AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H vs Intel Core i9-11900 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmarks reveal a fascinating split between these two eight-core, sixteen-thread processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H takes seven wins, while the Intel Core i9-11900 claims eight, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

In the Cinebench suite, the results are strikingly divergent. The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 2085.5 against Intel's 1913, a 9% advantage. This suggests the AMD chip's sustained multicore throughput is genuinely stronger in this older rendering workload. However, the newer Cinebench R23 multicore test paints a completely different picture: Intel scores 18985 versus AMD's 12393, a massive 34.7% deficit for the Ryzen part. That is one of the largest gaps in the entire comparison. The single-core tests reinforce Intel's dominance: the i9-11900 leads by 24% in Cinebench R15 single-core (270 versus 205.1) and by 44.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2680 versus 1480). These are enormous margins that indicate a fundamental difference in how each architecture handles lightly threaded workloads.

The Passmark suite delivers a more balanced spread. The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H wins data compression by 3.5% (295214 versus 285159), data encryption by a substantial 34% (18681 versus 13942), integer math by 2.6% (86068 versus 83893), multithread by 4.3% (23417 versus 22456), and physics by 11.9% (1093 versus 977). The Intel chip counters with wins in floating point math by 1.4% (48948 versus 48276), random string sorting by 5.7% (33054 versus 31170), prime number finding by 6.3% (63 versus 59), and single-thread by 2% (3373 versus 3305). The extended instructions test is a perfect tie at 19654 for both processors.

The average benchmark score reinforces the overall picture. The AMD part sits at 32812, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip averages 32226, good for the 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD include the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F (average score 32750, only 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707, 0.3% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (32697, 0.4% behind). For Intel, the closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233, exactly 0% delta), the Intel Core i5-14400F (32279, 0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i7-12800H (32121, 0.3% behind), and the Intel Core i5-14400 (32115, 0.3% behind). Both chips sit in a crowded field where small percentage differences separate many comparable processors.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H uses the Zen 3+ architecture, code-named Rembrandt, part of the 6000 series. It is built on TSMC's 6 nm process node with a die size of 208 mm². The Intel Core i9-11900 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, belonging to the Core 11th Gen series, fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process with a larger 276 mm² die. The process node difference alone explains much of the efficiency and thermal behavior, though the benchmark data shows that process node does not automatically translate to performance superiority in every workload.

Clock speeds differ notably. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel part runs a lower 2.50 GHz base but boosts higher to 5.20 GHz. This explains the Intel single-core advantage in Cinebench: a 500 MHz higher boost clock gives it a decisive edge in lightly threaded scenarios. The AMD chip compensates with a higher base clock and presumably better sustained all-core performance, which shows up in the Cinebench R15 multicore result and several Passmark tests.

Cache layouts are identical in structure: both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory support diverges significantly. The AMD processor supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a maximum bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The AMD's 25.6 GB/s bandwidth advantage could contribute to its wins in data compression and encryption, which are often memory-sensitive workloads.

Both processors offer PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory or an unlocked multiplier. The integrated graphics differ: the AMD features a Radeon 680M, while the Intel includes UHD Graphics 750. The market segments also differ, with the AMD being a mobile processor on the AMD Socket FP7 platform and the Intel being a desktop processor on the Intel Socket 1200 platform. The Intel chip has a 65 W TDP versus the AMD's 45 W, which is notable given the Intel's higher boost clock. The AMD was released on April 18, 2022, while the Intel launched on March 15, 2021. The AMD remains in active production, while the Intel is marked as end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The data points toward clear use-case separation. The Intel Core i9-11900 dominates in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. Its 44.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the single largest margin in the entire comparison, and it also wins Cinebench R15 single-core, Passmark single-thread, floating point math, random string sorting, and prime number finding. For tasks that depend on one or two cores running at maximum frequency, such as legacy applications, certain simulation workloads, or responsiveness in everyday desktop use, the Intel chip is the stronger choice based on the recorded scores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H excels in specific multithreaded and specialized workloads. Its 34% lead in data encryption is particularly striking, suggesting hardware-level advantages in cryptographic operations. The 11.9% physics win indicates strong performance in physics simulation tasks. The wins in data compression, integer math, and the Passmark multithread test point to solid all-core throughput in productivity scenarios. The Cinebench R15 multicore result supports this, but the R23 multicore result contradicts it, which is a curious inconsistency worth investigating. The R23 test is generally considered more demanding and modern, and the Intel chip's 34.7% lead there suggests that under sustained heavy load, the Intel desktop part may hit higher sustained performance despite its 65 W TDP.

