CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 5 211TE and Intel Core i7-9750H are both 45W parts, but they represent very different generations and design philosophies. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Core 5 211TE dominates in threaded rendering and encryption workloads, while the older i7-9750H retains surprising leads in several single-threaded and specific data-processing tasks. With 11 wins for the Core 5 211TE against 6 for the i7-9750H in direct head-to-head tests, the newer Bartlett Lake chip is the overall performance leader, but the margin is not universal.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 211TE delivers a crushing blow in Cinebench tests, which are heavily reliant on multi-core scaling. Across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23), the Core 5 211TE wins both multi-core and single-core runs by a near-identical margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 5 211TE scores 12201 against 8973 for the i7-9750H, a 36% advantage. The single-core R23 result is similarly lopsided: 1722 versus 1266, also a 36% lead. This consistency suggests the Core 5 211TE’s architectural efficiency and higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz (versus 4.50 GHz) provide a uniform advantage in rendering workloads.

The gap in encryption is even more dramatic. In Passmark data encryption, the Core 5 211TE scores 7231, which is 92.5% higher than the i7-9750H’s 3756. This is the largest percentage delta in the entire comparison, indicating a significant advantage in AES-type workloads. Similarly, the Core 5 211TE doubles the i7-9750H in the Passmark find prime numbers test, scoring 72 versus 32, a 125% increase. The physics test also favors the Core 5 211TE heavily, with a score of 1278 versus 670, a 90.7% lead.

The i7-9750H, however, is not without its victories. The most striking is in Passmark single-thread, where it scores 2404 against the Core 5 211TE’s 1408, a 41.4% advantage. This is a substantial reversal of the Cinebench single-core results, and it highlights the i7-9750H’s older but higher-clocked single-core design. The i7-9750H also wins in Passmark random string sorting (19862 versus 14838, a 25.3% lead), data compression (150443 versus 133434, an 11.3% lead), integer math (37822 versus 33991, a 10.1% lead), and extended instructions (9187 versus 8615, a 6.2% lead).

The multi-threaded Passmark score is closer, with the Core 5 211TE winning 11685 to 10671, a 9.5% margin. Floating point math also goes to the Core 5 211TE (26150 versus 23343, a 12% lead), but the overall picture is clear: the newer chip wins the heavy compute tasks, while the older chip wins specific data manipulation and legacy single-thread tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 211TE is the definitive choice for multi-threaded rendering and encryption. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12201 places it 36% ahead of the i7-9750H, and the 92.5% lead in data encryption suggests it is markedly better for security-related tasks or any workload that relies on AES-NI. The 125% lead in prime number finding further cements its position for mathematical computation and scientific workloads. The physics score of 1278 (versus 670) indicates a strong advantage in simulation and physics-based applications, likely benefiting from the 10-core, 16-thread configuration.

The i7-9750H, despite being end-of-life, wins in several areas that may surprise. Its Passmark single-thread score of 2404 is 41.4% higher, making it better for lightly-threaded legacy applications that rely on high per-core clock speeds without modern architectural optimizations. The 25.3% lead in random string sorting and 11.3% lead in data compression suggest it is faster for certain database, archiving, and text-processing tasks. A 10.1% lead in integer math also indicates an edge in general-purpose integer calculations, which are common in legacy business software. The extended instructions lead (6.2%) implies the i7-9750H retains some advantage in SIMD-heavy workloads that are not as optimized on the newer architecture.

The Core 5 211TE wins the multi-threaded Passmark test (9.5% lead), but this is a modest margin compared to its Cinebench dominance. This indicates that the i7-9750H’s higher single-thread score helps it close the gap in mixed workloads, even though it has fewer cores (6 versus 10) and threads (12 versus 16).

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core 5 211TE as the superior processor for virtually all modern, multi-threaded, and security-sensitive workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 36% higher, and its encryption lead of 92.5% is decisive. Anyone running video rendering, 3D modeling, scientific simulations, or encrypted data processing should choose the Core 5 211TE without hesitation. The 10-core, 16-thread design, combined with a 4.80 GHz boost clock and 20 MB of L3 cache, provides a robust foundation for these tasks.

