AMD Ryzen 7 8840U vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and by how much?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 15269 against the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U's 12972. That is a 17.7% lead for Intel in that specific workload.

Q: Is the Intel chip faster in any single-threaded test?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads 2155 to 1703, a 26.5% advantage. However, in PassMark single-thread, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U wins 3543 to 3284, a 7.3% difference.

Q: The AMD chip has more cores, but does that translate to a win in most benchmarks?

A: The data shows AMD wins 13 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. The Ryzen 7 8840U's 8-core, 16-thread configuration delivers wins in PassMark multi-thread (23346 vs 17918) and most computational tests.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-11600 boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: Are these CPUs on the same manufacturing process?

A: No. Intel uses a 14 nm process for Rocket Lake, while AMD uses a 4 nm process (TSMC foundry) for Hawk Point. This difference is significant for power and efficiency.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 has an average benchmark score of 24563, placing it in the 77th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U averages 23982, placing it in the 76th percentile. They are nearly identical overall, despite very different strengths.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-11600 is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm design from Intel. It is a desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads, base clock of 2.80 GHz, and boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The die size is 276 mm². Cache layout includes 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. It supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes. It has no integrated graphics listed. This is an end-of-life desktop processor released in March 2021 with a launch MSRP of $213.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is a Hawk Point mobile processor based on Zen 4 architecture, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The die size is 178 mm², and it packs 25,000 million transistors. Cache includes 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. It supports DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes. It includes Radeon 780M integrated graphics. This is an active mobile part released in December 2023.

The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 4 nm. That explains the transistor density gap, as AMD fits 25,000 million transistors into a smaller die. The Ryzen 7 also has a higher boost clock and more cores. Intel's Rocket Lake uses larger per-core L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB) but smaller per-core L2 (512 KB vs 1 MB) and less L3 (12 MB vs 16 MB). Memory support differs: DDR4 for Intel, DDR5 for AMD, with AMD showing 89.6 GB/s bandwidth versus Intel's 51.2 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The integrated GPU on the AMD side is a major feature difference, as Intel lists none.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record shows a clear split. AMD wins 13 of 15 comparisons, but Intel's two wins are notable. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 15269 against AMD's 12972, a 17.7% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads 2155 to 1703, a 26.5% margin. These are the only tests where Intel comes out ahead.

AMD's dominance is broad. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD wins 2024 to 1538, a 24% gap. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD wins 266 to 217, an 18.4% lead. PassMark tests show consistent AMD advantages: data compression 267525 vs 218062 (18.5% ahead), data encryption 16072 vs 11060 (31.2% ahead), extended instructions 18654 vs 15698 (15.8% ahead), find prime numbers 78 vs 56 (28.2% ahead), floating point math 48820 vs 35478 (27.3% ahead), integer math 85740 vs 60158 (29.8% ahead), multi-thread 23346 vs 17918 (23.3% ahead), physics 1176 vs 891 (24.2% ahead), and random string sorting 32158 vs 25178 (21.7% ahead). In PassMark single-thread, AMD wins 3543 to 3284, a smaller 7.3% edge.

The pattern is clear. AMD wins nearly every throughput and compute test, often by 20-30%. Intel wins in Cinebench R23, which suggests a specific workload where Rocket Lake's architecture performs well. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is Intel's biggest win at 26.5%, showing strong per-core performance in that renderer. However, the PassMark single-thread test tells a different story, with AMD ahead by 7.3%. Benchmark results indicate Cinebench R23 favors Intel's design, while PassMark favors AMD's Zen 4.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11600 | AMD Ryzen 7 8840U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 4 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 178 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon 780M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2023-12-05 |

The Verdict

The data supports a simple conclusion: these are different tools for different jobs. The Intel Core i5-11600 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, designed for stationary builds. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is a mobile part with a 28 W TDP, designed for laptops and portable systems. The TDP difference alone, 65 W versus 28 W, tells you the intended use case.

For raw performance in most measured tests, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is the stronger chip. It wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, including all PassMark computational tests and Cinebench R15. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with a 5.10 GHz boost clock and 16 MB L3 cache, deliver consistent wins. The 4 nm process and DDR5 support provide a modern foundation.

The Intel Core i5-11600 is not obsolete, though. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 17.7% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 26.5%. If your workload relies on Cinebench R23, Intel is the better choice. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: Intel at 24563 (77th percentile) and AMD at 23982 (76th percentile). They sit in the same performance class overall, just with different strengths.

The AMD chip is the better all-rounder according to the majority of tests. The Intel chip has specific advantages in Cinebench R23 that may matter for certain rendering tasks. Neither chip is locked (multiplier unlocked: false for both), so overclocking is not a factor.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 7 8840U wins in: data compression (267525 vs 218062), data encryption (16072 vs 11060), extended instructions (18654 vs 15698), find prime numbers (78 vs 56), floating point math (48820 vs 35478), integer math (85740 vs 60158), multi-thread workloads (23346 vs 17918), physics (1176 vs 891), random string sorting (32158 vs 25178), single-thread PassMark (3543 vs 3284), Cinebench R15 multi-core (2024 vs 1538), and Cinebench R15 single-core (266 vs 217). This is the chip for general compute, encryption, compression, and math-heavy tasks. The 16 threads and higher boost clock drive these results. Mobile users benefit from the 28 W TDP and integrated Radeon 780M graphics, which eliminates the need for a separate GPU in basic systems.

Intel Core i5-11600 wins in: Cinebench R23 multi-core (15269 vs 12972) and Cinebench R23 single-core (2155 vs 1703). If your primary application is Cinebench R23, this Intel chip is faster by 17.7% and 26.5% respectively. Desktop builders with a dedicated GPU and a 65 W power budget may prefer this part. It remains competitive in the average benchmark score (24563 vs 23982), so it is not far behind overall. The end-of-life status means it is a legacy option, but the recorded data shows it still holds a niche in Cinebench R23 workloads.