AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11850H and AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX are both 8-core, 16-thread mobile processors from the same era, yet benchmark results reveal they are tuned for completely different personalities. The data shows a clear split: AMD’s Zen 3 architecture dominates in most throughput-heavy workloads, while Intel’s Tiger Lake-H pulls ahead decisively in a few specific, highly parallel tasks. Both chips land at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, but their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Intel part at 24935 and the AMD part at 24822. This is a rivalry where the overall score hides a stark divergence in workload performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i7-11850H scores 16673 against the AMD’s 12845. That is a 29.8% lead for Intel, a massive margin in a heavily threaded render workload. The single-core Cinebench R23 result is even more lopsided: Intel scores 2353 versus AMD’s 1488, a 58.1% advantage. These are the two biggest wins for Intel, and they suggest the Intel chip’s boost clock of 4.80 GHz provides a significant edge in this specific benchmark suite.

However, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX wins the older Cinebench R15 tests. In R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2106 versus Intel’s 1680, a 20.2% victory for AMD. In R15 single-core, AMD edges out Intel 240 to 237, a slim 1.2% margin. This reversal between Cinebench versions indicates that the Intel chip’s advantage is not universal across all render tests; it is highly specific to the R23 workload.

Geekbench results favor AMD as well. In multi-core, AMD scores 8720 against Intel’s 8002, an 8.2% lead. Single-core Geekbench also goes to AMD, with a score of 1792 versus 1703, a 5% difference. These results are more moderate than the Cinebench swings, showing that AMD’s architecture handles general-purpose integer and floating-point tasks efficiently.

The PassMark suite paints a broader picture of AMD dominance. AMD wins data compression with a score of 287793 versus 236949, a 17.7% advantage. Data encryption is a huge win for AMD: 18188 versus 12214, a 32.8% lead. Extended instructions go AMD’s way by 19% (19488 vs 15788), and floating-point math favors AMD by 10.5% (47556 vs 42540). Integer math is another AMD win, with 86735 versus 71996, a 17% gap. The multithread test shows AMD ahead by 10.2% (22326 vs 20059), and random string sorting is a narrow AMD win at 5.5% (30042 vs 28395). Single-thread PassMark also goes to AMD, scoring 3178 versus 3069, a 3.4% lead.

Intel’s remaining wins are in specialized workloads. The find prime numbers test is a blowout for Intel, scoring 87 against AMD’s 53, a 64.2% advantage. Intel also wins the physics test, scoring 954 versus 909, a 5% lead. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, Intel takes 4 wins and AMD takes 13, but the sizes of those wins vary enormously.

Where Each One Wins

The data suggests the Intel Core i7-11850H is the pick for specific high-intensity compute tasks. The Cinebench R23 results, both multi-core and single-core, are the strongest evidence. If a workload leverages the same instruction paths as Cinebench R23, the Intel part offers a 29.8% to 58.1% performance uplift over the AMD. The prime number calculation test is another clear Intel strength, with a 64.2% advantage, which could matter for certain mathematical or cryptographic workloads. The physics test also goes to Intel, albeit by a smaller 5% margin.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX wins the majority of benchmarks, making it the more versatile processor for general productivity and mixed-use laptops. Its lead in data encryption (32.8%) and data compression (17.7%) makes it better suited for file archiving, database work, and security-related tasks. The integer math advantage of 17% and floating-point math advantage of 10.5% indicate stronger raw compute throughput for most application code. The Geekbench wins, both multi-core (8.2%) and single-core (5%), suggest better day-to-day responsiveness in typical software. The multithread PassMark score, 10.2% ahead, reinforces that AMD handles simultaneous threads better in most real-world scenarios.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-11850H is built on Intel’s 10 nm process node, with a die size of 190 mm². It uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture and fits into the Intel BGA 1787 socket. Its cache layout is notable: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750, and it offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The base clock is 2.10 GHz, boosting to 4.80 GHz, with a 35 W TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is fabricated on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors. It uses the Zen 3 architecture (Cezanne codename) and fits into the AMD Socket FP6. The cache configuration is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. This smaller L3 cache is a key difference. Memory support is also DDR4 in dual-channel, but the bandwidth is higher at 68.3 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8, and the PCIe support is Gen 3. The base clock is higher at 3.30 GHz, but the boost clock is lower at 4.60 GHz. The TDP is higher at 45 W, and the multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking.

The process node difference is significant: AMD’s 7 nm TSMC process versus Intel’s 10 nm process. This explains the higher transistor count on the AMD chip (10,700 million) and its slightly smaller die. The higher base clock on the AMD part (3.30 GHz) contributes to its wins in lower-thread workloads, while the higher boost clock on the Intel part (4.80 GHz) helps it win the Cinebench R23 single-core test. The AMD chip’s higher memory bandwidth (68.3 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s) likely contributes to its data compression and encryption wins.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i7-11850H if your primary applications are known to scale well in Cinebench R23 or similar render workloads. The data shows a 29.8% multi-core and 58.1% single-core advantage over the AMD in that specific test. This is a definitive win for Intel in that benchmark, and the 64.2% lead in prime number calculation reinforces that Intel has a raw computational edge in certain math-heavy tasks. The 35 W TDP is also lower, which may be preferable for thinner laptops.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX for almost everything else. The benchmark results indicate a consistent, broad-based performance lead across the majority of tests. The 32.8% advantage in data encryption and 17.7% in data compression are substantial for real-world file handling. The 17% integer math and 10.5% floating-point math leads suggest better general application performance. The Geekbench single-core win (5%) and multithread win (10.2%) confirm that AMD’s Zen 3 architecture is more efficient for typical multitasking and productivity software. The higher 45 W TDP, unlocked multiplier, and higher memory bandwidth give it more headroom for sustained performance in a gaming or creator laptop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: It depends on the benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-11850H is 29.8% faster with a score of 16673 versus 12845. However, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is 20.2% faster, scoring 2106 versus 1680.

Q: Is the Intel chip better for single-threaded tasks?

A: The data is mixed. Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by a massive 58.1% (2353 vs 1488). However, AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 1.2% (240 vs 237) and Geekbench single-core by 5% (1792 vs 1703).

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: How do they compare in data encryption workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is significantly faster, scoring 18188 in the PassMark data encryption test versus Intel’s 12214, a 32.8% advantage for AMD.

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: The Intel chip is built on Intel’s 10 nm process, while the AMD chip is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, which allows for 10,700 million transistors on the AMD die.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Both support DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has a higher memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s compared to Intel’s 51.2 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11850H | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX |

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

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Process Node | 10 nm (Intel) | 7 nm (TSMC) |

| Transistors | Not specified | 10,700 million |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 180 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache (shared) | 24 MB | 16 MB |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | Radeon Vega 8 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $395 | Not specified |