AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a striking split between the two processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS dominates the majority of the recorded tests, taking 11 wins out of 15 comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-11600 secures 4 wins. The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel chip scores 15269 against the AMD's 13445, a 13.6% lead. That result is surprising given the AMD's higher core count, and it suggests that the Intel part's architecture handles that particular workload with unusual efficiency.

The single-core story is even more lopsided in Intel's favor. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-11600 scores 2155 versus 1554 for the 6900HS, a massive 38.7% advantage. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The PassMark single-thread test tells a similar but much narrower story: Intel wins 3284 to 3237, only a 1.5% edge. The discrepancy between the two single-core tests is curious, and it hints that the Cinebench R23 test may be particularly sensitive to the Intel architecture's strengths, while the PassMark test reflects a more balanced picture.

Every other head-to-head benchmark favors the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, often by substantial margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 2161 against Intel's 1538, a 28.8% swing. The R15 single-core test also goes AMD's way, 245 to 217, an 11.4% lead. PassMark integer math shows AMD ahead by 30.4%, with scores of 86449 versus 60158. Floating point math follows a similar pattern: 48239 for AMD versus 35478 for Intel, a 26.5% difference. Data encryption is the largest single gap in AMD's favor at 39.6%, with scores of 18303 versus 11060.

The remaining PassMark tests all confirm AMD's overall throughput advantage. Data compression shows AMD at 292842 against Intel's 218062, a 25.5% lead. Extended instructions go AMD's way by 21.6% (20015 versus 15698). Multithread performance favors AMD at 23152 versus 17918, a 22.6% margin. Physics simulation shows AMD at 1041 versus 891, a 14.4% lead. Random string sorting gives AMD 30528 against 25178, a 17.5% edge. Even the closest contest, find prime numbers, goes to AMD at 58 versus 56, a 3.4% difference.

The overall benchmark averages reflect this split. The Intel Core i5-11600 holds an average benchmark score of 24563, while the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS averages 25284. Both processors sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs in the database, which places them in the same performance tier despite the different distribution of wins. The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce this positioning: the i5-11600 trades blows with the Intel Core i5-12450HX (delta -0.1%), the AMD EPYC 9654P (delta 0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D (delta -0.6%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (delta -0.7%). The 6900HS sits alongside the Intel Core i5-13400F (delta 0%), the Intel Core 5 120 (delta -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (delta -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (delta 0.3%). These figures show that neither chip is an outlier within its own peer group.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11600 uses Rocket Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundries. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS uses Zen 3+, codenamed Rembrandt, manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The process node difference is substantial, and it likely explains some of the efficiency gaps, though the benchmark data does not directly measure power consumption.

Core counts differ as well. The Intel part offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD part provides 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD also starts with a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus 2.80 GHz, and a slightly higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. Despite these clock advantages, the Intel chip wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, which suggests that the Rocket Lake architecture extracts more performance per clock in certain sustained workloads, or that the AMD's mobile tuning holds it back in that specific scenario.

Cache configurations also diverge. The Intel chip uses 80 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The AMD's larger L3 cache could explain its strong showing in data-heavy tasks like compression and encryption. Memory support differs significantly: the Intel part runs DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD part runs DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. That 50% bandwidth advantage likely contributes to the AMD's wins in memory-sensitive benchmarks.

The package designs reflect their target markets. The Intel i5-11600 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200 with a 65 W TDP, while the AMD 6900HS is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP7 with a 35 W TDP. The AMD also includes Radeon 680M integrated graphics, whereas the Intel chip's integrated graphics are not listed in the database. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part is marked end-of-life, while the AMD part remains active in production.

The die sizes reflect the different manufacturing processes. The Intel chip measures 276 mm² on 14 nm, while the AMD chip measures 208 mm² on 6 nm. The smaller die on a newer process gives the AMD part a density advantage, though the database does not record transistor counts for either chip. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $213, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins the majority of tests, particularly those involving parallel throughput, memory bandwidth, and cryptographic operations. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with DDR5 support and a larger L3 cache, translate into decisive wins in integer math, floating point math, encryption, compression, and multithreaded workloads. For users whose tasks stress these areas, the AMD part is the stronger choice based on the recorded scores.

The Intel Core i5-11600 claims victory in Cinebench R23 both multi-core and single-core, plus the PassMark single-thread test. The 38.7% lead in R23 single-core is particularly notable, and the 13.6% win in R23 multi-core shows that the Intel architecture can outperform the AMD in specific rendering workloads. For users running Cinebench R23 or similar single-thread-sensitive applications, the Intel part has a measurable edge.

The overall averages are close, with the AMD at 25284 versus Intel at 24563, a difference of roughly 3%. Both sit at the 77th percentile. The choice comes down to which benchmark family matters more. The AMD offers broader wins across the PassMark suite, while the Intel shows concentrated strength in Cinebench R23. Neither chip is universally superior, and the recorded data does not favor one across every scenario.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins 11 out of 15 comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-11600 wins 4.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the comparison?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 leads by 38.7% in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 2155 versus 1554 for the AMD.

Q: How do the core counts differ?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS averages 25284, while the Intel Core i5-11600 averages 24563.

Q: Do both processors sit in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are recorded at the 77th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel chip supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity and data-intensive tasks. Its wins in PassMark integer math (86449 versus 60158), floating point math (48239 versus 35478), data compression (292842 versus 218062), and data encryption (18303 versus 11060) make it the stronger candidate for compilation, scientific computing, file archiving, and security-related workloads. The 22.6% multithread advantage (23152 versus 17918) and the 14.4% physics win (1041 versus 891) reinforce this profile. The DDR5 memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s likely underpins many of these results.

The Intel Core i5-11600 wins in the Cinebench R23 rendering tests. Its 13.6% multi-core lead (15269 versus 13445) and 38.7% single-core lead (2155 versus 1554) make it the better choice for users running those specific rendering workloads. The narrow PassMark single-thread win (3284 versus 3237, a 1.5% margin) adds a small but measurable advantage for lightly threaded desktop applications. The Intel part also carries a 65 W TDP, which is higher than the AMD's 35 W, suggesting it may sustain performance differently in desktop environments, though the database does not record power efficiency metrics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11600 | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Process node | 14 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 276 mm² | 208 mm² |

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

| L3 cache | 12 MB shared | 16 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | Not listed | Radeon 680M |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Launch MSRP | $213 | Not listed |