Intel Core i5-11320H vs Intel Core i7-9850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850H and Intel Core i5-11320H are two mobile processors from different eras of Intel’s lineup, and their benchmark results paint a surprisingly close picture in most workloads. The data shows the i7-9850H takes seven of the eight head-to-head benchmark wins, but the single-core victory for the i5-11320H in Geekbench reveals a key split in their strengths. This analysis breaks down where each chip excels, the architectural reasons behind those differences, and which processor suits which type of workload.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9850H is the clear winner in multi-threaded and sustained compute tasks. It outperforms the i5-11320H in every Cinebench test, though by very slim margins—just 0.2% to 0.3% across R15, R20, and R23 multicore and singlecore runs. Its biggest multi-core advantage comes in Geekbench, where it scores 6087 versus 5620, an 8.3% lead. This suggests the i7-9850H’s two extra physical cores and four extra threads provide a meaningful edge in applications that scale well across cores, such as video rendering, compilation, or heavy multitasking.

The i5-11320H wins only one benchmark outright: Geekbench single-core, scoring 1592 against 1449, a 9% lead. This is a substantial margin and indicates that for lightly-threaded tasks like web browsing, office productivity, or older games that rely on single-thread performance, the i5-11320H will feel snappier. Its newer architecture compensates for having fewer cores, making it the better choice for responsive day-to-day use. In Cinebench single-core tests, the two are effectively tied, with the i7-9850H edging ahead by 0.2% or less, so the Geekbench result is the standout differentiator.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different manufacturing nodes and designs. The i7-9850H is built on Intel’s 14 nm process under the Coffee Lake architecture, with a die size of 149 mm². It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its cache layout is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The i5-11320H, by contrast, uses the newer 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture, with a smaller die at 146.1 mm². It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, running at a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache is larger per core: 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, but the shared L3 is smaller at 8 MB.

The i5-11320H also brings a more modern memory controller, supporting DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7-9850H. It supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9850H is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The integrated graphics differ significantly: the i7-9850H has UHD Graphics 630, whereas the i5-11320H features Iris XE 96EU, which is a much more capable iGPU for light gaming or media tasks—though the benchmark data provided does not include GPU-specific scores. The i7-9850H uses socket Intel BGA 1440 and has a 45 W TDP, while the i5-11320H uses BGA 1449 and has a 28 W TDP, indicating lower power draw for the newer chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i7-9850H scoring 925 against 923 for the i5-11320H, a 0.2% lead. In R15 single-core, both chips score exactly 130, a dead tie. Moving to R20, the i7-9850H scores 3856 versus 3846, a 0.3% advantage, and in R20 single-core it leads 544 to 543, a 0.2% edge. The R23 results mirror this pattern: the i7-9850H scores 9182 multicore and 1296 single-core, while the i5-11320H scores 9158 and 1293 respectively, giving the i7-9850H 0.3% and 0.2% leads.

The Geekbench tests are where the real divergence appears. In Geekbench multicore, the i7-9850H scores 6087, which is 8.3% higher than the i5-11320H’s 5620. This is the largest delta in either direction, showing that the extra cores matter significantly in this workload. However, in Geekbench single-core, the i5-11320H reverses the trend with a score of 1592, beating the i7-9850H’s 1449 by 9%. This is a striking result, as it shows the newer Tiger Lake architecture delivers a major IPC improvement over Coffee Lake, even at a slightly lower boost clock. The fact that the i5-11320H loses in Cinebench single-core by a hair but wins Geekbench single-core by a wide margin suggests different optimization profiles between the two benchmark suites.

Specification Differences

The key differences between the two processors are straightforward. The i7-9850H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-11320H has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are close at 2.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, and boost clocks are nearly identical at 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: the i7-9850H is rated at 45 W, the i5-11320H at 28 W. Process nodes are different at 14 nm versus 10 nm, and die sizes are 149 mm² versus 146.1 mm². Cache configurations differ, with the i7-9850H offering 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core plus 12 MB L3, while the i5-11320H has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core plus 8 MB L3. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-11320H at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 3 for the i7-9850H and Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the i5-11320H. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 versus Iris XE 96EU. Sockets are BGA 1440 versus BGA 1449, and release dates are April 2019 versus June 2021. The i5-11320H has a launch MSRP of $309.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11320H has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Is the i5-11320H faster in single-core performance?

A: In Geekbench single-core, yes—the i5-11320H scores 1592 versus 1449 for the i7-9850H, a 9% lead. However, in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, the i7-9850H wins by 0% to 0.2%.

Q: How much does the i7-9850H lead in multi-core Geekbench?

A: The i7-9850H scores 6087 in Geekbench multicore compared to 5620 for the i5-11320H, an 8.3% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i7-9850H has a TDP of 45 W, while the i5-11320H has a TDP of 28 W.

Q: Which chip has better memory bandwidth?

A: The i5-11320H supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, higher than the i7-9850H’s 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Are the sockets the same?

A: No, the i7-9850H uses Intel BGA 1440, and the i5-11320H uses Intel BGA 1449.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: pick the Intel Core i7-9850H if your work is heavily multi-threaded, as it wins 7 out of 8 benchmarks and delivers an 8.3% lead in Geekbench multicore. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration provides a tangible advantage in rendering, encoding, and any workload that can use more than four cores. It also leads in every Cinebench test, albeit by less than 1%, making it the safer choice for mixed productivity where multi-core scaling is common.

Pick the Intel Core i5-11320H if you prioritize single-thread responsiveness and lower power consumption. Its 9% Geekbench single-core win suggests better performance in everyday applications that rely on one or two threads, and its 28 W TDP makes it more suitable for thinner, cooler-running laptops. Its higher memory bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4 support also future-proof it for faster storage and newer peripherals. However, note that in Cinebench single-core, it loses by a fraction, so the Geekbench advantage may not translate to all software. For pure compute throughput, the i7-9850H is the stronger choice; for efficiency and snappy single-thread tasks, the i5-11320H is the better fit.