Intel Core i5-11320H vs Intel Core i7-6800K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11320H and the Intel Core i7-6800K represent two very different design philosophies from Intel, separated by five years of architectural evolution. The i5-11320H is a modern 10 nm mobile processor built for efficiency, while the i7-6800K is a legacy 14 nm desktop enthusiast chip with a high core count. Benchmark data reveals a surprisingly close contest, with the newer mobile part taking a decisive lead in most workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i5-11320H winning 7 of the 8 benchmark comparisons, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count. Across the Cinebench suite, the i5-11320H consistently edges out the i7-6800K by narrow margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-11320H scores 923 versus 916 for the i7-6800K, a delta of 0.8%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 130 versus 129, again a 0.8% advantage for the i5-11320H. These sub-1% margins indicate that the two processors are essentially matched in this legacy rendering workload, despite the i7-6800K having 6 cores and 12 threads against the i5-11320H’s 4 cores and 8 threads.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i5-11320H posts 3846 in multicore against 3819 for the i7-6800K, a 0.7% lead. Single-core R20 shows 543 versus 538, a 0.9% advantage. The newest Cinebench R23 test repeats the trend: the i5-11320H scores 9158 multicore and 1293 single-core, while the i7-6800K scores 9093 and 1283 respectively. The deltas are 0.7% and 0.8%, both favoring the i5-11320H. These results suggest that the i5-11320H’s newer Tiger Lake architecture and higher boost clock compensate for its core deficit, allowing it to match or slightly exceed the older six-core part in heavily threaded workloads.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-11320H delivers a dominant performance: 1592 versus 1237 for the i7-6800K. That is a 28.7% delta, the largest margin in the entire comparison. This is a clear demonstration of generational IPC improvements, as the i5-11320H’s 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.50 GHz boost clock are substantially higher than the i7-6800K’s 3.40 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The Geekbench multicore test is the only win for the i7-6800K, scoring 5688 against 5620 for the i5-11320H, a -1.2% delta. This narrow victory for the older chip highlights that its two extra physical cores still provide an advantage in workloads that scale well with thread count, but the margin is slim.

The average benchmark scores corroborate the head-to-head results. The i5-11320H has an average benchmark score of 2888, while the i7-6800K averages 2838. Both processors sit at the 51st percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are firmly in the mid-range tier of performance. The i5-11320H’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2414 with an average score of 2905 and a delta of -0.6%, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U at 2865 with a delta of 0.8%. The i7-6800K’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-10600 at 2837 with a 0% delta and the Intel Xeon E-2126G at 2842 with a -0.1% delta. These proximity scores confirm that both processors perform within a narrow band of their respective peers.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two CPUs is significant. The Intel Core i5-11320H is built on Intel’s 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-6800K uses the older 14 nm node. This process advantage allows the i5-11320H to achieve dramatically higher clock speeds while consuming far less power. The i5-11320H has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, a full 0.90 GHz higher than the i7-6800K’s 3.60 GHz boost. The base clocks also differ: 2.50 GHz for the i5-11320H versus 3.40 GHz for the i7-6800K. The i7-6800K’s higher base clock reflects its desktop design, but its near-static boost clock of 3.60 GHz indicates limited headroom.

The core configurations are fundamentally different. The i5-11320H features 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-6800K has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the i7-6800K a 50% advantage in raw core count. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i5-11320H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i7-6800K has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is markedly different: the i5-11320H has 8 MB shared, while the i7-6800K has 15 MB shared. The larger L3 cache on the i7-6800K is typical of the Broadwell-E HEDT platform.

