AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X vs Intel Core i5-11500H Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X wins six of the eight head-to-head comparisons, yet the Intel Core i5-11500H claims the two most dramatic victories. Let's walk through the numbers.

In the Cinebench suite, the Threadripper 1900X holds a consistent, albeit narrow, lead across every single test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1440 versus the i5-11500H's 1427, a margin of -0.9% from Intel's perspective. The single-core R15 result is similarly close: 203 versus 201, a -1% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Threadripper scores 6000 multicore and 846 single-core, while the Intel chip manages 5949 and 839 respectively — both results showing a -0.8% gap. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23, where the AMD part posts 14286 multicore and 2016 single-core, against Intel's 14166 and 1999, again -0.8% differences.

These are remarkably tight margins. In every Cinebench iteration, the Threadripper wins by less than one percent. The data suggests that for rendering workloads measured by Cinebench, the two processors are effectively interchangeable in performance, with the AMD chip holding a razor-thin edge.

The Geekbench results tell a completely different story. The Intel Core i5-11500H dominates the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 7135, beating the Threadripper's 6588 by a substantial 8.3%. Even more striking is the Geekbench single-core result: Intel scores 1778 versus AMD's 1205, a massive 47.6% advantage. This is the single largest performance gap between the two chips in any benchmark.

What does this imply? The Cinebench scores suggest parity in sustained multithreaded rendering workloads, while Geekbench indicates that the Intel architecture has a significant advantage in tasks that rely on single-thread performance, and a solid lead in certain multicore scenarios. The 47.6% single-core gap is particularly telling — it suggests that Intel's Tiger Lake architecture, with its higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus the Threadripper's 4.00 GHz, extracts far more performance from each individual core in Geekbench's workload mix.

Interestingly, the average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The i5-11500H has an average benchmark score of 4187, while the Threadripper sits at 4073. The Intel chip's average is dragged up by its Geekbench wins, while the Threadripper's consistency in Cinebench doesn't compensate enough for its Geekbench deficiencies.

# The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X wins six of eight head-to-head benchmarks, but those wins are all by margins under one percent. The Intel Core i5-11500H wins only two benchmarks, but one of those wins is by 47.6% and the other by 8.3%.

For users whose workloads resemble Cinebench — sustained multithreaded rendering, 3D modeling, video encoding — the Threadripper 1900X is the safer pick, but only by a hair. The data shows that in these scenarios, the two processors are nearly indistinguishable. A -0.8% or -0.9% delta is within the bounds of run-to-run variance; no user would notice a real-world difference of that magnitude.

For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench — which includes a mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations with a strong single-threaded component — the Intel Core i5-11500H is the clear winner. The 47.6% lead in single-core Geekbench is a massive performance gap that would manifest in everyday responsiveness, web browsing, office applications, and lightly-threaded productivity tasks.

The percentile data shows both chips sit at the 57th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are mid-pack performers overall. The Intel chip's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-9900, with a delta of 0.6%, while the Threadripper's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-12500TE at -0.3%. This suggests that in the broader CPU landscape, both chips perform similarly, but they achieve that standing through very different performance profiles.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Core i5-11500H is built on Intel's 10 nm process node, manufactured in-house by Intel, with a die size of 190 mm². It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The chip uses a Tiger Lake-H architecture, part of the Core 11th Gen family, and targets the mobile market segment with a 35 W TDP.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X, by contrast, is built on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process node, with a die size of 2x 213 mm² — over twice the physical silicon area. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The chip uses the Zen (Whitehaven) architecture, part of the 1000 series, and targets the desktop market segment with a 180 W TDP.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. The Threadripper's larger L3 cache (32 MB versus 12 MB) is notable, though the Intel chip's larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB versus 512 KB) may compensate in some workloads.

Memory support shows both chips support DDR4, but the AMD part uses a quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. PCIe capabilities also differ: the Intel chip supports Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip supports Gen 3 with 60 lanes (CPU only).

The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Intel chip is locked. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the AMD chip has none. The Threadripper also has a much higher transistor count at 9,600 million, versus the Intel chip's unspecified count.

Release dates are separated by nearly four years: the Threadripper launched in 2017, the i5-11500H in 2021. The Intel chip was released with a launch MSRP of $250, while the Threadripper launched at $549.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11500H has 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11500H wins Geekbench single-core by 47.6% (1778 versus 1205), but the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X wins Cinebench single-core tests by about 0.8-1% across R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Is the Threadripper 1900X always faster in multithreaded workloads?

A: No. The Threadripper wins all Cinebench multicore tests by less than 1%, but the Intel i5-11500H wins Geekbench multicore by 8.3% (7135 versus 6588).

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core i5-11500H supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-11500H includes UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X has no integrated graphics.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory according to the data.

# Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X wins in Cinebench workloads — both multicore and single-core tests across R15, R20, and R23. These benchmarks are heavily used in the 3D rendering and animation industries, so the Threadripper is the data-backed choice for tasks like rendering stills, animating scenes, or any production workflow that relies on Cinebench-style rendering engines. However, the margins are so small (all under 1%) that the Threadripper's advantage here is more theoretical than practical.

The Intel Core i5-11500H wins in Geekbench workloads, particularly single-core performance where it leads by 47.6%. This translates to a significant advantage in everyday applications, office productivity, web browsing, and any software that relies heavily on single-threaded execution. The 8.3% lead in Geekbench multicore also suggests that for a broader range of multitasking and general-purpose computing, the Intel chip has an edge.

The Threadripper's 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 32 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory makes it well-suited for memory-bandwidth-intensive workloads. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz and newer 10 nm process give it an advantage in latency-sensitive and lightly-threaded applications.

# Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Intel 6, AMD 8
• Threads: Intel 12, AMD 16
• Base Clock: Intel 2.40 GHz, AMD 3.80 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.60 GHz, AMD 4.00 GHz
• TDP: Intel 35 W, AMD 180 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1787, AMD Socket SP3r2
• Process Node: Intel 10 nm, AMD 14 nm
• Foundry: Intel, GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: Intel not specified, AMD 9,600 million
• Die Size: Intel 190 mm², AMD 2x 213 mm²
• L1 Cache: Intel 80 KB per core, AMD 96 KB per core
• L2 Cache: Intel 1.25 MB per core, AMD 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: Intel 12 MB shared, AMD 32 MB
• Memory Bus: Intel Dual-channel, AMD Quad-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel 51.2 GB/s, AMD 85.3 GB/s
• PCIe: Intel Gen 4, 20 Lanes, AMD Gen 3, 60 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 750, AMD none
• Market Segment: Intel Mobile, AMD Desktop
• Release Date: Intel 2021-05-10, AMD 2017-08-30
• Launch MSRP: Intel $250, AMD $549
• Multiplier Unlocked: Intel false, AMD true
• Part Number: Intel SRKT2, AMD YD190XA8AEWOFYD190XA8U8SAE