AMD Ryzen 7 6800H vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11850H and AMD Ryzen 7 6800H are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, but benchmark data shows they are not interchangeable. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H dominates the head-to-head results, winning 14 of 17 tests, with its most significant victories coming in encryption, extended instructions, and multi-threaded workloads. However, the Intel Core i7-11850H delivers a decisive counterpunch in Cinebench R23, particularly in single-core performance, where it leads by a massive 52.6%. The data suggests the AMD chip is the more consistent all-rounder for productivity and content creation, while the Intel part retains a specific edge for workloads that favor high-frequency single-thread execution.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H if you prioritize overall multi-threaded performance and data-heavy tasks. The benchmark record is clear: AMD wins 14 of the 17 direct comparisons, including Geekbench multi-core (9642 vs 8002, a 17% advantage), PassMark multi-thread (23060 vs 20059, a 13% lead), and a 33.1% lead in data encryption (18260 vs 12214). This chip also leads in integer math (85397 vs 71996, 15.7% ahead) and floating-point math (47989 vs 42540, 11.4% ahead), making it the stronger choice for compilation, scientific computing, and general heavy multitasking.

Choose the Intel Core i7-11850H if your work is dominated by single-threaded responsiveness or specific legacy workloads. The data shows Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by a landslide (2353 vs 1542, a 52.6% advantage) and also wins the PassMark find prime numbers test by the same 52.6% margin (87 vs 57). For software that cannot utilize many cores, the Intel architecture's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz on the AMD part likely explains this gap, making it the pick for lightly-threaded applications where per-core speed is king.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H wins decisively, scoring 16673 versus 13094 for the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, a 27.3% margin in Intel's favor.

Q: Which CPU has the higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz on the Intel Core i7-11850H.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H features the Radeon 680M, while the Intel Core i7-11850H includes UHD Graphics 750. The data does not include graphics benchmarks, so performance comparison is not possible from this pack.

Q: Which processor uses faster memory technology?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, whereas the Intel Core i7-11850H supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Is the Intel chip more power-efficient?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H has a TDP of 35 W, compared to 45 W for the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, indicating Intel's design targets a lower thermal envelope.

Q: Which CPU has a better average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has a higher average benchmark score of 25201, compared to 24935 for the Intel Core i7-11850H, though both sit in the 77th percentile of all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11850H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture built on Intel's 10 nm process node, with a die size of 190 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H employs the Zen 3+ architecture (codename Rembrandt) on TSMC's 6 nm node, with a slightly larger die at 208 mm². This process advantage likely contributes to AMD's ability to sustain a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus Intel's 2.10 GHz, while also supporting faster DDR5 memory.

Cache topology also differs significantly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a total of 24 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD uses smaller per-core caches at 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2, but the L3 pool is only 16 MB shared. The larger L3 cache on the Intel part may help in scenarios with repeated data access, but the benchmark results show AMD's overall architecture wins more often.

Both chips support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes and lack ECC memory support. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part specifies a part number of SRKT4, while AMD uses 100-000000545. Intel also has a recorded launch MSRP of $395, though AMD's pricing data is not available. Both are listed as active production parts for the mobile market segment.

Specification Differences

The most striking difference is in memory support. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H uses DDR5 with a theoretical bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, which is 50% higher than the Intel Core i7-11850H's DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage likely underpins AMD's wins in data-heavy PassMark tests.

Clock speeds tell a mixed story. Intel has a higher boost clock (4.80 GHz vs 4.70 GHz) and a lower base clock (2.10 GHz vs 3.20 GHz). The lower base clock on Intel suggests a more aggressive power management strategy, which aligns with its lower TDP of 35 W versus AMD's 45 W.

The integrated graphics differ: Intel pairs with UHD Graphics 750, while AMD uses Radeon 680M. Sockets are incompatible (Intel BGA 1787 vs AMD Socket FP7). Process node and foundry also differ (Intel 10 nm vs TSMC 6 nm), as do die sizes (190 mm² vs 208 mm²). The L3 cache is larger on Intel (24 MB vs 16 MB), but the L1 and L2 caches are larger per core on Intel as well (80 KB and 1.25 MB vs 64 KB and 512 KB).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H's biggest win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 18260 against Intel's 12214, a 33.1% advantage. This is followed by a 21.5% lead in extended instructions (20114 vs 15788) and a 19.4% lead in data compression (293929 vs 236949). In multi-threaded tests, AMD wins Geekbench multi-core by 17% (9642 vs 8002) and PassMark multi-thread by 13% (23060 vs 20059). AMD also leads in integer math (15.7%), floating-point math (11.4%), physics (8.8%), and random string sorting (7.4%). Even in single-threaded PassMark tests, AMD wins by 4.5% (3212 vs 3069).

The Intel Core i7-11850H's wins are concentrated but dramatic. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2353 versus AMD's 1542, a 52.6% lead. Intel also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 27.3% (16673 vs 13094), which is surprising given AMD's other multi-thread victories. Intel additionally wins the PassMark find prime numbers test by 52.6% (87 vs 57). The Cinebench R15 results show AMD winning both multi-core (2136 vs 1680, 21.3%) and single-core (242.5 vs 237, 2.3%), indicating the Intel advantage appears specifically in the R23 version of the test.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H is the clear winner for encryption and compression workloads, which benefit from its higher memory bandwidth and modern architecture. Its 33.1% lead in data encryption and 19.4% lead in data compression make it suitable for tasks like database operations, file archiving, and security-related processing. The 15.7% lead in integer math and 11.4% lead in floating-point math point to advantages in general scientific computing and financial modeling. For everyday multi-tasking and productivity suites that scale across cores, AMD's 13% multi-thread win and 17% Geekbench multi-core win make it the safer recommendation.

The Intel Core i7-11850H wins where single-thread speed is paramount. Its 52.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core suggests a major advantage in legacy software, scripting, and applications that rely on a single primary thread. The 52.6% win in prime number finding indicates strength in mathematical workloads that are poorly parallelized. The 27.3% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a notable outlier against AMD's other multi-core successes, suggesting Intel's architecture can outperform in specific rendering scenarios, but this is not consistent across other multi-threaded benchmarks.

For a laptop buyer, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H offers the broader performance profile. The Intel chip is only preferable if you have a known workload that is extremely single-threaded and cannot leverage the AMD's superior memory subsystem and core efficiency. The data does not support Intel for mixed or heavily multi-threaded use cases.