Intel Core i5-11260H vs Intel Core i7-11700T Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database presents a clear picture for these two Intel 11th Gen parts. The Intel Core i7-11700T wins all eight recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i5-11260H. The i7-11700T is the stronger choice for anyone building a desktop system where maximum multi-threaded performance matters, as it also holds a substantial lead in Geekbench multicore testing. The i5-11260H, however, serves a different purpose entirely as a mobile processor, and its performance is remarkably close to the desktop chip in several Cinebench workloads, which makes it a viable option for laptop buyers who prioritize portability without sacrificing too much raw compute.

The i7-11700T is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1200 with an end-of-life production status. The i5-11260H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1787 and remains in active production. Choosing between them is less about raw capability and more about platform. The data shows the i7-11700T outperforms the i5-11260H in every measured test, with the largest advantage appearing in Geekbench multicore at 14.6% and Geekbench singlecore at 14.4%. For a desktop builder who needs eight cores and sixteen threads, the i7-11700T is the definitive pick. For a laptop buyer who needs a 35-watt processor with six cores and twelve threads, the i5-11260H is the only one of these two that fits the mobile form factor, and its Cinebench scores sit within a fraction of a percent of the desktop part.

The average benchmark score reinforces this split. The i7-11700T averages 3864 across all recorded tests, while the i5-11260H averages 3721. Both processors sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy a similar tier of overall performance despite the i7's numerical edge. The nearest rivals for the i7-11700T include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 with an average score of 3875 (a 0.3% difference in favor of the AMD part) and the Intel Xeon E-2286M with an average score of 3822 (a 1.1% difference in favor of the i7). The i5-11260H sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE at 3732 (0.3% difference) and the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 at 3733 (0.3% difference). These rival deltas are small, indicating both chips are well-positioned in their respective performance brackets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700T has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-11260H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-11700T leads by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The i7-11700T scores 12945 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i5-11260H scores 12905. The i7-11700T leads by 0.3%, a very narrow margin that shows the mobile chip holds its own in this workload.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i7-11700T has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i5-11260H has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i7-11700T also has a lower base clock at 1400 MHz compared to 2100 MHz on the i5-11260H.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench multicore, where the i7-11700T scores 6621 against the i5-11260H's 5780, a 14.6% difference. Geekbench singlecore shows a 14.4% difference, with the i7-11700T at 1824 and the i5-11260H at 1595.

Q: Are both processors based on the same architecture?

A: No. The i7-11700T uses Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node. The i5-11260H uses Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node. Both are Intel 11th Gen parts, but the underlying silicon differs significantly.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory and PCIe specifications?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Both also support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The i7-11700T and i5-11260H represent two distinct branches of Intel's 11th Gen lineup. The i7-11700T is built on Rocket Lake, a desktop-focused architecture fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process node. The die size is 276 mm². The i5-11260H uses Tiger Lake-H, a mobile-oriented architecture on Intel's 10 nm process node, with a die size of 190 mm². This process difference is significant: the 10 nm node allows a smaller die while packing in the mobile-specific features required for laptop integration.

The core configuration differs as well. The i7-11700T has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-11260H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-11700T also has a larger L3 cache at 16 MB shared, compared to 12 MB shared on the i5-11260H. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core for both. The L2 cache, however, is different: the i7-11700T has 512 KB per core, while the i5-11260H has 1.25 MB per core. This means the mobile chip actually has more L2 cache per core, a design choice that may help compensate for its fewer total cores.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-11700T features UHD Graphics 750, while the i5-11260H ships with a more generic UHD Graphics solution. Both processors have a 35-watt TDP, which is notable given the i7-11700T is a desktop part and the i5-11260H is a mobile part. The market segment is explicitly different: the i7-11700T is listed as Desktop, while the i5-11260H is listed as Mobile.

The socket situation is also completely different. The i7-11700T uses Intel Socket 1200, a desktop socket that allows for motherboard replacement and upgrade paths. The i5-11260H uses Intel BGA 1787, a ball-grid array socket that is soldered directly to the laptop motherboard. This fundamental platform difference means the two chips are not interchangeable in any system.