Memory support is another major differentiation. Both support DDR4, but the i5-11320H uses a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i7-6800K uses a quad-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. This gives the i7-6800K a 50% memory bandwidth advantage, which is crucial for memory-intensive workloads. PCIe support also differs: the i5-11320H provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the i7-6800K offers Gen 3 with 28 lanes. The newer Gen 4 standard doubles the per-lane bandwidth, though the i7-6800K has more lanes available. The i5-11320H includes integrated Iris XE 96EU graphics, while the i7-6800K has no integrated graphics. The i7-6800K has a larger die size of 246 mm² versus 146.1 mm² for the i5-11320H, and it contains 3,400 million transistors. The i5-11320H’s transistor count is not listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-11320H wins every single-core benchmark. In Geekbench single-core it scores 1592 versus 1237 for the i7-6800K, a 28.7% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1293 versus 1283, a 0.8% lead.

Q: Does the i7-6800K win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i7-6800K wins Geekbench multicore, scoring 5688 against 5620 for the i5-11320H, a -1.2% delta. This is the only benchmark win for the i7-6800K out of eight head-to-head tests.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The i7-6800K has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-11320H has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-6800K has a 50% advantage in core count, yet it only wins one benchmark due to the i5-11320H’s higher clock speeds.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two processors?

A: The i5-11320H has a TDP of 28 watts, while the i7-6800K has a TDP of 140 watts. This is a five-fold difference in power envelope, reflecting the mobile versus desktop design targets.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-6800K has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-11320H has 8 MB. The i7-6800K also has a quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth versus the i5-11320H’s dual-channel 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 51st percentile among all CPUs. The i5-11320H has an average benchmark score of 2888, and the i7-6800K has an average score of 2838.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The most obvious difference is the process node: the i5-11320H uses 10 nm, while the i7-6800K uses 14 nm. Core counts differ, with the i7-6800K offering 6 cores and 12 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads for the i5-11320H. Clock speeds are starkly different: the i5-11320H has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost of 4.50 GHz, while the i7-6800K has a base of 3.40 GHz and a boost of 3.60 GHz. TDP is a massive differentiator: 28 watts for the i5-11320H versus 140 watts for the i7-6800K.

Cache layouts are distinct. The i5-11320H has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 8 MB shared L3. The i7-6800K has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 15 MB shared L3. Socket compatibility is entirely different: the i5-11320H uses Intel BGA 1449, while the i7-6800K uses Intel Socket 2011-3. Memory channels differ: dual-channel for the i5-11320H versus quad-channel for the i7-6800K. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for the i5-11320H and 76.8 GB/s for the i7-6800K. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the i5-11320H, versus Gen 3 with 28 lanes for the i7-6800K. The i5-11320H includes integrated Iris XE 96EU graphics, while the i7-6800K has none. The i7-6800K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-11320H does not. The i5-11320H’s die size is 146.1 mm², while the i7-6800K’s is 246 mm². The i7-6800K contains 3,400 million transistors. Market segments differ: the i5-11320H is mobile and active in production, while the i7-6800K is desktop and end-of-life. Both have a launch MSRP; the i5-11320H was $309, and the i7-6800K was $434.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11320H is the clear winner in nearly every scenario. Its 28.7% lead in Geekbench single-core makes it the superior choice for applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, such as legacy software, many games, and everyday productivity tasks. The i5-11320H also wins all three Cinebench multicore tests, meaning it can handle rendering workloads effectively despite having fewer cores. Its 28 watt TDP and integrated Iris XE 96EU graphics make it suitable for compact mobile systems where power efficiency and space are priorities. The i5-11320H has a newer 10 nm process and Gen 4 PCIe support, which future-proofs it for modern storage and expansion options.

The Intel Core i7-6800K wins only in Geekbench multicore, but that victory is meaningful. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides a tangible advantage in heavily parallelized, memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads. The quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth is a significant asset for scientific computing, video editing, and virtual machine hosting. The i7-6800K’s unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, and its 140 watt TDP indicates it is designed to sustain high loads on a desktop platform. The larger 15 MB L3 cache helps with data-heavy applications. The i7-6800K’s 28 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion capacity for multiple GPUs or high-speed networking cards. For users with a desktop workstation that demands high memory throughput and maximum thread scaling, the i7-6800K remains viable, though its end-of-life status and higher TDP are notable drawbacks.