Intel Core i3-13100E vs Intel Core i5-11260H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11260H and Intel Core i3-13100E represent two distinct approaches to CPU design within Intel’s lineup, one optimized for mobile platforms and the other for desktop systems. Benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the i5-11260H dominates Cinebench workloads, while the i3-13100E takes a commanding lead in Geekbench tests. Both processors land at the 56th percentile among all CPUs, indicating similar overall standing, yet their performance profiles diverge sharply depending on the benchmark suite. The i5-11260H averages a score of 3721 across all tests, while the i3-13100E trails slightly at 3668, a difference of roughly 1.4% in favor of the older mobile chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the complete sweep by the Intel Core i5-11260H across all six Cinebench tests, with a consistent margin of approximately 10.2% in nearly every case. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-11260H scores 1300 against the i3-13100E’s 1180, a delta of 10.2%. The single-core R15 test shows the same percentage gap, with scores of 183 and 166 respectively. This consistency extends through Cinebench R20, where the multi-core result favors the i5-11260H at 5420 versus 4918 (10.2% ahead), and the single-core test at 764 versus 694 (10.1% ahead). Cinebench R23 continues the trend: the i5-11260H achieves 12905 multi-core and 1821 single-core, while the i3-13100E manages 11710 and 1653, both again representing a 10.2% advantage for the mobile processor.

The situation reverses dramatically in Geekbench testing. The Intel Core i3-13100E wins the Geekbench multi-core test with a score of 7025, compared to the i5-11260H’s 5780. This represents a 17.7% deficit for the i5-11260H, meaning the i3-13100E is substantially faster in this workload. The single-core Geekbench result shows an even larger gap: the i3-13100E scores 2001 versus 1595, a 20.3% advantage. These are not marginal differences; they indicate that the i3-13100E has a fundamentally stronger single-threaded performance profile in Geekbench’s specific workload despite the i5-11260H having two more physical cores and four additional threads.

Interpreting these results requires understanding the benchmark characteristics. Cinebench tends to scale well with core count, which explains why the 6-core, 12-thread i5-11260H outperforms the 4-core, 8-thread i3-13100E by roughly 10% consistently. However, Geekbench’s tests appear to favor the newer microarchitecture of the i3-13100E, which is based on Raptor Lake, allowing it to overcome the core disadvantage. The i3-13100E’s 20.3% lead in single-core Geekbench is particularly notable, suggesting that its architectural efficiency per clock is significantly higher. The i5-11260H’s nearest rival in the overall benchmark standings is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE, with a deltaPct of -0.3%, while the i3-13100E sits closest to the AMD EPYC 7251 at -0.1%. This places both chips in the same competitive tier, but their strengths lie in different areas.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H wins 6 out of 8 benchmark comparisons. It takes all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multi-core and single-core variants), with margins of 10.1% to 10.2%. The i3-13100E wins the remaining two Geekbench tests, with margins of 17.7% for multi-core and 20.3% for single-core.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The i5-11260H scores 12905 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 10.2% higher than the i3-13100E’s 11710. This advantage is consistent with the other Cinebench tests, where the i5-11260H leads by roughly the same percentage, reflecting its additional two cores and four threads.

Q: Is the i3-13100E faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i3-13100E is significantly faster in Geekbench. It scores 7025 in multi-core versus 5780 for the i5-11260H, a 17.7% difference, and 2001 in single-core versus 1595, a 20.3% difference. These are the only two benchmarks where the i3-13100E leads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The i5-11260H has an average benchmark score of 3721, while the i3-13100E averages 3668. This puts the i5-11260H ahead by 53 points, or approximately 1.4%. Both processors share the same 56th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: Do the processors have similar single-core performance in Cinebench?

A: In Cinebench single-core tests, the i5-11260H leads consistently. For example, in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1821 versus 1653 for the i3-13100E, a 10.2% advantage. The same pattern appears in R15 (183 vs 166) and R20 (764 vs 694).

