AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS vs Intel Core i7-11700K Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11700K dominates the benchmark comparison, taking 19 of 23 head-to-head tests. Its wins are concentrated in single-thread, multi-thread, and memory-sensitive workloads. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS counters in only 4 tests, but those wins reveal its strengths in specific computational patterns.

The Intel part leads in 3DMark across every thread count, from 2 threads to 16 threads. The largest margin comes at 16 threads, where Intel scores 8095 against AMD's 6963, a 16.3% advantage. The 3DMark single-thread test also favors Intel, with a 6.8% edge. This pattern suggests the Intel architecture extracts more performance per thread in graphics-adjacent physics and simulation workloads.

Cinebench results split interestingly. The Intel i7-11700K wins decisively in Cinebench R23 multicore by 53.7%, scoring 20666 against 13445. The single-core R23 gap is even larger at 87.7%. However, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test by 3.7%, a notable reversal that indicates the AMD part scales better in this older, shorter-duration workload.

PassMark tests show Intel winning 10 of 13 categories, including data compression (10.2% ahead), extended instructions (14.7% ahead), find prime numbers (13.8% ahead), floating point math (6% ahead), multithread (5.4% ahead), random string sorting (20.4% ahead), and single-thread (4.7% ahead). The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins PassMark data encryption by 14.6%, integer math by a razor-thin 0.1%, and physics by 0.2%, the latter two being essentially statistical ties.

The use-case split is clear. The Intel Core i7-11700K is the stronger choice for single-thread responsiveness, heavy multithreaded rendering, sorting, compression, and general compute. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS holds its own in encryption, integer math, physics, and the legacy Cinebench R15 multicore test. For modern content creation and gaming workloads, the data points firmly toward Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11700K uses Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS uses Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The process node difference is significant: the AMD part is built on a 6 nm node versus Intel's 14 nm node, which explains the AMD chip's much lower power envelope despite similar core counts.

Both CPUs have 8 cores and 16 threads, so thread-level parallelism is identical. The Intel part has a 3.60 GHz base clock and 5.00 GHz boost clock. The AMD part runs a 3.30 GHz base clock and 4.90 GHz boost clock. Intel leads in clock speed at both ends, but the AMD chip operates at a 35 W TDP versus Intel's 125 W TDP, a 90 W difference that reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning.

Cache hierarchies differ in the L1 and L3 levels. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, while AMD uses 64 KB per core. Both have 512 KB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3, so the total cache capacity is identical except for the L1 delta. Memory support diverges sharply: Intel uses DDR4 with dual-channel access and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses DDR5 with dual-channel access and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part has 50% more memory bandwidth, which helps explain its competitiveness in bandwidth-sensitive integer and encryption workloads.

Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ: Intel pairs with UHD Graphics 750, AMD with Radeon 680M. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The AMD die size is listed at 208 mm²; no die size is recorded for Intel. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part remains active in production.

The Intel part targets the desktop segment with Socket 1200, while the AMD part targets mobile with Socket FP7. This architectural split explains why the Intel chip carries a 125 W TDP and the AMD chip only 35 W. The AMD part achieves comparable or better efficiency in some tests despite lower clocks, a direct consequence of the 6 nm process and DDR5 memory support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest Intel victory comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-11700K scores 2917 against AMD's 1554, a 87.7% lead. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire benchmark set. The R23 multicore test shows Intel ahead by 53.7%, with scores of 20666 versus 13445. These two results alone establish Intel's dominance in modern rendering workloads.

Cinebench R15 tells a different story. AMD wins the multicore test 2161 to 2082, a 3.7% margin. Intel wins the R15 single-core test by 20%, scoring 294 against 245. The R15 multicore reversal suggests the AMD part has a performance advantage in shorter, less demanding rendering tasks, possibly aided by its higher memory bandwidth.

Geekbench results favor Intel across the board. The multicore score is 10521 versus 9451, a 11.3% lead. The single-core score is 1974 versus 1733, a 13.9% lead. These results reinforce the pattern of Intel winning both single-thread and multi-thread scenarios in general-purpose compute.

The 3DMark suite shows consistent Intel wins at every thread count. At 16 threads, Intel leads by 16.3%. At max threads, the lead is 16.2%. At 8 threads, 9.3%. At 2 threads, 8.3%. At 4 threads, 6.6%. At single thread, 6.8%. The consistency indicates that Intel's per-thread performance advantage scales across all thread counts in this workload.

PassMark tests reveal the AMD part's specific strengths. Data encryption goes to AMD by 14.6%, with a score of 18303 against 15638. Integer math is nearly identical, AMD at 86449 versus Intel's 86390, a 0.1% difference. Physics also goes to AMD by 0.2%, scoring 1041 versus 1039. These are the only PassMark tests AMD wins, and the margins in integer math and physics are negligible.

Intel's PassMark wins include random string sorting by 20.4%, extended instructions by 14.7%, find prime numbers by 13.8%, data compression by 10.2%, floating point math by 6%, multithread by 5.4%, and single-thread by 4.7%. The sorting and compression wins highlight Intel's advantage in memory-access patterns and branch-heavy workloads.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i7-11700K runs at 3.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, while the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS runs at 3.30 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The TDP difference is substantial: 125 W for Intel versus 35 W for AMD. Intel uses Socket 1200, AMD uses Socket FP7. The Intel part is a desktop processor; the AMD part is mobile.

The process nodes are different as noted: Intel uses 14 nm at its own foundry, AMD uses 6 nm at TSMC. The AMD die is 208 mm², while no die size is recorded for Intel. Cache differs only in L1, with Intel at 80 KB per core and AMD at 64 KB per core. L2 and L3 are identical at 512 KB per core and 16 MB shared, respectively.

Memory support is a major differentiator. Intel supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. AMD supports DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses, and neither supports ECC. PCIe support is identical: Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics differ, with Intel using UHD Graphics 750 and AMD using Radeon 680M.

The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $399. The AMD part has a locked multiplier and no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part is end-of-life with a release date of 2021-03-15, while the AMD part is active with no release date recorded. The part numbers differ, and the AMD part number is listed as 100-000000545100-000000561, with Intel's part number listed as SRKNL. The Intel part and AMD part both have 8 cores and 16 threads, making them equal in thread count and thread-level parallelism, the only major specification where they match alongside L2, L3, memory bus, and PCIe.

FAQQ: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K wins 19 of 23 tests. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins 4 of 23 tests. Intel's wins include Cinebench R23 multicore by 53.7%, Cinebench R23 single-core by 87.7%, Geekbench multicore by 11.3%, and 3DMark 16-thread by 16.3%.

Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 2917 versus AMD's 1554, a 87.7% lead. The second largest is Cinebench R23 multicore, where Intel leads by 53.7% with 20666 against 13445.

Q: In which tests does the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS win?

A: The AMD part wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 3.7%, PassMark data encryption by 14.6%, PassMark integer math by 0.1%, and PassMark physics by 0.2%. The integer math and physics margins are negligible.

Q: How do the memory systems differ?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700K supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS supports DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The Intel part uses a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD part uses a 6 nm process at TSMC. The AMD die is 208 mm², while no die size is recorded for Intel.

Q: Are the core counts and thread counts the same?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads. Both have 512 KB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3. The L1 cache differs, with Intel at 80 KB per core and AMD at 64 KB per core.