AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 vs Intel Core i5-11260H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a remarkably consistent picture across the entire Cinebench suite. In every single test, the Intel Core i5-11260H comes out ahead, with a narrow but consistent margin between 3.2% and 3.4%. This is not a case of one processor dominating in one workload while the other takes the lead elsewhere; it is a clean sweep for Intel.

Starting with the oldest test in the database, Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 1300 while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 reaches 1259, a 3.3% advantage. The single-core result follows the same pattern: 183 versus 177, a 3.4% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel processor posts 5420 multi-core and 764 single-core, versus 5246 and 740 for the AMD chip, again a 3.3% and 3.2% lead respectively. Finally, in Cinebench R23, the most demanding of the three workloads, Intel scores 12905 multi-core and 1821 single-core, while AMD manages 12491 and 1763, a 3.3% gap in both.

The consistency matters. A 3.3% delta across every iteration of Cinebench suggests this is not workload dependent, but rather a fundamental performance characteristic of the two designs. The Intel chip wins by the same relative amount whether the test stresses all cores or just one. That uniformity indicates that the performance difference is baked into the architecture itself, not into how the scheduler handles specific instructions.

What makes this interesting is the thread count disparity. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11260H has only 6 cores and 12 threads. On paper, the AMD part should have a multi-core advantage, yet it does not. The Intel chip, despite having fewer physical and logical cores, still manages to outpace the AMD processor in every multi-core benchmark. This is a case where per-core efficiency overwhelms raw core count.

Where Each One Wins

There is no benchmark category in the recorded data where the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 takes a win. The Intel Core i5-11260H wins all six head-to-head comparisons, spanning multi-core and single-core workloads across three Cinebench versions.

For multi-threaded tasks, the Intel chip's advantage is modest but real. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it leads by 3.3%, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, it leads by 3.3% again. The R23 multi-core result shows a 3.3% edge as well. The AMD processor's two extra cores simply do not translate into a win, likely because each Intel core delivers substantially more work per clock cycle.

For single-threaded workloads, the Intel processor has a slightly larger edge in relative terms. The R15 single-core delta is 3.4%, the R20 single-core delta is 3.2%, and the R23 single-core delta is 3.3%. The AMD chip's lower boost clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the Intel chip's 4.40 GHz boost clock helps explain this gap, as single-threaded performance is often limited by maximum frequency.

The overall average benchmark score for the Intel chip is 3721, while the AMD chip sits at 3613. The Intel processor also holds a slightly higher percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database, at the 56th percentile versus the 55th percentile. These aggregate metrics reinforce the head-to-head results, showing that the Intel part is consistently ahead, even if the margin is not dramatic.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from very different design philosophies and eras. The Intel Core i5-11260H is built on Tiger Lake-H architecture, using a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The die size is 190 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it does not support ECC memory. It offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, includes integrated UHD Graphics, and is designed for mobile platforms on the Intel BGA 1787 socket. It was released on May 10, 2021, and carries a launch MSRP of $250. The multiplier is locked.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700, by contrast, is built on the original Zen architecture (Summit Ridge), manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The die size is 213 mm², and the chip contains 4,800 million transistors. Its cache configuration includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It also supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, but with a lower memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. It does support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. There is no integrated graphics. This is a desktop part on the AMD Socket AM4, released on June 28, 2017. The multiplier is unlocked.

Several differences stand out. The Intel chip uses a newer, smaller 10 nm process, while AMD uses an older 14 nm process. Intel's L2 cache per core is much larger at 1.25 MB versus 512 KB, which may help explain its per-core efficiency. AMD has more L3 cache overall at 16 MB versus 12 MB, but that does not overcome Intel's advantage. The Intel chip also has significantly higher boost clock capability, 4.40 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, and it supports faster memory bandwidth, 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. Intel is on PCIe Gen 4, while AMD is on PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part includes integrated graphics; the AMD part does not. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, which is a notable feature for certain professional workloads.

The transistor count is also a point of differentiation. AMD lists 4,800 million transistors in a 213 mm² die, while Intel does not report a transistor count for the Tiger Lake-H chip, only a 190 mm² die size. The comparison suggests that Intel's 10 nm process packs a substantial amount of logic into a smaller area, which aligns with its performance lead in the recorded benchmarks.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-11260H is the faster processor in every measured workload. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons, both single-core and multi-core, with margins between 3.2% and 3.4%. Its average benchmark score of 3721 exceeds the AMD chip's 3613, and its percentile ranking among all CPUs is one point higher at 56 versus 55.

For users who prioritize maximum performance in Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Intel chip is the clear choice. Its higher boost clock, larger L2 cache per core, faster memory bandwidth, and newer process node all contribute to its consistent lead. The fact that it achieves this with fewer cores and threads than the AMD part reflects its architectural efficiency.

However, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 is not without its own merits. It offers 8 cores and 16 threads, which may be relevant for workloads that scale with thread count beyond what the Cinebench suite captures. It supports ECC memory, a feature the Intel chip lacks. Its unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, which the Intel chip does not permit. And it is a desktop part on the widely supported AM4 socket, whereas the Intel chip is a mobile part on a BGA socket.

The decision depends on what the user values most. If the priority is raw benchmark performance in the measured tests, the Intel Core i5-11260H is the answer. If the priority is ECC memory support, unlocked overclocking, or a larger core count for thread-heavy workloads not represented in these benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 may be the better fit. The data shows a consistent but narrow Intel win, so the gap is not massive, but it is real.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H scores 12905 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 scores 12491. Intel leads by 3.3%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. In R15, it scores 183 versus 177 (3.4% lead). In R20, it scores 764 versus 740 (3.2% lead). In R23, it scores 1821 versus 1763 (3.3% lead).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 have more cores and threads?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11260H has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite this, the Intel chip wins every multi-core benchmark in the recorded data.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-11260H does not.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H has an average benchmark score of 3721, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has an average benchmark score of 3613.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11260H | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Zen (Summit Ridge) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not reported | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 KB | 96 KB |

| L2 Cache (per core) | 1.25 MB | 512 KB |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory Support | No | Yes |

| PCIe Version | Gen 4 | Gen 3 |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU only) | 20 | 16 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | May 10, 2021 | June 28, 2017 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SRKT0 | YD170BBBM88AE |

The two processors differ in almost every fundamental specification. The Intel chip is newer, built on a smaller process node, has a higher boost clock, faster memory bandwidth, and more modern PCIe connectivity. The AMD chip offers more cores, more threads, a larger L3 cache, ECC support, and an unlocked multiplier. The benchmark results show that the Intel chip's advantages in clock speed, cache per core, and memory bandwidth translate directly into a consistent performance lead across all recorded Cinebench tests.