Core i5-11400T vs Ryzen 5 4600U

Intel

Core i5-11400T

6 Cores12 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2021
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 4600U

6 Cores12 Thrd15 WWMax: 4 GHz2020
Ryzen family
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Core i5-11400T vs Ryzen 5 4600U Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-11400T vs Ryzen 5 4600U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-11400T vs Ryzen 5 4600U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-11400T

2021

Why buy it

  • +50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 730, while Ryzen 5 4600U needs a discrete GPU.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 4600U.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 4600U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (13,034 vs 13,043).
  • Launch MSRP is still $182 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 4600U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Ryzen 5 4600U

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11400T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-11400T.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 4600U better than Core i5-11400T?
Yes. Ryzen 5 4600U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 4600U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 4600U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 4600U is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-11400T is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 4600U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $182 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-11400T is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (71.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-11400T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020) and 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-11400T vs Ryzen 5 4600U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core i5-11400T

The Core i5-11400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,034 points. Launch price was $182.

AMD

Ryzen 5 4600U

The Ryzen 5 4600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,043 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-11400T and Ryzen 5 4600U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-11400T versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4600U — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 4600U (base: 1.3 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-11400T uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 4600U uses Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11400T scores 13,034 against the Ryzen 5 4600U's 13,043 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 4600U. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11400T vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4600U.

FeatureCore i5-11400TRyzen 5 4600U
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
6 / 12
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz
4 GHz+8%
Base Clock
1.3 GHz
2.1 GHz+62%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)+50%
8 MB (total)
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512 kB (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
7 nm-50%
Architecture
Rocket Lake (2021)
Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021)
PassMark
13,034
13,043
Cinebench R23 Multi
3,891
Geekbench 6 Single
1,767
Geekbench 6 Multi
6,179
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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11400T uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 4600U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-11400TRyzen 5 4600U
Socket
LGA1200
FP6
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0+33%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11400T) / not specified (Ryzen 5 4600U). The Core i5-11400T includes integrated graphics (UHD 730), while the Ryzen 5 4600U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11400T targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-11400T rivals Core i5-11400.

FeatureCore i5-11400TRyzen 5 4600U
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD 730
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Productivity