AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Intel Core i9-11950H

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a desktop processor with 6 SMT-enabled (12 threads) and based on the Zen 3 architecture. Launched in November 2020, it is the fastest 6-core Ryzen desktop processor. With a TDP of 65 watts, the Ryzen 5 5600X is the least energy-hungry model in the Zen 3 family to date.

The Ryzen 5 5600X is clocked at 3.7 GHz base clock and can be clocked up to 4.6 GHz with Precision Boost 2.

Performance

The average 5600X in our database is in the same league as the Ryzen 9 4900H and the Ryzen 7 6800HS, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. While this isn't the fastest CPU money can buy, it still rips through most workloads with ease, as of mid 2022. Find out more in our full review.

Power consumption

This Ryzen 5 series chip has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 65 W to be in line with most desktop processors.

The R5 5600X is built with TSMC's 7 nm process for average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.

Intel Core i9-11950H

The Intel Core i9-11950H is a high end octa core SoC for laptops and mobile workstations. It is based on the Tiger Lake H45 generation and was announced in mid 2021. It integrates eight Willow Cove processor cores (16 threads thanks to HyperThreading). The base clock speed depends on the TDP setting and at 45 Watt is at 2.6 GHz. The single core boost speed can reach up to 5 GHz (ITBM 3.0, also two cores), all cores can reach up to 4.5 GHz. The CPU offers 24 MB level 3 cache and supports DDR4-3200 memory. Compared to the i9-11980HK, the 11950H offers professional management features like Intel vPro, SIPP or TXT.

Thanks to the new Tiger Lake architecture, the i9-11980HK should be significantly faster than the old Intel Core i9-10980HK (Comet Lake-H, 2.4 - 5.3 GHz, 16 MB L3) in single and multi threaded performance and similar to the Ryzen 9 5980HX (Zen 3, 3.3 - 4.8 GHz, 16 MB L3). Therefore, the i9 should be one of the fastest laptop CPUs in 2021 and well suited for even very demanding tasks.

The SoC also included the improved Xe graphics card called UHD graphics with all 32 EUs.

Furthermore, Tiger Lake SoCs add PCIe 4 support (20 lanes in the H45 series), AI hardware acceleration, and the partial integration of Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6E in the chip.

The chip is produced on the improved 10nm process (called 10nm SuperFin) at Intel, which should be comparable to the 7nm process at TSMC (e.g. Ryzen 4000 series). The default TDP is rated at 45 W, at 65 Watt the base clock speed increases to 3.3 GHz (cTDP up).

All articles on Tiger Lake can be found on our Tiger Lake architecture hub.