Core i5-11500H vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

Core i5-11500H

6 Cores12 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2021

Core family

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Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Ryzen family

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Core i5-11500H vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Core i5-11500H

6 / 12

15,669

0.0%

17,685

+12.9%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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 i5-11500H vs Ryzen 5 3600 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 i5-11500H vs Ryzen 5 3600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-11500H

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU), while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-11500H.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 9,532).
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Core i5-11500H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11500H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-11500H better than Ryzen 5 3600?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 is ahead with a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11500H pulls ahead with 0.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 3600 also has the bigger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11500H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-11500H is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i5-11500H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 3600 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-11500H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-11500H vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-11500H

The Core i5-11500H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake H45 (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,669 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-11500H and Ryzen 5 3600 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500H versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-11500H (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-11500H uses the Tiger Lake H45 (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500H scores 15,669 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 12.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,532 vs 9,500 (0.3% advantage for the Core i5-11500H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,801 vs 1,295, a 32.7% lead for the Core i5-11500H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,248 vs 1,898 (106.8% advantage for the Core i5-11500H). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500H vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+10%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.6 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+40860%
Process	10 nm SuperFin	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake H45 (2021)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	15,669	17,685+13%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,532	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,801+39%	1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,248+229%	1,898

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — 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 i5-11500H) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i5-11500H) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	FCBGA1787	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	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i5-11500H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500H) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Core i5-11500H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU)), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500H targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU)	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming/Budget Workstation