AMD Ryzen 7 6800U vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

Intel Core i9-11950H vs AMD Ryzen 7 6800U

The Intel Core i9-11950H and AMD Ryzen 7 6800U are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors, but they are engineered for different priorities. The benchmark data shows a clear split: Intel dominates in sustained multi-threaded workloads and single-threaded rendering, while AMD counters with efficiency-oriented wins in encryption and integer math. Across 15 head-to-head tests, the Intel chip secures 10 wins, while the AMD chip takes 5, yet the average benchmark scores are close: 28332 for Intel versus 27887 for AMD. This places Intel at the 80th percentile of all CPUs and AMD at the 79th, with Intel’s nearest rival being the Intel Xeon 6337P at a 0% delta, and AMD’s nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D at a 0% delta.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Core i9-11950H comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 17279 against the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U’s 10546, a 63.8% lead. This is not a marginal edge; it is a dominant gap that indicates Intel’s Tiger Lake-H design can sustain high clocks across all 8 cores when power is available. The single-core result in the same test reinforces this pattern: Intel scores 2439 versus AMD’s 1506, a 62% advantage. These two results alone show that for CPU-bound rendering tasks, the Intel chip is in a different class.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test tells a different story, however. Here, AMD edges ahead with 1776 versus Intel’s 1741, a 2% difference. This suggests that in a shorter, less thermally demanding workload, the AMD chip’s efficiency allows it to keep pace or slightly overtake Intel. The R15 single-core test is nearly a tie, with Intel at 245 and AMD at 242, a 1.2% Intel lead.

PassMark results add nuance. Intel wins data compression with 246195 versus 244082, a slim 0.9% margin. AMD wins data encryption decisively: 15601 versus 12658, an 18.9% advantage. This is a significant reversal, indicating that AMD’s Zen 3+ architecture has superior cryptographic throughput. Intel wins extended instructions with 16361 versus 15935, a 2.7% margin, and floating point math with 44137 versus 42246, a 4.5% edge.

The prime number test shows an Intel landslide: 93 versus 57, a 63.2% difference. This workload is highly sensitive to single-thread branch prediction and integer division, where Intel’s cores excel. Integer math, however, goes to AMD: 77731 versus 74649, a 4% lead. Random string sorting goes to Intel: 29375 versus 25954, a 13.2% margin. Multi-thread PassMark shows Intel ahead at 20900 versus 20350, a 2.7% gain, and physics simulation goes to Intel at 1013 versus 984, a 2.9% edge. Single-thread PassMark results are nearly identical, with AMD at 3166 versus Intel’s 3141, a 0.8% AMD lead.

The data reveals that Intel’s wins are often large and workload-specific, while AMD’s wins are either narrow or concentrated in encryption. The 63.8% and 62% leads in Cinebench R23 are outliers, but they are the sort of outliers that matter for professional rendering. The 18.9% encryption win for AMD is equally notable for secure data handling. Overall, Intel wins 10 of 15 tests, but the average benchmark score difference is only 1.6%, which shows that AMD’s wins are spread across tests that contribute significantly to the aggregate.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i9-11950H is the clear choice for users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering and single-thread performance in Cinebench. Its 63.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 62% lead in R23 single-core are definitive. If a workload involves compiling code, 3D rendering, or any task that scales with sustained core throughput, Intel wins without question. The chip also holds advantages in floating point math, extended instructions, prime number calculation, and random string sorting.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U is the better pick for efficiency-sensitive tasks and encryption. Its 18.9% lead in data encryption is substantial, and its 4% lead in integer math shows strength in general arithmetic workloads. The AMD chip also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 2%, which indicates that in short bursts, it can outpace Intel despite a lower boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus Intel’s 5.00 GHz. The single-thread PassMark scores are effectively tied, so day-to-day responsiveness should be similar.

