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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-11500H

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU), while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,669 vs 21,845).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.0% higher average FPS across 2 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.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 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.

Core i5-11500H

2021

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU), while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.0% higher average FPS across 2 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.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,669 vs 21,845).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 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 Ryzen 5 5600X better than Core i5-11500H?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 16.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 39.4% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.0% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better fit. You are getting 39.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries 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 5 5600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5600X is at an unclear MSRP at $299 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 16.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-11500H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-11500H Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	191 FPS	203 FPS
medium	157 FPS	174 FPS
high	131 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	155 FPS	169 FPS
medium	122 FPS	141 FPS
high	99 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	86 FPS	85 FPS
medium	74 FPS	76 FPS
high	59 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	384 FPS	464 FPS
medium	310 FPS	387 FPS
high	275 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	341 FPS	397 FPS
medium	279 FPS	334 FPS
high	254 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	263 FPS
medium	236 FPS	226 FPS
high	216 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	392 FPS	546 FPS
medium	392 FPS	473 FPS
high	392 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	392 FPS	508 FPS
medium	392 FPS	413 FPS
high	392 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	392 FPS	348 FPS
medium	378 FPS	292 FPS
high	325 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	392 FPS	546 FPS
medium	392 FPS	546 FPS
high	392 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	392 FPS	546 FPS
medium	392 FPS	546 FPS
high	392 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	392 FPS	529 FPS
medium	392 FPS	484 FPS
high	392 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11500H and Ryzen 5 5600X

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 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-11500H and Ryzen 5 5600X share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500H versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-11500H uses the Tiger Lake H45 (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500H scores 15,669 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 32.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500H vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.7 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB+167%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake H45 (2021)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	15,669	21,845+39%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,532	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,801	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,248	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X 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 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i5-11500H) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Ryzen 5 5600X
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	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X 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 AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Core i5-11500H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU)), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500H targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H.