CPU Comparison
Intel Core 3 100HL
Core i5-11500
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 100HL vs Intel Core i5-11500
The Intel Core i5-11500 and Intel Core 3 100HL are two desktop processors that land in the same performance tier despite coming from different generations and having different core configurations. The data shows the Core 3 100HL takes 12 of 17 head-to-head benchmark wins, while the Core i5-11500 secures 5. Their average benchmark scores are very close, 23718 for the i5-11500 versus 23545 for the Core 3 100HL, placing both in the 76th percentile of all CPUs. The real story is in how they split victories: the Core 3 100HL wins on raw compute and single-threaded tasks, while the i5-11500 dominates in specific instruction-heavy and integer workloads.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 3 100HL is the clear winner in rendering and floating-point workloads. In Cinebench tests, it beats the i5-11500 by 2.9% in R15, R20, and R23 multicore, and by 2.8-2.9% in all three single-core variants. The biggest gap comes in PassMark floating-point math, where the Core 3 100HL scores 42108 versus 34422, an 18.3% advantage. It also leads PassMark multithread (17586 vs 17107, 2.7% ahead) and physics (928 vs 823, 11.3% ahead). Data encryption is another strong point, with the Core 3 100HL scoring 11964 against 10592 (11.5% better). Its single-thread PassMark score of 3735 is 16.2% higher than the i5-11500's 3131, showing a clear per-core performance edge.
The Intel Core i5-11500 fights back in several specialized areas. Its biggest win is extended instructions, scoring 15111 versus 12463, a 21.2% margin. It also wins data compression (210796 vs 202225, 4.2% ahead), random string sorting (24505 vs 23223, 5.5% ahead), integer math (58352 vs 56308, 3.6% ahead), and prime number finding (51 vs 48, 6.3% ahead). These wins are narrower than the Core 3 100HL's floating-point advantage, but they show the i5-11500 retains strength in workloads that leverage its specific instruction set and integer execution resources.
The Verdict
Choose the Intel Core 3 100HL if your work involves rendering, physics simulation, encryption, or any floating-point-heavy task. The data shows consistent 3-18% advantages across Cinebench and PassMark floating-point math, plus a notable 11.5% edge in encryption. It is also the more efficient choice on paper, with a 45W TDP versus 65W for the i5-11500, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving platform flexibility. For single-threaded responsiveness, the 16.2% PassMark single-thread lead makes it the better pick for lightly threaded applications.
Choose the Intel Core i5-11500 if your software relies on extended instructions, data compression, or integer-heavy algorithms. Its 21.2% win in extended instructions and 4.2% lead in compression are meaningful for specific scientific and database workloads. It also has more PCIe lanes (20 versus 8), which matters if you need to connect multiple high-bandwidth devices directly to the CPU. The i5-11500 is a 2021 part with a $192 launch MSRP, while the Core 3 100HL is a 2024 release, but both are currently in the same performance class, so the choice depends on workload pattern rather than generational branding.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. The Core 3 100HL wins all six tests with nearly identical margins: R15 multicore (1506 vs 1462), R15 singlecore (212 vs 206), R20 multicore (6278 vs 6095), R20 singlecore (886 vs 860), R23 multicore (14948 vs 14513), and R23 singlecore (2110 vs 2049). Every delta sits between 2.8% and 2.9%, indicating a uniform performance advantage across both single and multi-threaded rendering workloads. This consistency suggests the Core 3 100HL's newer architecture provides a baseline IPC improvement that scales across all core counts.
PassMark tells a more varied story. The biggest single margin is extended instructions, where the i5-11500 wins by 21.2% (15111 vs 12463). This is followed by the Core 3 100HL's 18.3% win in floating-point math (42108 vs 34422) and its 16.2% win in single-thread (3735 vs 3131). The encryption test shows an 11.5% gap in favor of the Core 3 100HL (11964 vs 10592), matching the 11.3% physics lead (928 vs 823). The remaining wins are single-digit: i5-11500 in random string sorting (5.5%), prime numbers (6.3%), data compression (4.2%), and integer math (3.6%); Core 3 100HL in multithread (2.7%).
FAQ
Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?
A: The Intel Core 3 100HL scores 14948 versus the i5-11500's 14513, a 2.9% advantage in the R23 multicore test.
Q: Does the older i5-11500 win any benchmark by a large margin?
A: Yes, it wins PassMark extended instructions by 21.2% (15111 vs 12463), which is its largest victory and the biggest single gap in the entire head-to-head set.
Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded PassMark performance?
A: The Core 3 100HL scores 3735 versus 3131 for the i5-11500, giving it a 16.2% lead in the PassMark single-thread test.
Q: What about encryption workloads?
A: The Core 3 100HL is significantly better, scoring 11964 in PassMark data encryption versus 10592 for the i5-11500, an 11.5% advantage.
Q: Which CPU has more cores?
A: The Core 3 100HL has 8 cores versus 6 for the i5-11500, though both support 12 threads.
Q: Is there a difference in memory support?
A: Yes, the Core 3 100HL supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-11500 supports DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different Intel generations. The i5-11500 is built on Rocket Lake, a 14nm architecture with a 276 mm² die size, while the Core 3 100HL uses Raptor Lake-PS on a 10nm node. The Core 3 100HL's newer process node likely contributes to its lower 45W TDP despite having more cores. Both use 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs significantly: the i5-11500 has 512 KB per core, while the Core 3 100HL has 2 MB per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache.
The Core 3 100HL features a hybrid core arrangement typical of Raptor Lake, with 8 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-11500 uses a conventional 6-core/12-thread design. The Core 3 100HL's integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 48EU, compared to the i5-11500's UHD Graphics 750. The Core 3 100HL is a 2024 release and remains in active production, while the i5-11500 launched in 2021 and is end-of-life. The Core 3 100HL also supports more memory types (DDR4 and DDR5) and uses the LGA 1700 socket, whereas the i5-11500 uses LGA 1200.
Specification Differences
The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The Core 3 100HL has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-11500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the Core 3 100HL versus 2.70 GHz for the i5-11500, though both boost to 4.60 GHz. The Core 3 100HL has a lower 45W TDP compared to 65W for the i5-11500. Sockets differ: LGA 1700 for the Core 3 100HL, LGA 1200 for the i5-11500. Memory support is broader on the Core 3 100HL (DDR4 and DDR5) versus DDR4-only on the i5-11500. PCIe capability differs significantly, with the i5-11500 offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes versus 8 lanes for the Core 3 100HL. Integrated graphics are also different: Iris Xe Graphics 48EU on the Core 3 100HL versus UHD Graphics 750 on the i5-11500. The i5-11500 has a known part number (SRKNY) and a launch MSRP of $192, while the Core 3 100HL's part number is unknown and it has no recorded launch MSRP.