Core i5-11500 vs Ryzen 7 5700X

Intel

Core i5-11500

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2021
VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022

Core i5-11500 vs Ryzen 7 5700X 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 i5-11500 vs Ryzen 7 5700X 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 i5-11500 vs Ryzen 7 5700X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-11500

2021

Why buy it

  • βœ…Costs $107 less on MSRP ($192 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 750, while Ryzen 7 5700X needs a discrete GPU.
  • βœ…Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 5700X.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,883 vs 14,000).
  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 7 5700X

2022

Why buy it

  • βœ…Better for gaming: +23.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • βœ…+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
  • βœ…20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌
    55.7% HIGHER MSRP
    $299 MSRPvs$192 MSRP
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-11500.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5700X better than Core i5-11500?
Yes. Ryzen 7 5700X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 23.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 41.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 55.6% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 5700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 23.2% 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 7 5700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 41.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 5700X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-11500 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 5700X comes in 55.7% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it still gives you a 23.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-11500 is also 0.1% better value on MSRP (89.0 vs 89.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-11500 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 5700X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-11500 vs Ryzen 7 5700X Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core i5-11500

The Core i5-11500 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 17,096 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 7 5700X

The Ryzen 7 5700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020βˆ’2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 26,609 points. Launch price was $299.

⚑

Processing Power

The Core i5-11500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads β€” the Ryzen 7 5700X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700X β€” identical boost frequencies (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-11500 uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020βˆ’2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500 scores 17,096 against the Ryzen 7 5700X's 26,609 β€” a 43.5% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,883 vs 14,000 (34.5% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X). Geekbench 6 single-core β€” the metric most relevant to gaming β€” records 2,064 vs 2,116, a 2.5% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,564 vs 9,715 (12.6% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 5700X.

FeatureCore i5-11500Ryzen 7 5700X
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
4.6 GHz
Base Clock
2.7 GHz
3.4 GHz+26%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512K (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
7 nm-50%
Architecture
Rocket Lake (2021)
Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020βˆ’2022)
PassMark
17,096
26,609+56%
Cinebench R23 Multi
9,883
14,000+42%
Geekbench 6 Single
2,064
2,116+3%
Geekbench 6 Multi
8,564
9,715+13%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-11500) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5700X) β€” the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H510,B560,Z590,H470,Z490 (Core i5-11500) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700X).

FeatureCore i5-11500Ryzen 7 5700X
Socket
LGA1200
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
24+20%
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 5700X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking β€” a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i5-11500 supports AVX-512 instructions β€” important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5700X). The Core i5-11500 includes integrated graphics (UHD 750), while the Ryzen 7 5700X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500 targets Gaming, Ryzen 7 5700X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500 rivals Ryzen 5 5600X; Ryzen 7 5700X rivals Core i7-11700K.

FeatureCore i5-11500Ryzen 7 5700X
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
UHD 750
β€”
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
Yes
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Gaming
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-11500 was priced at $192, while the Ryzen 7 5700X came in at $299. On launch pricing ($192 vs $299), Core i5-11500 was $107 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-11500 delivers 89.0 pts/$ vs 89.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700X β€” making the Core i5-11500 the 0.1% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-11500Ryzen 7 5700X
MSRP
$192-36%
$299
Performance per Dollar
89.0
89.0
Release Date
2021
2022

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