Intel Core i5-11320H vs Intel Core i5-8600K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-11320H wins seven of the eight recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-8600K takes a single victory. The margins are consistent, but the nature of the wins tells a more nuanced story.

In the Cinebench suite, the i5-11320H leads across every iteration. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 923 against the i5-8600K's 867, a 6.5% advantage. The single-core result in R15 shows 130 versus 122, a 6.6% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore test records 3846 against 3616 (6.4% ahead), and single-core shows 543 versus 510 (6.5% ahead). Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: multicore 9158 versus 8611 (6.4% ahead), single-core 1293 versus 1215 (6.4% ahead). Every Cinebench margin sits between 6.4% and 6.6%, indicating a consistent architectural advantage for the newer mobile chip in rendering workloads.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-11320H wins again, scoring 1592 against 1514, a 5.2% lead. However, in Geekbench multicore, the i5-8600K takes its only victory: 5997 against 5620, a 6.3% advantage. This is a meaningful reversal. The i5-8600K, with two additional physical cores, pulls ahead in a test that scales with core count, while the i5-11320H wins every test that emphasizes per-core performance.

The aggregate data reinforces this split. The i5-11320H holds an average benchmark score of 2888 across all recorded tests, while the i5-8600K sits at 2807. Both processors land at the 51st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their different strengths.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database provides additional context. The i5-11320H sits within 0.8% of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U (2865 average score) and within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 (2909). The i5-8600K's closest comparables include the Intel Core i5-11300H at 2792, a 0.6% difference, and the Intel Xeon E-2324G at 2823, a 0.6% gap. Neither processor dramatically outclasses the other in aggregate terms.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-11320H wins 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i5-8600K wins only the Geekbench multicore test.

Q: How large is the i5-11320H's lead in Cinebench R23?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-11320H scores 9158 against 8611 for the i5-8600K, a 6.4% advantage. In single-core, it scores 1293 against 1215, also a 6.4% lead.

Q: Where does the i5-8600K outperform the i5-11320H?

A: The i5-8600K wins the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 5997, while the i5-11320H records 5620. That is a 6.3% margin in favor of the older desktop chip.

Q: How do the two chips compare in aggregate average score?

A: The i5-11320H has an average benchmark score of 2888. The i5-8600K has an average benchmark score of 2807. The difference is approximately 81 points, or roughly 2.9%.

Q: Are both processors in the same overall performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both the i5-11320H and the i5-8600K sit at the 51st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What is the closest rival to each processor in the database?

A: The closest rival to the i5-11320H is the Intel Xeon E-2414, with an average score of 2905 and a delta of -0.6%. The closest rival to the i5-8600K is the Intel Atom x7211RE, with an average score of 2811 and a delta of -0.1%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-11320H uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It is a mobile processor that fits the Intel BGA 1449 socket. The Intel Core i5-8600K uses the Coffee Lake architecture, built on the 14 nm process node, and is a desktop processor designed for the Intel Socket 1151.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i5-11320H has 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach its thread count. The i5-8600K has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This means the i5-8600K has 50% more physical cores, but the i5-11320H matches its total thread count at 8 threads versus 6. The i5-11320H's base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i5-8600K runs higher at base, 3.60 GHz, but its boost clock is lower at 4.30 GHz.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i5-11320H carries 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-8600K has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the i5-11320H is significantly larger, which helps explain its single-core performance advantage.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-11320H includes Iris XE 96EU graphics, while the i5-8600K includes UHD Graphics 630. The i5-11320H also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5-8600K supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Memory bandwidth is higher on the mobile chip at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, though both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Production status and release timing also separate them. The i5-11320H is listed as Active and was released in 2021. The i5-8600K is End-of-life and was released in 2017. The i5-8600K has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it can be overclocked; the i5-11320H does not.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 4 (i5-11320H) versus 6 (i5-8600K)
• Threads: 8 (i5-11320H) versus 6 (i5-8600K)
• Base clock: 2.50 GHz (i5-11320H) versus 3.60 GHz (i5-8600K)
• Boost clock: 4.50 GHz (i5-11320H) versus 4.30 GHz (i5-8600K)
• TDP: 28 W (i5-11320H) versus 95 W (i5-8600K)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1449 (i5-11320H) versus Intel Socket 1151 (i5-8600K)
• Architecture: Tiger Lake (i5-11320H) versus Coffee Lake (i5-8600K)
• Process node: 10 nm (i5-11320H) versus 14 nm (i5-8600K)
• Die size: 146.1 mm² (i5-11320H) versus not recorded (i5-8600K)
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core (i5-11320H) versus 64 KB per core (i5-8600K)
• L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core (i5-11320H) versus 256 KB per core (i5-8600K)
• L3 cache: 8 MB shared (i5-11320H) versus 9 MB shared (i5-8600K)
• Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s (i5-11320H) versus 42.7 GB/s (i5-8600K)
• PCIe: Gen 4, 20 lanes (i5-11320H) versus Gen 3, 16 lanes (i5-8600K)
• Integrated graphics: Iris XE 96EU (i5-11320H) versus UHD Graphics 630 (i5-8600K)
• Market segment: Mobile (i5-11320H) versus Desktop (i5-8600K)
• Production status: Active (i5-11320H) versus End-of-life (i5-8600K)
• Release date: 2021 (i5-11320H) versus 2017 (i5-8600K)
• Multiplier unlocked: No (i5-11320H) versus Yes (i5-8600K)
• Part number: SRKSK (i5-11320H) versus SR3QU (i5-8600K)

