Core i7-11850H vs Ryzen 5 3600

Core i7-11850H vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-11850H

8 / 16

19,873

+12.4%

17,685

0.0%

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 i7-11850H 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 i7-11850H 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 i7-11850H

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-11850H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11850H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 19,873).
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Core i7-11850H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11850H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-11850H better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Yes. Core i7-11850H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 12.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 12.4% better 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, Core i7-11850H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 12.9% 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, Core i7-11850H is the stronger fit. You are getting 12.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i7-11850H is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-11850H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you a 12.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-11850H 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 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 i7-11850H vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-11850H

The Core i7-11850H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 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: 19,873 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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-11850H packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-11850H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-11850H versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-11850H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-11850H uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11850H scores 19,873 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 11.7% lead for the Core i7-11850H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,911 vs 1,295, a 38.4% lead for the Core i7-11850H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11850H vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+14%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+40860%
Process	10 nm SuperFin	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	19,873+12%	17,685
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,911+48%	1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,898

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11850H 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 i7-11850H) 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 i7-11850H) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Core i7-11850H	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%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-11850H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11850H) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Core i7-11850H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11850H targets Workstation Laptop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-11850H rivals Ryzen 7 5800H; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Workstation Laptop	Gaming/Budget Workstation