AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Intel Core i7-11700T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and Intel Core i7-11700T are both 8-core, 16-thread processors with a 35 W TDP, yet they occupy different corners of the market: one is a mobile chip for thin-and-light laptops, the other a low-power desktop part. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the AMD chip dominates older rendering workloads, while the Intel chip takes the lead in newer single-threaded tests. With two wins apiece in head-to-head benchmarks, the choice between these two CPUs depends heavily on which software generation matters most to you.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 2041 against the Intel Core i7-11700T's 1304. That is a 56.5% advantage for AMD, a massive gap that suggests the Zen 3 architecture in the 5900HS handles the older Cinebench R15 workload far more efficiently. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story, with AMD leading 236.5 to 184, a 28.5% margin. In these legacy benchmarks, the Ryzen 9 is clearly the superior processor, likely due to its newer 7 nm process node and higher base clock efficiency.

However, the tables turn completely in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. The Intel Core i7-11700T edges out a narrow victory in multi-core, scoring 12945 versus 12745.5 for AMD, a slim 1.5% difference. This near-tie in R23 multi-core is remarkable given AMD's dominance in R15, suggesting that Intel's Rocket Lake architecture scales better with the newer rendering engine. The single-core R23 result is even more decisive: Intel wins 1827 to 1475.5, a 19.2% advantage. This indicates that Intel's Cypress Cove cores, despite being on an older 14 nm process, deliver significantly higher single-thread performance in modern workloads.

The overall benchmark averages corroborate this split. AMD's average benchmark score sits at 3924, while Intel's is 3864, a difference of only 1.5%. Both processors occupy the 56th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier. The nearest rivals for each chip reinforce this parity: AMD's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E-2278GE with an average score of 3939 (0.4% higher), while Intel's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 at 3875 (0.3% lower). These are closely matched processors overall, but with very different strengths depending on the workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700T wins decisively with a score of 1827, which is 19.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS's 1475.5.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS better in multi-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD wins by a substantial 56.5% (2041 vs 1304), but in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel takes a narrow 1.5% lead (12945 vs 12745.5).

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores and 16 threads, making them equivalent in raw thread count.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-11700T uses Intel's 14 nm process. This is a significant architectural difference.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has an average benchmark score of 3924, slightly higher than the Intel Core i7-11700T's 3864, a difference of about 1.5%.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS offers 68.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, notably higher than the Intel Core i7-11700T's 51.2 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is the clear winner in legacy multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2041 is over 56% higher than Intel's, making it the better choice for users running older rendering engines or applications that rely on Cinebench R15-era optimization. The 28.5% lead in R15 single-core further cements AMD's advantage in this older benchmark suite. For users with software that hasn't been updated to leverage newer instruction sets, the 5900HS will provide noticeably faster performance.

The Intel Core i7-11700T takes the crown in modern single-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1827 is 19.2% higher than AMD's, a significant margin that translates to snappier response in applications that are lightly threaded or rely heavily on single-core speed. The narrow 1.5% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core also gives Intel an edge in the latest rendering workloads, though the difference is nearly negligible. For users running current-generation software, the 11700T offers superior single-thread and competitive multi-thread performance.

The Intel chip also wins on memory bandwidth efficiency relative to its theoretical maximum, though AMD's raw bandwidth is higher at 68.3 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s. The 5900HS has a higher raw memory bandwidth figure, which could benefit memory-intensive tasks. However, the 11700T's superior single-core scores in R23 suggest that its memory subsystem, despite lower bandwidth, is better optimized for latency-sensitive workloads.

Specification Differences

The socket and platform are completely different: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS uses AMD Socket FP6, a mobile platform, while the Intel Core i7-11700T uses Intel Socket 1200 for desktop systems. The market segments reflect this, with AMD positioned as a mobile processor and Intel as a desktop part. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, while Intel's base clock is listed as 1400.00 MHz, though both boost to 4.60 GHz.

The process nodes differ substantially: AMD uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while Intel employs a 14 nm process. This leads to different die sizes, with AMD at 180 mm² and Intel at 276 mm². AMD's transistor count is listed at 10,700 million, while Intel's is not specified. Cache configurations also differ in L1: AMD has 64 KB per core, while Intel has 80 KB per core. Both share 512 KB L2 per core and 16 MB shared L3.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator, with AMD offering 68.3 GB/s versus Intel's 51.2 GB/s. PCIe support differs as well: AMD uses Gen 3, while Intel supports Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are distinct, with AMD featuring Radeon Vega 8 and Intel using UHD Graphics 750. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $323, while AMD's is not listed. Production status also differs, with AMD listed as Active and Intel as End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The architectural foundations of these two chips are fundamentally different. AMD's Ryzen 9 5900HS uses the Zen 3 architecture under the codename "Cezanne," representing the 5000 series generation. This is a 7 nm design from TSMC with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. Intel's Core i7-11700T uses the Rocket Lake architecture, part of the 11th Gen Core series, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die size. The transistor count for Intel is not provided, but the larger die on an older process node suggests a less dense design.

The cache hierarchies differ in L1 capacity, with Intel providing 80 KB per core versus AMD's 64 KB per core. Both share identical L2 (512 KB per core) and L3 (16 MB shared) configurations. The memory controllers also differ in bandwidth, with AMD's dual-channel DDR4 setup achieving 68.3 GB/s, while Intel's dual-channel DDR4 achieves 51.2 GB/s. Both support non-ECC DDR4 memory.

Feature differences include PCIe generations, where Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while AMD is limited to Gen 3. Integrated graphics also differ significantly, with AMD's Radeon Vega 8 and Intel's UHD Graphics 750. Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning no overclocking. The AMD chip is in active production, while Intel's is end-of-life. Release dates are close, with AMD launching in January 2021 and Intel in March 2021.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear trade-off between legacy and modern performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is the stronger choice for users running older software that relies on Cinebench R15-era optimizations, where it leads by 56.5% in multi-core and 28.5% in single-core. Its 7 nm process, higher memory bandwidth, and active production status make it a more future-proof mobile option, though it is limited to PCIe Gen 3.

The Intel Core i7-11700T is the better pick for modern workloads, particularly those that are single-threaded. Its 19.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and narrow 1.5% lead in R23 multi-core indicate superior performance in current-generation rendering engines. The PCIe Gen 4 support and higher L1 cache per core are additional modern advantages, though the chip is end-of-life.

For a desktop user running the latest software, the Intel Core i7-11700T's modern single-thread performance is compelling, despite its lower average benchmark score of 3864 versus AMD's 3924. For a mobile user or someone running legacy applications, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS offers dramatic advantages in older benchmarks. Both processors sit at the 56th percentile, so neither is a clear overall winner — the right choice depends entirely on whether your software is from the Cinebench R15 era or the R23 era.