The average benchmark score difference is modest: 32812 versus 32226, a gap of roughly 1.8% in favor of the AMD chip. In percentile terms, the AMD sits one percentile point higher at 83 versus 82. This suggests that for the broad average of workloads, the two are very close, with the AMD holding a slight edge overall.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900 wins 8 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H wins 7. However, the AMD chip has a slightly higher average benchmark score at 32812 versus 32226.

Q: How large is the Intel single-core advantage?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900 leads by 44.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2680 versus 1480) and by 24% in Cinebench R15 single-core (270 versus 205.1). In Passmark single-thread, the margin is smaller at 2% (3373 versus 3305).

Q: Where does the AMD chip show its biggest strength?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H has its largest win in Passmark data encryption, scoring 18681 against Intel's 13942, a 34% advantage. It also leads by 11.9% in Passmark physics and by 9% in Cinebench R15 multicore.

Q: Do the two processors have different memory support?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Intel Core i9-11900 supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel chip has a lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz.

Q: How do the production statuses differ?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is listed as active in production, while the Intel Core i9-11900 is marked as end-of-life. The Intel chip has a 65 W TDP, while the AMD has a 45 W TDP.

The Verdict

The data suggests two different philosophies with different strengths. The Intel Core i9-11900 is the clear choice for users who prioritize single-core performance. The 44.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and the 24% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core are decisive margins that will translate directly to any workload that cannot effectively use more than a few threads. The higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz explains this advantage. The Intel chip also wins in the modern Cinebench R23 multicore test by 34.7%, which is important for anyone running current rendering or simulation software that scales across cores.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is the better choice for specialized workloads where its architecture shows clear advantages. The 34% lead in data encryption makes it the obvious pick for security-sensitive applications. The wins in data compression, integer math, physics, and the overall Passmark multithread score indicate strong general-purpose multithreaded performance in the Passmark suite. The higher memory bandwidth from DDR5 support, 76.8 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, may explain some of these advantages. The AMD chip also has a slightly higher average benchmark score and occupies the 83rd percentile versus Intel's 82nd.

For a mobile platform, the AMD's 45 W TDP versus Intel's 65 W TDP is a meaningful consideration, though the Intel part is a desktop processor. The AMD remains in active production, while the Intel is end-of-life. Users building new systems for maximum single-thread performance should look at the Intel i9-11900 based on these numbers, while those running encryption-heavy workloads or seeking the higher average score should consider the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification areas. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H uses the Zen 3+ architecture with the Rembrandt codename, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC with a 208 mm² die. The Intel Core i9-11900 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die. The AMD has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel has a 2.50 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost. The AMD has a 45 W TDP versus Intel's 65 W TDP.

The AMD uses the AMD Socket FP7 platform, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 1200. Memory support differs: the AMD supports DDR5 at 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, and the Intel supports DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory. The integrated graphics differ, with the AMD featuring a Radeon 680M and the Intel featuring UHD Graphics 750. The AMD is a mobile processor released on April 18, 2022, and remains active in production. The Intel is a desktop processor released on March 15, 2021, and is end-of-life. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $439. Both have 8 cores, 16 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, 16 MB shared L3 cache, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, no ECC support, and locked multipliers.