AMD Ryzen 7 6800H vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data reveals a surprisingly split picture between these two processors, with the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H taking 11 of the 15 head-to-head benchmark wins, while the Intel Core i5-11600 secures 4 decisive victories. The most dramatic divergence appears in Cinebench R23, where the Intel part wins both multi-core and single-core tests by substantial margins. In R23 multi-core, the i5-11600 scores 15,269 against the 6800H's 13,094, a 16.6% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 2,155 versus 1,542, a 39.8% lead for Intel. This is the single largest delta recorded in the entire comparison.

Yet the older Cinebench R15 results tell a different story. There, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H wins multi-core with 2,136 points against Intel's 1,538, a 28% deficit for the i5. In R15 single-core, AMD also leads, scoring 242.5 versus 217, a 10.5% edge. The reversal between R15 and R23 is curious. It suggests that the workload characteristics differ substantially between these benchmark versions, with the newer R23 suite apparently favoring Intel's architecture in ways the older suite does not.

Turning to PassMark tests, the AMD processor dominates most compute-heavy workloads. In data compression, the 6800H scores 293,929 against Intel's 218,062, a 25.8% win. Data encryption shows an even larger gap: 18,260 versus 11,060, a 39.4% advantage for AMD. Integer math follows the same pattern, with AMD at 85,397 and Intel at 60,158, a 29.6% difference. Floating-point math sees AMD ahead by 26.1% (47,989 vs 35,478), and extended instructions favor AMD by 22% (20,114 vs 15,698).

The multithread PassMark score goes to AMD as well: 23,060 versus 17,918, a 22.3% lead. Physics, random string sorting, and prime number finding all lean AMD, with deltas of 14.8%, 17.9%, and 1.8% respectively. The only PassMark test where Intel wins is single-thread, where the i5-11600 scores 3,284 versus 3,212, a slim 2.2% margin. This small win contrasts sharply with the massive 39.8% single-core advantage Intel shows in Cinebench R23, indicating that different single-threaded workloads respond very differently to the two architectures.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect the AMD's broader strength: the Ryzen 7 6800H averages 25,201 across all tests, while the i5-11600 averages 24,563. Both processors sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy a similar tier overall despite their contrasting strengths. The nearest rivals data for the Intel part shows it within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Ryzen 5 7600X3D, and within 0.4% of the AMD EPYC 9654P. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H similarly sits within 0.4% of the Ryzen 9 6900HS and Intel Core i5-13400F, confirming that both CPUs inhabit a tightly contested performance band.

The Verdict

The data draws a clear line between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-11600 is the choice for applications that reward high single-core throughput, particularly in newer Cinebench R23 workloads where its 39.8% single-core and 16.6% multi-core advantages are decisive. This makes it well-suited for lightly threaded tasks like legacy software, certain productivity tools, and workloads where per-core speed matters more than core count.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, by contrast, wins the majority of the benchmark suite, including every PassMark compute test except single-thread, plus Cinebench R15 in both modes. Its 22.3% lead in PassMark multithread, 29.6% in integer math, and 39.4% in encryption indicate strong parallel throughput. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides a structural advantage in multi-threaded scenarios, and the data shows this translates into real performance gains across a broad range of workloads.

For a mobile processor, the 6800H also operates at a lower 45 W TDP compared to the i5-11600's 65 W, which is noteworthy given that it still outperforms the desktop part in most tests. The Intel chip does hold the edge in Cinebench R23, which may reflect architectural optimizations that newer benchmark versions expose. But the overall record favors AMD: 11 wins to 4, with a higher average benchmark score of 25,201 versus 24,563.

Users who prioritize Cinebench R23 performance, either for rendering or as a proxy for certain modern workloads, should lean toward the i5-11600. Users who need balanced multi-threaded performance across a variety of tasks, especially encryption, compression, and math-heavy operations, should choose the Ryzen 7 6800H. The single-thread PassMark result is nearly a tie, so the deciding factor rests on whether the workload resembles R23 or the broader PassMark suite.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11600 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process node with a die size of 276 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H uses the Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, manufactured by TSMC on a 6 nm process with a die size of 208 mm². The smaller process node and die size for AMD suggest a more compact and potentially more power-efficient design, which aligns with the lower 45 W TDP.

