Core i7-11700F vs Ryzen 5 5600

CPU

GPU

Core i7-11700F

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2021

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Ryzen 5 5600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

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Core i7-11700F vs Ryzen 5 5600 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-11700F

8 / 16

20,770

0.0%

21,550

+3.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

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 i7-11700F vs Ryzen 5 5600 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 i7-11700F vs Ryzen 5 5600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-11700F

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (20,770 vs 21,550).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 69.7 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($298 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅+3.8% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $99 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $298 MSRP).
✅Delivers 55.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 69.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $298 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Core i7-11700F?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-11700F is ahead with a 10.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600 pulls ahead with 3.8% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 5600 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 3.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600 comes in $99 cheaper on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $298 MSRP, and it still gives you 3.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-11700F is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 10.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 55.4% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 69.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i7-11700F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-11700F vs Ryzen 5 5600 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-11700F

The Core i7-11700F 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 20,770 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-11700F packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-11700F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-11700F versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-11700F uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700F scores 20,770 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 3.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,196 vs 2,052, a 6.8% lead for the Core i7-11700F that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700F vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i7-11700F	Ryzen 5 5600
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+11%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	20,770	21,550+4%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	11,077
Geekbench 6 Single	2,196+7%	2,052
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	8,600

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11700F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600 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 i7-11700F) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H510,B560,H570,Z590,Q570 (Core i7-11700F) and B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600).

Feature	Core i7-11700F	Ryzen 5 5600
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%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-11700F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11700F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600). Primary use case: Core i7-11700F targets Gaming Desktop, Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-11700F rivals Ryzen 7 5800.

Feature	Core i7-11700F	Ryzen 5 5600
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Desktop	Desktop

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i7-11700F was priced at $298, while the Ryzen 5 5600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($298 vs $199), Ryzen 5 5600 was $99 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-11700F delivers 69.7 pts/$ vs 108.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 43.4% better value option.

Feature	Core i7-11700F	Ryzen 5 5600
MSRP	$298	$199-33%
Performance per Dollar	69.7	108.3+55%
Release Date	2021	2022

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