AMD Ryzen 7 7840U vs Intel Core i7-11700KF Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U and Intel Core i7-11700KF present a fascinating contrast: a 28-watt mobile processor built on a 4 nm process facing a 125-watt desktop chip from a 14 nm generation. Despite their differing origins, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the AMD part scoring 25432 and the Intel part 25423, a delta of 0%. Both sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs. The data reveals a split personality, with the Intel chip dominating heavily threaded and 3DMark workloads, while the AMD chip wins the majority of PassMark CPU tests and single-core Geekbench. This is a matchup where the scoreboard depends entirely on which benchmark suite you trust.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided victories belong to the Intel Core i7-11700KF in multi-threaded and 3DMark tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 20214 against AMD's 12719, a massive 37.1% advantage. The 3DMark results follow the same pattern: Intel leads by 32.7% in 16-thread, 27.2% in 8-thread, 16.9% in 4-thread, and 32.9% in max-thread tests. The single-thread 3DMark result is closer, with Intel ahead by only 4.7% (978 vs 932). Cinebench R15 multi-core is also close, with Intel ahead by just 2.3% (2037 vs 1990), but the R23 margin shows that sustained multi-core performance heavily favors the desktop chip.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U fights back in several specific workloads. Its largest win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 80 versus Intel's 62, a 29% advantage. PassMark physics shows a 27.5% lead (1256 vs 985), and data encryption results in a 16.2% win (17691 vs 15229). The AMD chip also wins integer math by 6.4% (90852 vs 85377) and floating-point math by 2.4% (51767 vs 50571). In PassMark multi-thread, AMD takes a 4% lead (24782 vs 23819), and in single-thread tests, AMD is ahead by 5.8% (3565 vs 3368). Geekbench single-core is another AMD win, scoring 2077 versus Intel's 1938, a 7.2% margin.

Intel wins the remaining workload tests with moderate margins. Data compression goes to Intel by 9.2% (317712 vs 288604), random string sorting by 7% (36309 vs 33757), and extended instructions by 8.2% (22247 vs 20432). Geekbench multi-core favors Intel by 17% (10565 vs 8766). Cinebench R15 single-core is an 8% win for Intel (287 vs 264), and Cinebench R23 single-core is a 41.2% blowout for Intel (2853 vs 1677.5), which is the single largest delta in either direction. Overall, the Intel chip wins 14 benchmarks while the AMD chip wins 9.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U has an average benchmark score of 25432, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 25423. The delta between them is 0%, making them statistically tied.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U better at any single-core task?

A: Yes. The AMD chip wins Geekbench single-core with 2077 points versus Intel's 1938, a 7.2% advantage. It also wins PassMark single-thread tests by 5.8% (3565 vs 3368). However, Intel wins both Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests.

Q: How large is the Intel chip's advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF scores 20214 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 37.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U's 12719.

Q: Does the AMD processor ever beat Intel in multi-threaded PassMark tests?

A: Yes. In PassMark multi-thread, the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U scores 24782, which is 4% higher than the Intel chip's 23819. AMD also wins PassMark physics by 27.5% and find prime numbers by 29%.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 14 out of 23 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U wins 9.

Q: Are the two processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U and Intel Core i7-11700KF are placed in the 77th percentile when compared against all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data does not support a single clear winner. The Intel Core i7-11700KF is the superior choice for workloads that scale with threads and sustained power, as evidenced by its 37.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and its 32.7% to 32.9% advantages across 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 17% and data compression by 9.2%. Any user running heavy rendering, simulation, or multi-threaded productivity will find the Intel chip substantially faster.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U is the pick where efficiency and specific instruction workloads matter. It wins PassMark multi-thread by 4%, integer math by 6.4%, and floating-point math by 2.4%, while also dominating PassMark physics and find prime numbers. Its Geekbench single-core win of 7.2% and PassMark single-thread win of 5.8% show it is no slouch in lightly threaded tasks. The AMD chip also wins data encryption by 16.2%, which is notable for security-related workloads. For a mobile part with a 28-watt TDP, its ability to match or beat a 125-watt desktop chip in many PassMark tests is the defining story.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: both the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U and Intel Core i7-11700KF have 8 cores and 16 threads. The clock speeds differ, with Intel having a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus AMD's 3.30 GHz, but AMD has a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus Intel's 5.00 GHz. The TDP is vastly different: the AMD chip is rated at 28 watts, while the Intel chip is rated at 125 watts. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP8, while Intel uses the Intel Socket 1200. Memory support differs, with AMD supporting DDR5 and Intel supporting DDR4, both dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is also different, with AMD at 89.6 GB/s and Intel at 51.2 GB/s. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. Both use Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes. The AMD processor features integrated Radeon 780M graphics, while the Intel processor has no integrated graphics. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip's multiplier is locked. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $374. The AMD processor is marked as Active, while the Intel processor is End-of-life. The Intel chip has a release date of 2021-03-15.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the codename Phoenix, manufactured on a 4 nm process by TSMC. It contains 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-11700KF uses the Rocket Lake architecture, also codenamed Rocket Lake, manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel. Its die size is 276 mm². The L1 cache differs: AMD has 64 KB per core, while Intel has 80 KB per core. The L2 cache also differs: AMD has 1 MB per core, while Intel has 512 KB per core. Both share 16 MB of L3 cache. The AMD chip is from the 7000 series and belongs to the mobile market segment, while the Intel chip is from the Core 11th Gen series and belongs to the desktop market segment. The AMD chip's part number is 100-000000829100-000000830100-000001131, while Intel's is SRKNN.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700KF is the clear winner for multi-threaded rendering and 3D workloads. Its 3DMark results are consistently 16.9% to 32.9% higher across all thread counts. For Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 37.1% lead makes it the obvious choice for video rendering and CPU-based 3D rendering. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 17%, indicating strength in general multi-tasking and content creation. Data compression and random string sorting are also Intel wins, suggesting an edge in file archiving and database-style operations. Extended instructions also favor Intel by 8.2%.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7840U wins in specific computational tasks. Its PassMark physics score is 27.5% higher, making it better for physics simulations in benchmark contexts. The 29% win in find prime numbers points to strength in integer-heavy mathematical workloads. Data encryption is 16.2% faster, which is relevant for security and cryptography tasks. Integer math and floating-point math both go to AMD, showing a broader edge in general arithmetic processing. The AMD chip also wins PassMark multi-thread by 4%, which is a more general multi-threaded workload compared to Cinebench. For single-threaded Geekbench and PassMark tests, AMD is ahead by 7.2% and 5.8% respectively, making it the better choice for lightly threaded applications that rely on those specific benchmarks. Given that the AMD chip achieves these results at a 28-watt TDP with integrated graphics, it is the more versatile part for mobile and compact systems, while the Intel chip is a dedicated desktop performer.