Intel Core i5-11260H vs Intel Core i9-10885H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-11260H wins with a score of 12905 against the Intel Core i9-10885H's 12102, a delta of 6.6%. The i5-11260H also wins all other Cinebench tests (R15 and R20, both single and multi-core).

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i9-10885H comes out ahead?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multi-core, the i9-10885H scores 6764 versus the i5-11260H's 5780, a delta of 14.5% in favor of the i9. This is the only head-to-head benchmark among the eight recorded where the i9 wins.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11260H has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the i5-11260H wins 7 of the 8 benchmark comparisons.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The i5-11260H has an average benchmark score of 3721, which places it in the 56th percentile of all CPUs. The i9-10885H has an average score of 3651, placing it in the 55th percentile. The i5 is 1.9% ahead in average score (3721 vs 3651).

Q: How do their boost clock speeds differ?

A: The i9-10885H has a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the i5-11260H boosts to 4.40 GHz. The i9 also has a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for the i5.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The i5-11260H is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the i9-10885H uses the older 14 nm process. The i5 also has a smaller die size at 190 mm² compared to 206 mm² for the i9.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for most workloads. The Intel Core i5-11260H is the superior processor in the majority of benchmark scenarios. It wins seven out of eight recorded head-to-head comparisons, including every single Cinebench test (R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core) and the Geekbench single-core test. The consistent 6.4% to 6.7% deltas across all Cinebench tests indicate a solid generational advantage in rendering and CPU-intensive tasks.

The i9-10885H should only be chosen if the specific workload is heavily dependent on multi-threaded Geekbench performance. The data shows a 14.5% advantage for the i9 in Geekbench multi-core, which is a substantial margin. This could be relevant for certain productivity applications or workflows that are optimized for Geekbench's specific multi-threaded test patterns. However, this single win does not offset the i5's dominance elsewhere. The i5-11260H also has a higher average benchmark score (3721 vs 3651) and a higher percentile ranking (56th vs 55th).

For users seeking the best overall performance in rendering, single-threaded tasks, and general CPU benchmarks, the i5-11260H is the clear choice. The i9-10885H is a niche pick, suitable only for those who know their software relies on the specific multi-threaded Geekbench strengths of the older chip. The i5's wins are consistent and broad, while the i9's is narrow and isolated.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent in the Cinebench suite. The i5-11260H wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 1300 against the i9's 1219, a 6.6% margin. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5 scores 183 versus 172, a 6.4% win. This pattern continues in Cinebench R20, where the i5 takes multi-core 5420 to 5082 (6.7%) and single-core 764 to 717 (6.6%). Cinebench R23 shows the same story: multi-core 12905 to 12102 (6.6%) and single-core 1821 to 1708 (6.6%).

The Geekbench results offer a contrast. In Geekbench single-core, the i5 wins with 1595 against 1447, a substantial 10.2% advantage. This is the largest single-core win in the dataset. However, in Geekbench multi-core, the dynamic reverses completely. The i9-10885H scores 6764, which is 14.5% higher than the i5's 5780. This is the only test where the i9 wins, and it does so by a large margin. This suggests that the i9's additional 2 cores and 4 threads provide a significant advantage in Geekbench's multi-threaded workload, even though the i5's architecture wins in Cinebench's multi-threaded tests.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall balance. The i5-11260H averages 3721 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i9-10885H averages 3651. The i5's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE, scores 3732, which is 0.3% higher. The i9's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3, scores 3658, which is 0.2% higher than the i9. Both processors are closely matched to their respective peer groups, but the i5 sits in a slightly higher percentile (56th vs 55th).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The i9-10885H offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-11260H provides 6 cores and 12 threads. The i9 has a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. The i9 also has a higher TDP of 45 watts compared to the i5's 35 watts.

The sockets are different: the i5 uses Intel BGA 1787, while the i9 uses Intel BGA 1440. This means they are not socket-compatible. The i5 has a launch MSRP of $250, while the i9's launch MSRP is $556. The i5 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i9 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5's integrated graphics are UHD Graphics, while the i9 has UHD Graphics 630.

Memory bandwidth also differs. The i5 supports 51.2 GB/s, while the i9 supports 46.9 GB/s. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. The production status differs as well: the i5 is listed as Active, while the i9 is End-of-life. The release dates are also different, with the i5 released on 2021-05-10 and the i9 released on 2020-04-01.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is significant. The i5-11260H is based on Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-H) architecture, while the i9-10885H uses Comet Lake (Comet Lake-H). The i5 is built on a 10 nm process node, whereas the i9 uses a 14 nm process. The die sizes reflect this difference: the i5 measures 190 mm², while the i9 measures 206 mm².

Cache structures differ notably. The i5 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 16 MB of shared L3 cache. While the i9 has more total L3 cache, the i5's per-core L1 and L2 allocations are larger, which may contribute to its superior single-core and Cinebench performance.

The memory bandwidth advantage belongs to the i5, with 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s. This is a 9.2% higher bandwidth rating. The i5 also supports PCIe Gen 4, doubling the per-lane bandwidth compared to the i9's PCIe Gen 3. The i9 compensates with higher clock speeds and more cores, but the newer Tiger Lake architecture on the 10 nm node appears to deliver better instructions per clock, as evidenced by the i5's consistent wins in Cinebench despite lower clocks and fewer cores. The i5's integrated graphics are simply listed as UHD Graphics, while the i9 specifies UHD Graphics 630, a product of their different architectural generations.