However, the i7-9750H is not obsolete. Its 41.4% lead in Passmark single-thread and 25.3% lead in random string sorting make it a better option for specific legacy applications that are not optimized for multi-core scaling. If a user’s primary software relies on single-thread performance or specific data compression algorithms, the i7-9750H may deliver better real-world results despite its older 14 nm process. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration with a 2.60 GHz base clock is still capable in these niches.

The average benchmark scores are close: 15370 for the Core 5 211TE versus 14886 for the i7-9750H, a difference of roughly 3.3%. Both processors sit at the 69th percentile of all CPUs. This suggests that in a broad mix of tasks, the performance gap is smaller than the Cinebench results imply, but the Core 5 211TE’s wins are in heavier, more demanding workloads. For a new system, the Core 5 211TE is the clear recommendation. For a legacy upgrade or a system where the i7-9750H’s specific strengths (single-thread, integer math) are paramount, the older chip remains viable.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE is significantly faster. It scores 12201 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 8973 for the i7-9750H, a 36% lead.

Q: Does the i7-9750H win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, the i7-9750H wins Passmark single-thread by 41.4%, scoring 2404 versus 1408 for the Core 5 211TE. It also wins random string sorting by 25.3%.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in encryption performance?

A: The Core 5 211TE is vastly superior, scoring 7231 in Passmark data encryption versus 3756 for the i7-9750H, a 92.5% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-9750H has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core 5 211TE has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the i7-9750H boosts to 4.50 GHz.

Q: Are both CPUs still in production?

A: No. The Core 5 211TE is listed as Active, while the i7-9750H is End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Core 5 211TE is based on the Bartlett Lake codename and uses a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-9750H is based on the older Coffee Lake-HR architecture (Coffee Lake) and uses a 14 nm process node. This process difference contributes to the Core 5 211TE’s higher efficiency and performance per watt, despite both having a 45W TDP.

The Core 5 211TE features a larger die size of 215 mm², compared to 149 mm² for the i7-9750H. The cache hierarchy is also notably different. The Core 5 211TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i7-9750H has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is 20 MB shared on the Core 5 211TE versus 12 MB shared on the i7-9750H.

Memory support differs significantly. The Core 5 211TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i7-9750H only supports DDR4. The memory bandwidth reflects this: 76.8 GB/s for the Core 5 211TE versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7-9750H. The Core 5 211TE also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i7-9750H. PCIe capabilities differ as well, with the Core 5 211TE offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9750H is limited to Gen 3.

Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 211TE uses UHD Graphics 730, while the i7-9750H has UHD 630. The Core 5 211TE was released on 2025-01-12, whereas the i7-9750H was released on 2019-04-22, marking over five years of architectural advancement between them.

Specification Differences

The most direct specification differences are in core and thread counts: the Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-9750H has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ, with the i7-9750H starting at 2.60 GHz versus 1.70 GHz for the Core 5 211TE, but the boost clocks reverse this: 4.80 GHz for the Core 5 211TE versus 4.50 GHz for the i7-9750H.

The process nodes are different (10 nm versus 14 nm), and the sockets are incompatible: the Core 5 211TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i7-9750H uses Intel BGA 1440. The Core 5 211TE has a larger die size (215 mm² versus 149 mm²). Cache sizes differ, as detailed above: L1 is 80 KB per core versus 64 KB, L2 is 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB, and L3 is 20 MB shared versus 12 MB shared.

Memory support is a key divider: the Core 5 211TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-9750H only supports DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, and ECC support is present on the Core 5 211TE but not the i7-9750H. PCIe generation differs (Gen 5 versus Gen 3). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus UHD 630. Production status is Active versus End-of-life. The Core 5 211TE has a launch MSRP of $221, while the i7-9750H has no listed launch MSRP. The part numbers are SRQDL for the Core 5 211TE and SRF6USRFCP for the i7-9750H.