Specification Differences

The recorded data shows several specification differences between the two processors. The core count differs: 8 cores for the i7-11700T versus 6 cores for the i5-11260H. Thread count follows the same pattern: 16 threads versus 12 threads. Base clocks are notably different: the i7-11700T runs at 1400 MHz, while the i5-11260H runs at 2100 MHz. Boost clocks are closer: 4.60 GHz for the i7-11700T versus 4.40 GHz for the i5-11260H.

The socket is a major differentiator: Intel Socket 1200 for the desktop chip versus Intel BGA 1787 for the mobile chip. Architecture and codename also differ: Rocket Lake versus Tiger Lake, with the process node being 14 nm for the desktop part and 10 nm for the mobile part. The die size is 276 mm² for the i7-11700T and 190 mm² for the i5-11260H.

Cache hierarchies diverge beyond the L3 difference. The L2 cache is 512 KB per core on the i7-11700T and 1.25 MB per core on the i5-11260H. The L3 cache is 16 MB shared on the i7-11700T and 12 MB shared on the i5-11260H. The integrated graphics differ as noted: UHD Graphics 750 versus UHD Graphics.

Production status is another point of separation. The i7-11700T is marked end-of-life, while the i5-11260H is active. Release dates differ by roughly two months: the i7-11700T launched on 2021-03-15, and the i5-11260H launched on 2021-05-10. The launch MSRP for the i7-11700T is $323, while the i5-11260H has a launch MSRP of $250. Both processors have locked multipliers, meaning neither supports overclocking. The part numbers are SRKNT for the i7-11700T and SRKT0 for the i5-11260H.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-11700T wins all eight recorded benchmarks against the i5-11260H, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than a simple sweep. In the Cinebench suite, the two processors are nearly identical. Cinebench R15 multicore shows the i7-11700T at 1304 against 1300 for the i5-11260H, a 0.3% difference. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows 184 versus 183, a 0.5% difference. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 5436 versus 5420, a 0.3% difference. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 767 versus 764, a 0.4% difference. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 12945 versus 12905, a 0.3% difference. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 1827 versus 1821, a 0.3% difference.

These margins are within the range of measurement noise for most workloads. The i5-11260H, despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads, manages to nearly match the i7-11700T across the entire Cinebench suite. This suggests that the Tiger Lake architecture's higher base clock and larger L2 cache per core help close the gap that would otherwise be expected from the core count difference. The 10 nm process node may also contribute to better per-core efficiency.

The Geekbench results are a different story entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i7-11700T scores 6621, while the i5-11260H scores 5780. That is a 14.6% difference, the largest gap in any recorded test. Geekbench singlecore shows 1824 for the i7-11700T and 1595 for the i5-11260H, a 14.4% difference. These are substantial leads that cannot be explained by noise. The Geekbench workload appears to favor the desktop Rocket Lake design, with its higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz and larger shared L3 cache, in a way that Cinebench does not.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall picture. The i7-11700T averages 3864 across all tests, while the i5-11260H averages 3721. That is a 3.8% average difference, driven almost entirely by the Geekbench results. In the Cinebench tests, the average difference is just 0.35%, a negligible margin. The i7-11700T's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718, scores 3875 on average, which is 0.3% higher. The i5-11260H's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE, scores 3732, which is 0.3% higher. These rival comparisons show that both processors are competitive within their respective performance tiers.

The percentile ranking is identical for both chips at 56, meaning they outperform roughly 56% of all CPUs in the database. This is a useful context for buyers: neither chip is a top-tier performer, but both sit comfortably in the upper-middle range of the market. The i7-11700T achieves this ranking with a desktop platform and eight cores, while the i5-11260H achieves it with a mobile platform and six cores, making the mobile chip arguably the more impressive engineering achievement given its constraints. For desktop builders, the i7-11700T is the clear winner on paper. For laptop buyers, the i5-11260H offers nearly identical Cinebench performance in a mobile form factor, with only Geekbench showing a meaningful deficit.