The Verdict

The data points to two different use cases. The Intel Core i5-11320H is the stronger choice for workloads that favor per-core performance. It wins all three Cinebench variants in both single-core and multicore, plus Geekbench single-core. Its margins are consistent, ranging from 5.2% to 6.6%, and it achieves these results with a 28 W TDP compared to the i5-8600K's 95 W. The newer 10 nm process and larger per-core L2 cache likely contribute to this efficiency, though the recorded data does not directly measure power consumption.

The Intel Core i5-8600K is the better option for multi-threaded workloads that scale with physical core count. Its Geekbench multicore win, 5997 versus 5620, demonstrates that its two extra cores can overcome the i5-11320H's architectural advantages in certain tests. However, this advantage does not carry over to the Cinebench multicore tests, where the i5-11320H leads by 6.4% to 6.5% across all three versions.

The aggregate scores place the two chips close together, 2888 versus 2807, and both sit at the 51st percentile. Neither processor is dramatically faster than the other overall. The choice depends on the workload and the platform constraints. The i5-11320H is a mobile processor on a BGA socket, while the i5-8600K is a desktop processor on Socket 1151 with an unlocked multiplier. Users with an existing Socket 1151 platform may prefer the i5-8600K for its overclocking headroom and extra cores. Users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness and a modern feature set, including PCIe Gen 4, would favor the i5-11320H.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i5-11320H wins in:

• Cinebench R15 multicore: 923 versus 867 (6.5% ahead)
• Cinebench R15 single-core: 130 versus 122 (6.6% ahead)
• Cinebench R20 multicore: 3846 versus 3616 (6.4% ahead)
• Cinebench R20 single-core: 543 versus 510 (6.5% ahead)
• Cinebench R23 multicore: 9158 versus 8611 (6.4% ahead)
• Cinebench R23 single-core: 1293 versus 1215 (6.4% ahead)
• Geekbench single-core: 1592 versus 1514 (5.2% ahead)
• Average benchmark score: 2888 versus 2807
• Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s
• PCIe generation: Gen 4 versus Gen 3

Intel Core i5-8600K wins in:

• Geekbench multicore: 5997 versus 5620 (6.3% ahead)
• Core count: 6 versus 4
• Base clock: 3.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz
• L3 cache: 9 MB versus 8 MB
• Unlocked multiplier for overclocking

The i5-11320H is the pick for rendering workloads across the Cinebench suite and for any task where single-thread speed matters. The i5-8600K is the pick for Geekbench-style multi-threaded workloads and for users who can exploit its unlocked multiplier and additional physical cores. The recorded data shows no scenario where both chips trade places: the i5-11320H dominates the Cinebench family entirely, while the i5-8600K owns the Geekbench multicore result.