Intel Core 7 150U vs Intel Core i5-11400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear split between the Intel Core 7 150U and the Intel Core i5-11400, with the desktop chip winning 11 of the 19 recorded comparisons while the mobile part takes 8 wins. The largest single margin belongs to the i5-11400 in PassMark extended instructions, where it leads by 41.3 percent (14901 versus 8748). That is a decisive gap for workloads that leverage advanced instruction sets, and it is matched by a 37.1 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (14132 versus 8883). The i5-11400 also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 11.6 percent (5935 versus 5248) and single-core by the same 11.6 percent margin (837 versus 740), suggesting consistent superiority in that benchmark family despite the newer architecture of the 150U.

The Intel Core 7 150U counters with its own notable victories. Its most striking win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 1012 against 793, a 27.6 percent advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 27 percent lead (254 versus 200), and PassMark single-thread tests record a 17.3 percent edge (3508 versus 2990). The 150U also wins Geekbench single-core by 6.1 percent (1857 versus 1750), which is interesting because the i5-11400 wins Geekbench multi-core by 17.7 percent (7572 versus 6234). The mobile chip takes PassMark find prime numbers by 18.4 percent (58 versus 49) and floating-point math by a slim 1.2 percent (34405 versus 34004).

The multi-core picture is not uniform. The i5-11400 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a massive margin, yet the 150U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 5.7 percent (1505.5 versus 1424). This reversal across Cinebench versions suggests the workloads scale differently with the two processors. PassMark multithread favors the i5-11400 by 11.9 percent (16690 versus 14700), and integer math goes to the desktop chip by 11.4 percent (57601 versus 51057). Data compression and random string sorting also belong to the i5-11400, with margins of 23.4 percent (206952 versus 158622) and 23.8 percent (23974 versus 18269) respectively. Data encryption is nearly tied, with the i5-11400 ahead by just 2.3 percent (10264 versus 10025).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The Intel Core 7 150U is built on Raptor Lake-U, a mobile architecture manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core i5-11400 uses Rocket Lake-S, a desktop design on the older 14 nm process. The die size reflects this difference: the i5-11400 measures 276 mm², while the 150U has no recorded die size in the database. The process node gap is significant because it allows the 150U to pack 10 cores and 12 threads into a 15 W TDP, whereas the i5-11400 uses 6 cores and 12 threads at a 65 W TDP. Both processors support 12 threads, but the 150U achieves this with a hybrid-style core arrangement across 10 physical cores, while the i5-11400 relies on 6 cores with hyper-threading.

Cache hierarchies differ in the L2 department. Each core of the 150U has 1.25 MB of L2 cache, while each core of the i5-11400 has 512 KB. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, and both share 12 MB of L3 cache. The larger per-core L2 on the 150U may help explain its strong single-thread results in some tests, even though the i5-11400 has a higher base clock of 2.60 GHz versus 1.80 GHz. Boost clocks tell a different story: the 150U reaches 5.40 GHz, a full 1.0 GHz higher than the i5-11400's 4.40 GHz. That boost advantage likely drives the 150U's wins in single-threaded benchmarks like Geekbench and PassMark single-thread.

Memory support also diverges. The 150U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i5-11400 is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i5-11400 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the 150U has no bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe connectivity favors the desktop chip: the i5-11400 offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the 150U offers Gen 4 with only 8 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the 150U featuring Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units and the i5-11400 using the more modest UHD Graphics 730.

The sockets are incompatible: the 150U uses Intel BGA 1744, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-11400 uses Intel Socket 1200 for desktop motherboards. The 150U launched on 2024-01-07 and remains active in production, while the i5-11400 launched on 2021-03-15 and is marked as end-of-life. The i5-11400 has a recorded launch MSRP of $182, while the 150U has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither supports user overclocking.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400 dominates in sustained multi-core workloads that stress all threads equally. Its 37.1 percent lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the largest advantage in the entire comparison, and it also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core, Geekbench multi-core, and PassMark multithread. The desktop chip excels at data-heavy tasks: data compression shows a 23.4 percent edge, random string sorting a 23.8 percent edge, and extended instructions a 41.3 percent edge. Integer math also favors the i5-11400 by 11.4 percent. For rendering, video encoding, database work, and any task that can use all 12 threads, the i5-11400 is the stronger choice based on the recorded scores.

The Intel Core 7 150U wins in several single-thread and latency-sensitive scenarios. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3508 beats the i5-11400's 2990 by 17.3 percent, and its Geekbench single-core score leads by 6.1 percent. The 150U also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 27 percent, which is a substantial margin for a mobile chip against a desktop part. In PassMark physics, the 150U scores 1012 versus 793, a 27.6 percent advantage that suggests better handling of physics simulations in this specific test. Floating-point math is nearly even, with the 150U ahead by just 1.2 percent, and prime number finding favors the 150U by 18.4 percent. The 150U also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 5.7 percent, which is notable because it loses the newer Cinebench multi-core tests.

For users prioritizing burst performance, single-thread responsiveness, or power-sensitive mobile workloads, the 150U shows clear strengths. For users prioritizing sustained multi-threaded throughput, the i5-11400 is consistently ahead. The 150U's wins in physics and prime numbers suggest it handles certain algorithmic workloads better despite lower overall multi-core results, possibly due to its higher boost clock and larger L2 cache.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-11400 boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11400 outperform the Core 7 150U in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: Yes, the i5-11400 scores 14132 versus 8883, a 37.1 percent advantage.

Q: Which chip wins PassMark single-thread?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U wins with a score of 3508, which is 17.3 percent higher than the i5-11400's 2990.

Q: Are the two processors socket-compatible?

A: No, the Core 7 150U uses Intel BGA 1744, while the Core i5-11400 uses Intel Socket 1200.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core i5-11400 supports only DDR4.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The Core 7 150U is active, while the Core i5-11400 is end-of-life.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-11400 is the stronger multi-threaded processor for desktop workloads. It leads in 11 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, including massive wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (37.1 percent), PassMark extended instructions (41.3 percent), and data compression (23.4 percent). Users who run rendering, data processing, or other all-core workloads should favor the i5-11400, especially since it remains competitive even in single-thread tests where it trails by smaller margins.

The Intel Core 7 150U is the better choice for single-thread responsiveness and mobile deployments. Its 17.3 percent PassMark single-thread lead and 6.1 percent Geekbench single-core lead show that it handles latency-sensitive tasks well. The 27.6 percent win in PassMark physics and 18.4 percent win in prime number finding further indicate strength in specific algorithmic workloads. The 150U also achieves this with a 15 W TDP versus the i5-11400's 65 W TDP, making it suitable for power-constrained systems.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: the 150U averages 17395, while the i5-11400 averages 17067, a difference of only about 1.9 percent. Both sit at the 71st percentile among all CPUs in the database. For a desktop system where power is not a concern, the i5-11400's multi-core dominance in Cinebench R23 and extended instructions makes it the data-backed choice. For a laptop or compact system where single-thread performance and efficiency matter more, the 150U's wins in single-thread and physics benchmarks make it the appropriate pick.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 7 150U | Intel Core i5-11400 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 10 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base clock | 1.80 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Rocket Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die size | Not recorded | 276 mm² |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 12 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 lanes | Gen 4, 20 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2024-01-07 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $182 |

| Part number | SRMYP | SRKP0 |