Intel Core 5 220H vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H wins 11 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i9-11950H wins 6. The Core 5 220H also posts a higher average benchmark score of 28574 versus 28332 for the i9-11950H.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Core 5 220H leads in most single-thread tests, including a 6.9% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core (262 vs 245), a 7.6% edge in Cinebench R20 single-core (1102 vs 1024), and an 8.4% lead in PassMark single-thread (3405 vs 3141). However, the i9-11950H wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 24% (2439 vs 1853).

Q: Which CPU is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: Results are mixed. The Core 5 220H leads in Cinebench R15 multicore (1835 vs 1741, +5.4%), Cinebench R20 multicore (7812 vs 7257, +7.6%), and PassMark multithread (21884 vs 20900, +4.7%). But the i9-11950H dominates Cinebench R23 multicore with a 35.2% margin (17279 vs 11198).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both are mobile processors with locked multipliers.

Q: How do their integrated graphics differ?

A: The Core 5 220H features Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the i9-11950H ships with UHD Graphics 750. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H is listed as Active production, released on 2024-12-17. The Intel Core i9-11950H is End-of-life, released on 2021-05-10.

The Verdict

The data paints a split picture. The Intel Core 5 220H is the better all-rounder for everyday multi-threaded tasks and single-thread responsiveness. It takes 11 of 17 head-to-head wins, posts a higher average benchmark score (28574 vs 28332), and leads in PassMark physics by a massive 45.9% (1478 vs 1013). Its PassMark data encryption score is 20.2% higher (15216 vs 12658), and floating-point math is 17.1% ahead (51671 vs 44137). For users running compression, encryption, physics simulation, or general productivity, the Core 5 220H is the stronger pick.

The Intel Core i9-11950H, however, is the clear winner in Cinebench R23. Its multicore score of 17279 crushes the Core 5 220H's 11198 — a 35.2% gap that flips the expected script given the newer chip's higher core count. The i9-11950H also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 24% (2439 vs 1853), extended instructions by 10.5% (16361 vs 14642), and find prime numbers by 11.8% (93 vs 82). This suggests the older Tiger Lake design retains a significant advantage in certain AVX-intensive or long-duration rendering workloads.

The verdict depends on workload. Choose the Intel Core 5 220H for broader day-to-day performance, physics, encryption, and floating-point math. Choose the Intel Core i9-11950H if your primary application is Cinebench R23-style rendering or extended instruction workloads, where its advantages are decisive. The i9-11950H is also the only one of the two with a 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth figure listed, which may matter for memory-bound tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin belongs to the Intel Core i9-11950H in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 17279 against 11198 — a 35.2% lead. This is the most lopsided result in the entire comparison and reverses the trend from older Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Core 5 220H wins by 7.6% (7812 vs 7257), and in R15 multicore it wins by 5.4% (1835 vs 1741). The R23 anomaly suggests the i9-11950H scales better under sustained AVX load, despite having 4 fewer cores.

The Core 5 220H's biggest win is PassMark physics at 45.9% (1478 vs 1013). This is a decisive victory that indicates superior game physics or simulation performance. It also wins PassMark data encryption by 20.2% (15216 vs 12658) and floating-point math by 17.1% (51671 vs 44137). The Core 5 220H further takes PassMark multithread (21884 vs 20900, +4.7%), data compression (247921 vs 246195, +0.7%), and both PassMark single-thread tests (3405 vs 3141, +8.4%).

The i9-11950H's other wins include PassMark extended instructions by 10.5% (16361 vs 14642), find prime numbers by 11.8% (93 vs 82), integer math by a narrow 1.5% (74649 vs 73555), and random string sorting by 3.2% (29375 vs 28438). In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 5 220H wins by 6.9% (262 vs 245), and in R20 single-core by 7.6% (1102 vs 1024). The i9-11950H's 24% win in R23 single-core (2439 vs 1853) is its second-largest margin and shows that its single-core advantage is workload-specific rather than universal.

Overall, the Core 5 220H wins the majority of tests, but the i9-11950H wins the two most demanding rendering tests by wide margins. The deltaPct values show that in 8 of the 17 tests, the winner's margin is under 10%, indicating a competitive matchup in many scenarios.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds differ: 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 220H versus 2.10 GHz for the i9-11950H. Boost clocks are closer, with the i9-11950H reaching 5.00 GHz versus 4.90 GHz for the Core 5 220H.

Thermal design power differs significantly: the Core 5 220H is rated at 45W TDP, while the i9-11950H is rated at 35W TDP. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1744 for the Core 5 220H versus Intel BGA 1787 for the i9-11950H.

Cache configurations diverge. Both have 80 KB L1 per core, but the L2 cache is 2 MB per core on the Core 5 220H versus 1.25 MB per core on the i9-11950H. The L3 cache favors the i9-11950H at 24 MB shared versus 18 MB shared on the Core 5 220H.

Memory support differs: the Core 5 220H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i9-11950H supports only DDR4. Both are dual-channel. The i9-11950H lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Core 5 220H has no listed bandwidth figure.

PCIe support is another differentiator: the Core 5 220H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-11950H offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ, as noted: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU versus UHD Graphics 750.

The i9-11950H has a listed die size of 190 mm², while the Core 5 220H has no die size listed. Neither chip has a listed transistor count. The Core 5 220H has a launch MSRP of $342, while the i9-11950H has a launch MSRP of $556. Both have locked multipliers. The Core 5 220H is part number SRQ6SQ5MM, and the i9-11950H is SRKT6.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clear. The Intel Core 5 220H belongs to the Raptor Lake family, specifically Raptor Lake-H with a "Raptor Lake Refresh" generation label. The Intel Core i9-11950H belongs to the Tiger Lake family, specifically Tiger Lake-H. Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and fabricated by Intel, but the designs are generations apart.

The Core 5 220H uses a hybrid core arrangement with 12 cores and 16 threads, suggesting a mix of performance and efficiency cores. The i9-11950H uses a uniform 8-core, 16-thread design. This difference explains why the newer chip has more cores but the same thread count — the efficiency cores likely contribute to the Core 5 220H's higher multithread scores in some tests while the i9-11950H's larger L3 cache and higher boost clock help in others.

The L3 cache difference is notable: 24 MB on the i9-11950H versus 18 MB on the Core 5 220H. This larger cache may contribute to the i9-11950H's strong Cinebench R23 performance, as rendering workloads often benefit from larger pooled caches. Conversely, the Core 5 220H's larger L2 cache (2 MB per core vs 1.25 MB per core) may aid in certain latency-sensitive tasks.

The i9-11950H's 190 mm² die size is documented, while the Core 5 220H's die size is not listed. The Core 5 220H's newer Raptor Lake architecture brings PCIe Gen 5 support and DDR5 memory compatibility, while the i9-11950H is limited to PCIe Gen 4 and DDR4. The i9-11950H offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8), which could matter for external GPU or storage expansion.

The integrated graphics differ in architecture tier: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the Core 5 220H versus UHD Graphics 750 on the i9-11950H. The Core 5 220H's Raptor Lake refresh also brings a more recent production status (Active) versus the i9-11950H's End-of-life status. The release dates tell the story: December 2024 for the Core 5 220H versus May 2021 for the i9-11950H. Despite the age difference, the i9-11950H's 5.00 GHz boost clock and larger L3 cache keep it competitive in specific workloads, as the benchmark data demonstrates.