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-13100E has a base clock of 3.30 GHz, which is higher than the i5-11260H’s 2.10 GHz. However, both processors have the same boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The higher base clock does not translate into Cinebench wins for the i3-13100E, but it may contribute to its Geekbench success.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is significant, despite both being built on Intel’s 10 nm process node. The i5-11260H uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H, which is designed for mobile platforms. In contrast, the i3-13100E employs the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-S, aimed at desktop systems. This fundamental difference in microarchitecture explains much of the performance variation seen in the benchmarks.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i5-11260H offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-13100E provides 4 cores and 8 threads. This gives the i5-11260H a 50% advantage in core count and a 50% advantage in thread count, which directly contributes to its superiority in multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. Cache configurations are identical in structure: both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The die sizes differ, with the i5-11260H measuring 190 mm² and the i3-13100E being smaller at 163 mm².

Memory support represents a major divergence. The i5-11260H supports only DDR4 memory, while the i3-13100E supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i5-11260H has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, whereas the i3-13100E does not have a listed bandwidth figure. ECC memory support is another differentiator: the i3-13100E supports ECC memory, while the i5-11260H does not. This makes the i3-13100E more suitable for certain workstation or server-like applications where data integrity is critical.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The i5-11260H provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-13100E offers the newer PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i3-13100E’s support for PCIe Gen 5 offers higher potential bandwidth for compatible devices, despite having fewer lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-11260H features UHD Graphics, while the i3-13100E comes with UHD Graphics 730, a more specifically identified GPU.

The market segments are opposite: the i5-11260H is a mobile processor, as indicated by its Intel BGA 1787 socket, while the i3-13100E is a desktop processor using Intel Socket 1700. The i5-11260H has a TDP of 35 watts, compared to the i3-13100E’s 60 watts, reflecting the power efficiency needs of mobile devices versus the greater thermal headroom of desktop systems. Both chips have their multipliers locked, meaning no overclocking via multiplier adjustment.

The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a clear but nuanced story. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Intel Core i5-11260H is the superior choice, winning all six Cinebench tests with a consistent 10.2% margin. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides a tangible advantage in multi-threaded rendering tasks, and its single-core Cinebench performance also leads, indicating that the Tiger Lake architecture handles these specific workloads efficiently. The i5-11260H’s average benchmark score of 3721, slightly above the i3-13100E’s 3668, reinforces its overall edge in the tested suite.

However, the i3-13100E is the clear winner for Geekbench-oriented tasks. Its 20.3% lead in single-core Geekbench and 17.7% lead in multi-core Geekbench demonstrate that the Raptor Lake architecture excels in these particular tests, which may better reflect general-purpose computing, web browsing, and productivity applications. The i3-13100E also offers advantages in platform flexibility, supporting both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, having ECC memory support, and providing PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. Its higher base clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz for the i5-11260H, may contribute to snappier responsiveness in latency-sensitive workloads.

The choice ultimately depends on the workload profile. A user running Cinebench-heavy tasks, such as 3D rendering in certain applications, should select the i5-11260H. A user whose applications resemble Geekbench’s test patterns, or who needs ECC memory or PCIe Gen 5 support, should select the i3-13100E. The i5-11260H’s lower TDP of 35 watts makes it more suitable for power-constrained mobile environments, while the i3-13100E’s 60-watt TDP fits desktop systems with adequate cooling. Both processors occupy the same 56th percentile, indicating they are comparable in overall performance, but their strengths are distinctly polarized across the benchmark suites.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. Core and thread counts are the most substantial difference: the i5-11260H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-13100E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-11260H has a base clock of 2.10 GHz, while the i3-13100E operates at 3.30 GHz; both share a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Thermal design power differs, with the i5-11260H rated at 35 watts and the i3-13100E at 60 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the i5-11260H uses Intel BGA 1787, while the i3-13100E uses Intel Socket 1700. The architectures and codenames differ, with the i5-11260H based on Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-H) and the i3-13100E based on Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-S). The die sizes are 190 mm² for the i5-11260H and 163 mm² for the i3-13100E. Memory support differs, with the i5-11260H limited to DDR4 and the i3-13100E supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. The i5-11260H has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i3-13100E has none listed. ECC memory support is present only on the i3-13100E. PCIe capabilities differ, with the i5-11260H offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes and the i3-13100E offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics for the i5-11260H and UHD Graphics 730 for the i3-13100E. The market segments are mobile and desktop, respectively. The launch dates are 2021-05-10 for the i5-11260H and 2023-01-03 for the i3-13100E. The launch MSRP for the i5-11260H is $250, while the i3-13100E has a launch MSRP of $480. The part numbers are SRKT0 for the i5-11260H and SRMFR for the i3-13100E.