip requires a substantial cooling solution.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U supports ECC memory, but the Intel Core i7-11700K does not. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-11700K is built on Rocket Lake architecture using Intel’s 14nm process node, a mature but power-hungry process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses the Intel Socket 1200 and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, enabling fast NVMe storage and modern GPUs. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750, and the chip is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $399. Its multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U uses Zen 3 architecture on TSMC’s 7nm process, codenamed Barcelo. It also has 8 cores and 16 threads but with a much lower base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The cache configuration is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It is built on the AMD Socket FP6 and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, which is older but sufficient for most mobile peripherals. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8, and the chip is still in active production. It has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, reflecting the density advantage of the 7nm process. The multiplier is locked, and it does not support overclocking. ECC memory support is present, a feature absent on the Intel part.

The most significant architectural divergence is the process node and power envelope. The 14nm Intel chip draws 125W to achieve its 5.00 GHz boost, while the 7nm AMD chip draws only 15W to reach 4.50 GHz. This explains the performance gap: the Intel chip has access to over eight times the power budget, allowing it to sustain higher clocks across all cores. The AMD chip’s advantage lies in efficiency, fitting 8 cores and 16 threads into a 15W thermal envelope for mobile devices. Both chips share the same 16 MB L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support, but the Intel part’s PCIe Gen 4 support gives it a connectivity edge for desktop workloads.