AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX vs Intel Core i7-11700KF Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two processors into very different roles. The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins 20 of the 23 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX takes only 3. That lopsided count, however, hides a clear pattern in what each chip does best.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX claims its victories in three specific workloads: Cinebench R15 multi-core, PassMark data encryption, and PassMark integer math. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result is a legacy test, and the Ryzen wins by a modest 3.4%. The encryption win is substantial at 19.4% ahead, and the integer math win is narrow at 1.6%. These point to a chip that handles certain cryptographic and arithmetic workloads with unusual efficiency for its class.

The Intel Core i7-11700KF, by contrast, dominates nearly everywhere else. Its wins span every 3DMark test, all single-core tests, Cinebench R23, Geekbench multi-core, and a wide range of PassMark subtests. The margin varies from a slim 5.6% in PassMark single-thread to a massive 47.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core. The pattern is unambiguous: the Intel chip is the stronger performer for general compute, rendering, and physics work, while the AMD chip holds specific niches in encryption and integer operations.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-11700KF uses Rocket Lake on Intel's 14 nm process, with a larger die at 276 mm² and no transistor count listed in the database.

Cache layouts differ as well. Both share 16 MB of L3 cache, but the L1 cache is not identical: AMD provides 64 KB per core while Intel provides 80 KB per core. L2 cache is the same at 512 KB per core.

Memory bandwidth tells a different story. The AMD chip supports dual-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Intel chip also supports dual-channel DDR4 but with a lower 51.2 GB/s. This gives the AMD part a raw memory throughput advantage, which may explain its encryption win.

PCIe support differs significantly. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The Intel chip also has no integrated graphics, whereas the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 8. The AMD part is a mobile chip on Socket FP6 with a 45 W TDP, while the Intel part is a desktop chip on Socket 1200 with a 125 W TDP. The Intel chip's launch MSRP was $374.

The Intel chip also carries a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, and a higher base clock at 3.60 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. Both have 8 cores and 16 threads, and both have unlocked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the entire comparison belongs to the Intel chip in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2853 against the AMD's 1488, a 47.8% advantage. That is a decisive gap for any workload that depends on single-thread performance. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is also lopsided: Intel scores 20214 versus AMD's 12845, a 36.5% lead.

The 3DMark results consistently favor Intel. In the 16-thread test, Intel scores 8067 versus 6490, a 19.5% gap. The 8-thread test shows Intel ahead by 14.1%, and the max-threads test shows Intel ahead by 19.4%. Even the 2-thread and 4-thread tests show Intel leading by 9.9% each. The single-thread 3DMark test also goes to Intel by 9.9%.

Geekbench results follow the same direction. Multi-core: Intel 10565 versus AMD 8720, a 17.5% lead. Single-core: Intel 1938 versus AMD 1792, a 7.5% lead.

The AMD chip's wins are narrower but real. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2106 against Intel's 2037, a 3.4% lead. In PassMark data encryption, AMD scores 18188 versus 15229, a 19.4% lead. In PassMark integer math, AMD scores 86735 versus 85377, a 1.6% lead.

Other PassMark results show Intel ahead but with varying margins. Data compression goes to Intel by 9.4%, extended instructions by 12.4%, find prime numbers by 14.5%, floating point math by 6%, multithread by 6.3%, physics by 7.7%, random string sorting by 17.3%, and single-thread by 5.6%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700KF wins every single-core test in the database. The largest margin is Cinebench R23 single-core at 47.8%, followed by Cinebench R15 single-core at 16.4%. Geekbench single-core shows Intel ahead by 7.5%, and PassMark single-thread shows Intel ahead by 5.6%.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes. The AMD chip wins three tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core by 3.4%, PassMark data encryption by 19.4%, and PassMark integer math by 1.6%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel chip dominates modern multi-core rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 20214 versus AMD's 12845, a 36.5% lead. However, in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD chip actually wins by 3.4% with a score of 2106 versus 2037.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX supports dual-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF also supports dual-channel DDR4 but with a lower 51.2 GB/s. This gives AMD a 33.4% raw bandwidth advantage.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-11700KF has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-11700KF is listed as End-of-life.

Specification Differences

The database records the following differences between the two processors:

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | Intel Core i7-11700KF |

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

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Rocket Lake |

| Process node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | Not listed |

| Die size | 180 mm² | 276 mm² |

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

| Base clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 125 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Memory bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Vega 8 | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2021-01-11 | 2021-03-15 |

| Part number | 100-000000300 | SRKNN |

Both chips share 8 cores, 16 threads, 512 KB L2 per core, 16 MB shared L3 cache, dual-channel DDR4 memory support, no ECC memory, unlocked multipliers, and the same 77th percentile ranking against all CPUs in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on platform and workload. The Intel Core i7-11700KF is the stronger processor for the vast majority of measured tasks. It wins 20 of 23 comparisons, including all 3DMark tests, all single-core tests, Cinebench R23, Geekbench, and most PassMark subtests. Its average benchmark score is 25423, slightly above the AMD chip's 24822, and both sit at the 77th percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is not without merit. It wins data encryption by 19.4%, integer math by 1.6%, and Cinebench R15 multi-core by 3.4%. Its memory bandwidth is substantially higher at 68.3 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s, and it includes integrated graphics, which the Intel chip lacks. For a mobile chip with a 45 W TDP, it produces competitive results, but the Intel desktop part with a 125 W TDP simply has more thermal and power headroom.

The Intel chip's boost clock of 5.00 GHz and higher base clock of 3.60 GHz explain much of its single-core dominance, particularly the 47.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. The AMD chip's smaller 7 nm process and higher memory bandwidth explain its encryption and integer math wins.

For anyone building a desktop system and prioritizing raw performance across rendering, physics, compression, and general compute, the Intel Core i7-11700KF is the clear choice from this data. For a mobile user who needs integrated graphics, lower power consumption, and strong encryption performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX holds its own in specific tasks. The verdict depends on whether the workload leans toward Intel's broad strength or AMD's niche advantages.