Ryzen 5 vs i5 Laptop: Which one is better in 2022

Ryzen 5 3600 and Core i5 11400 are two mid-range processors from AMD and Intel among the best choices on the current market for those who want to build a gaming PC in 2021 without spending so much on a top-of-the-line CPU. Both are hexa-core and reach speeds that surpass the 4 GHz mark with the turbo, in addition to supporting peripherals with PCIe 4.0.

The Core i5 11400F, for example, is more stripped down and cheaper, as it comes without an integrated graphics card, while the Ryzen 5 3600X offers slightly higher speeds and is relatively more expensive. Next, we compare in detail the datasheets of the two products, their specifications, gaming performance and the cost-benefit ratio between the Intel and AMD platforms.

Specifications

Both AMD and Intel products are very similar, even in specs. In both cases, six cores and 12 threads are offered , allowing both Ryzen 5 and Core i5 to behave like 12-core CPUs in applications that support this type of processing.

There are differences in terms of speeds, with Intel offering a base clock of 2.6 GHz and a turbo boosting the processor to 4.4 GHz. On the AMD side, Ryzen yields 3.6 GHz at base speed and can engage a 4.2 GHz turbo.

On the Core i5, there is a total of 12 MB of cache memory at level 3 (L3), while on the Ryzen 5 3600 it is 32 MB. This configuration is a type of internal memory of the processor that serves to store information that the CPU may need in the short term, reducing response times and ensuring greater performance.

Another relevant specification for platforms is RAM memory. AMD’s Ryzen supports up to 3200 MHz dual-channel DDR4 memory. Intel’s Core i5 repeats the same profile, accessing two simultaneous channels of DDR4 also at 3.2 GHz.

Performance

The website Tom’s Hardware produced tests that compare the two processors directly and verified results that, in general, give victory to the Core i5. Being more recent, the processor benefits from a more efficient architecture than its rival, which explains the conclusion.

In Borderlands 3 , the Core i5 11400 can deliver a minimum of 123.5 frames per second running the game in Full HD, while the Ryzen 5 3600 goes at 111.5 fps. The tests were carried out with the same memory, storage and graphics card in order to isolate as much as possible discrepancies between the two processors.

Resources

Although the performance comparisons between the two processors show an advantage for Intel, the truth is that in the daily use of the two products these differences can be too small to be noticed. Given this, some important differences come into play regarding the features and functionality embedded in the two processors.

Core i5 comes with integrated graphics — Photo: Disclosure / Intel

If your search is for a CPU for a more general-purpose home PC and not so focused on gaming, the Core i5 may be a better choice, since the chip has an integrated graphics card, capable of controlling more than one monitor. and even play 4K video. For desktops focused on study and work, the Core i5 is a more cost-effective choice because it saves you from investing in a dedicated graphics card.

The Ryzen 5 3600 has more gamer vocation. In addition to not having a built-in graphics card – which forces the investment in an additional GPU –, there is support for overclocking on the AMD platform. Thus, more advanced users, and with access to temperature control systems, in addition to a good quality motherboard, can try to artificially accelerate the processor to improve its performance.

Consumption

The two chips occupy the same TDP range , at 65 Watts, which indicates that their power and cooling needs should be very similar when operating under maximum performance conditions (and without overclocking, in the specific case of Ryzen).

TDP is an index of the total power that the processor does not use when pushed to the limit of its capabilities, indicating the amount of heat that the CPU needs to dissipate into the environment to continue working properly.

Motherboard

It is possible to find motherboards in the same price range for both processors — Photo: Disclosure/Gigabyte

The two processors require different boards to work. While AMD’s platform is built around the AM4 socket , and with a number of different chipsets, Intel bets on cards with the LGA1200 socket .