The database shows that Intel’s average benchmark score is 28332, which is 445 points higher than AMD’s 27887. Yet Intel’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, is only 0.1% behind Intel’s average, while AMD’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, is 0.1% ahead of AMD’s average. This means both chips sit in the same performance tier, but Intel’s spikes are higher and AMD’s troughs are shallower. The verdict is straightforward: choose Intel for maximum multi-threaded performance, choose AMD for encryption and efficiency-oriented workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11950H wins in every test that involves heavy parallel processing or complex instruction streams. This includes Cinebench R23 multi-core (17279), Cinebench R23 single-core (2439), Cinebench R15 single-core (245), PassMark data compression (246195), PassMark extended instructions (16361), PassMark find prime numbers (93), PassMark floating point math (44137), PassMark multithread (20900), PassMark physics (1013), and PassMark random string sorting (29375). These wins cover rendering, scientific computation, and data manipulation. The 63.8% and 62% margins in Cinebench R23 are the headline numbers, but the 13.2% lead in random string sorting and the 63.2% lead in prime numbers show consistent architectural superiority in integer-heavy and branch-predictive tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U wins in data encryption (15601), integer math (77731), Cinebench R15 multi-core (1776), and the two single-thread PassMark tests (3166). The encryption win is the standout: an 18.9% margin over Intel. This is because Zen 3+ includes hardware-accelerated AES instructions that outperform Intel’s implementation. The integer math win, 4% ahead, suggests that AMD’s core design handles general arithmetic efficiently. The Cinebench R15 multi-core win, while narrow at 2%, shows that AMD’s 15-watt TDP design can punch above its weight in short bursts. The single-thread PassMark scores are within 0.8%, so neither chip has a clear edge in basic single-thread responsiveness.

For a use-case split, the Intel chip is for users who run Cinebench-style workloads, compile large projects, or process floating-point-heavy simulations. The AMD chip is for users who handle encrypted data streams, perform integer-heavy calculations, or need a chip that can deliver competitive multi-core performance while operating at a lower TDP of 15 watts versus Intel’s 35 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H scores 17279, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 10546. Intel leads by 63.8%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in data encryption performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 15601 in PassMark data encryption, while the Intel Core i9-11950H scores 12658. AMD leads by 18.9%.

Q: Are the single-thread performance scores similar?

A: Yes, in PassMark single-thread tests, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U scores 3166 and the Intel Core i9-11950H scores 3141. AMD leads by 0.8%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel leads by 1.2% with 245 versus 242.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H has an average benchmark score of 28332, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U has 27887. Intel is ahead by 445 points.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H has a TDP of 35 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i9-11950H wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U wins 5.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-11950H is built on Tiger Lake-H architecture, a 10 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 190 mm². It uses 8 cores and 16 threads, with an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 24 MB. The base clock is 2.10 GHz and the boost clock is 5.00 GHz. It supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750. It uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket and has a production status of end-of-life, with a release date of 2021-05-10.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800U is built on Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, using a 6 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 208 mm². It also has 8 cores and 16 threads, but with an L1 cache of 64 KB per core, an L2 cache of 512 KB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 16 MB. The base clock is 2.70 GHz and the boost clock is 4.70 GHz. It supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Radeon 680M. It uses the AMD Socket FP7 and has an active production status.

The process node difference is significant: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 6 nm from TSMC. This gives AMD a transistor density advantage, but Intel’s higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz helps in single-thread workloads. The L3 cache is larger on Intel (24 MB versus 16 MB), which likely contributes to its wins in random string sorting and prime number tests. The memory bandwidth also differs, with AMD supporting DDR5 and achieving 76.8 GB/s versus Intel’s 51.2 GB/s over DDR4. Both chips support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes and do not support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The base clock is 2.10 GHz for Intel and 2.70 GHz for AMD, while the boost clock is 5.00 GHz for Intel and 4.70 GHz for AMD. The TDP is 35 watts for Intel and 15 watts for AMD. The socket is Intel BGA 1787 for Intel and AMD Socket FP7 for AMD. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 6 nm for AMD, with foundries being Intel and TSMC respectively.

Cache configurations differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for Intel and DDR5 for AMD, with memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750 for Intel and Radeon 680M for AMD. The die size is 190 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD. The production status is end-of-life for Intel and active for AMD. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $556, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. Both have 8 cores, 16 threads, dual-channel memory, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and no unlocked multiplier.