Core counts differ substantially: the i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 6800H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD part's additional cores and threads directly explain its dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks. Cache configurations also diverge. The Intel part provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has smaller L1 at 64 KB per core, the same 512 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 16 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 cache on the AMD chip may contribute to its strong performance in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption, which benefit from larger caches.

Memory support is another dividing line. The i5-11600 uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The 6800H supports DDR5 memory, also dual-channel, but with a significantly higher memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. This 50% bandwidth advantage for AMD likely plays a role in its superior throughput in memory-sensitive benchmarks. Both processors support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, so connectivity is equal.

The integrated graphics situation differs as well. The Intel part has no listed integrated graphics, while the AMD part includes Radeon 680M graphics. This makes the 6800H a more complete package for systems that need GPU output without a discrete card, particularly in mobile form factors. The AMD part also carries the "Active" production status, while the Intel part is marked "End-of-life," indicating the i5-11600 is no longer in production.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specification fields. The Intel Core i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.80 GHz for Intel and 3.20 GHz for AMD, giving the AMD chip a higher floor. Boost clocks are closer: 4.80 GHz for Intel versus 4.70 GHz for AMD, a slight edge for Intel at peak frequency. The TDP differs notably, with Intel at 65 W and AMD at 45 W, making the AMD part more power-efficient on paper.

The sockets are entirely different: Intel uses Socket 1200, while AMD uses Socket FP7. This means they are not interchangeable in any system. The process nodes differ as described above, with Intel at 14 nm and AMD at 6 nm. Cache sizes vary in L1 and L3, with Intel at 80 KB per core for L1 and 12 MB shared L3, while AMD has 64 KB per core L1 and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support differs with DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD, and memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. The integrated graphics field shows Radeon 680M for AMD and no entry for Intel. The release date for Intel is recorded as 2021-03-15, while AMD's release date is not listed. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $213, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The data is mixed. The Intel Core i5-11600 wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 39.8% (2,155 vs 1,542) and PassMark single-thread by 2.2% (3,284 vs 3,212). However, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 10.5% (242.5 vs 217).

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 28% (2,136 vs 1,538) and PassMark multithread by 22.3% (23,060 vs 17,918). The Intel Core i5-11600 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 16.6% (15,269 vs 13,094).

Q: What is the core and thread difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, providing two additional cores and four additional threads.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-11600 supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, making the AMD part's memory interface substantially faster.

Q: Are there any integrated graphics on either chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H includes Radeon 680M integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-11600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has a TDP of 45 W. The AMD part operates at a lower power envelope despite having more cores.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11600 wins specifically in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core, and in PassMark single-thread tests. The R23 results are striking, with a 39.8% single-core advantage that suggests the Intel architecture handles the newer benchmark's instruction patterns with particular efficiency. The 2.2% PassMark single-thread win is narrow but consistent with the Intel chip having a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz. These wins point to workloads that are single-threaded or make use of new Cinebench-style rendering paths.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H wins everywhere else. Its PassMark data compression score of 293,929 versus 218,062 indicates strength in file archiving and data processing tasks. The encryption win of 18,260 versus 11,060 shows a major advantage for security-related workloads. Integer and floating-point math tests, with leads of 29.6% and 26.1%, cover general computation and scientific workloads. The multithread score of 23,060 versus 17,918 favors the AMD part for heavily parallel tasks, and the physics score of 1,046 versus 891 suggests better simulation performance. Random string sorting, extended instructions, and prime number finding all go to AMD, making the Ryzen 7 6800H the more versatile processor for diverse multi-threaded applications.

For a desktop user with access to dedicated graphics, the Intel part may still appeal for its R23 performance and higher boost clock. For a mobile user or anyone running a broad mix of compute tasks, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H's 11 benchmark wins, lower TDP, larger cache, and faster memory support make it the stronger all-around choice. The data does not show a single clear winner, but it does show that the AMD part wins more tests and achieves a higher average benchmark score, which is the more reliable indicator of general performance.