Intel Core i3-12300HE vs Intel Core i7-11850HE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11850HE and Intel Core i3-12300HE are two mobile processors that appear closely matched on paper, but the benchmark data reveals a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the older Tiger Lake part. Across every Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison, the i7-11850HE takes the win, though with margins so slim that they border on statistical noise. The largest single-core gap appears in Cinebench R15 and R20, where the i7 leads by 0.8%, while the smallest multicore difference is just 0.7% in Cinebench R15 and R20. The i7-11850HE posts a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 17402 against the i3-12300HE’s 17272, a 0.8% advantage, and a single-core score of 2456 versus 2438, a 0.7% edge. The story is identical in Cinebench R15 and R20: the i7 wins both single and multicore by 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. The i3-12300HE does not win a single benchmark in this comparison, recording zero wins against six for the i7-11850HE. Despite the i3’s newer Alder Lake architecture, the data shows that the i7’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 4.30 GHz and larger 24 MB shared L3 cache more than compensate for the generational gap. The i7 also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score, posting 5095 against the i3’s 4995, a difference of 2.0%. Both processors land in similar percentile territory, with the i7 at the 60th percentile of all CPUs and the i3 at the 59th, meaning the practical performance delta is negligible for most workloads. However, if you are parsing the numbers for a definitive winner, the i7-11850HE takes the crown in every measurable test, albeit by a hair.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent: the Intel Core i7-11850HE wins all six head-to-head tests, but the margins are underwhelming. In Cinebench R15, the i7 scores 1753 in multicore against the i3’s 1740, a 0.7% advantage, and 247 in single-core against 245, a 0.8% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 posts 7308 in multicore versus 7254, again a 0.7% gap, and 1031 in single-core versus 1023, a 0.8% edge. The trend holds in Cinebench R23, where the i7’s multicore score of 17402 beats the i3’s 17272 by 0.8%, and the single-core score of 2456 beats 2438 by 0.7%. The i7’s largest winning margin is 0.8%, which is barely perceptible in real-world use. The i3-12300HE, despite being a 12th Gen part, cannot close the gap in any test. The i7’s advantage in single-core is slightly more pronounced in R15 and R20, where it leads by 0.8%, compared to the 0.7% edge in R23. For multicore, the margins are tighter, with the i7 leading by 0.7% in R15 and R20, and 0.8% in R23. These differences are so small that they fall within typical run-to-run variance. The i7’s average benchmark score of 5095 places it just 2.0% ahead of the i3’s 4995, which aligns with the per-test deltas. The data shows a clear winner in the i7-11850HE, but the victory is more symbolic than substantial. Neither processor can claim a decisive knockout, and the i3-12300HE’s zero wins underscore that the i7’s higher clocks and larger cache make the difference, however small.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations, and the architectural split explains their similar performance. The i7-11850HE is built on the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H, using a 10 nm process node with a die size of 190 mm². The i3-12300HE uses the newer Alder Lake architecture, Alder Lake-H, also on a 10 nm process but with a larger die size of 217 mm². Both are manufactured by Intel, but the i3 features a hybrid design typical of Alder Lake, while the i7 uses a monolithic Tiger Lake layout. The core counts are identical at 8 cores, but the thread counts differ: the i7 supports 16 threads, while the i3 supports 12, indicating that the i3 likely uses a hybrid configuration with performance and efficiency cores, reducing its multithreading capability. The L1 and L2 caches are the same per core at 80 KB and 1.25 MB, respectively, but the L3 cache is a major divergence. The i7 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, double the i3’s 12 MB, which benefits workloads that rely on frequent data reuse. The i7’s base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost of 4.70 GHz, while the i3 has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz) and a boost of 4.30 GHz, giving the i7 a 0.40 GHz boost advantage. The i7 also has a higher TDP of 35 watts compared to the i3’s 45 watts, meaning the i7 delivers more performance per watt in this comparison. Memory support differs as well: the i7 supports DDR4 only, while the i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, though both use a dual-channel memory bus. The i7’s memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s, while the i3’s bandwidth is not specified. The integrated graphics also differ, with the i7 featuring UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) and the i3 using standard UHD Graphics. Both processors use the same PCIe Gen 4 implementation with 20 lanes, and neither supports ECC memory. The i7 is the older part, released on 2021-08-02, while the i3 has no release date listed. The socket is another difference: the i7 uses Intel BGA 1787, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1744, making them physically incompatible. The i7’s part number is SRKWZ, and the i3’s is SRLE8. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-12300HE has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: Does the i3-12300HE support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the i3-12300HE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas the i7-11850HE supports only DDR4.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The i7-11850HE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-12300HE has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the difference in thread counts?

A: The i7-11850HE has 16 threads, while the i3-12300HE has 12 threads, despite both having 8 cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-11850HE has an average benchmark score of 5095, compared to the i3-12300HE’s 4995, a difference of 2.0%.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same socket?

A: No, the i7-11850HE uses Intel BGA 1787, while the i3-12300HE uses Intel BGA 1744, so they are not interchangeable.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11850HE | Intel Core i3-12300HE |

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

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-H | Alder Lake-H |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 217 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) | UHD Graphics |

| Release Date | 2021-08-02 | Not specified |

| Launch MSRP | $400 | Not specified |

| Part Number | SRKWZ | SRLE8 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 60 | 59 |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 5095 | 4995 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11850HE wins in every benchmark category, but its strengths are most evident in scenarios that leverage its higher boost clock and larger cache. The i7’s 4.70 GHz boost clock gives it a slight edge in single-threaded workloads, as seen in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, where it leads by 0.8%, 0.8%, and 0.7%, respectively. For users running lightly threaded applications like older games or productivity tools that rely on a single core, the i7 is the better choice. The i7 also benefits from its 24 MB L3 cache, which is double the i3’s 12 MB, making it more capable in data-intensive tasks that repeatedly access the same information. The i7’s lower TDP of 35 watts compared to the i3’s 45 watts means it generates less heat, potentially allowing for quieter or thinner laptop designs. Additionally, the i7 has a higher average benchmark score of 5095 versus 4995, placing it at the 60th percentile of all CPUs compared to the i3’s 59th, so it edges out the i3 in overall performance. The i7 also has a launch MSRP of $400, though the i3 has no listed price for comparison.

The Intel Core i3-12300HE, despite losing all head-to-head benchmarks, has its own advantages. Its newer Alder Lake architecture supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, offering flexibility for system builders who want to use the latest memory standard, a feature the i7 lacks. The i3’s higher TDP of 45 watts suggests it may sustain boost clocks for longer periods under sustained loads, though the benchmark data does not confirm this. The i3 also has a larger die size of 217 mm², which could indicate additional hardware features, but the benchmark scores do not reflect a performance benefit. For users who prioritize memory compatibility over raw speed, the i3-12300HE is a viable option, especially in systems where DDR5 is already the standard. However, in pure performance terms, the i7-11850HE is the winner across all six Cinebench tests, with a 0.7% to 0.8% lead in each. The i3’s zero wins mean that any workload that benefits from the i7’s higher clocks, larger cache, or extra threads will favor the i7. The i3’s only real selling point is its modern memory support, but that does not translate into a single benchmark victory. For most users, the i7-11850HE is the more compelling choice, even if the margin is razor-thin.