Intel Core i5-11400F vs Intel Core Ultra 7 164U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11400F and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The i5-11400F, a desktop part from the Rocket Lake generation, and the Core Ultra 7 164U, a mobile Meteor Lake processor, both land at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, with the former averaging 17177 and the latter 17074. The data reveals a clear split: the desktop chip dominates multi-threaded and sustained workloads, while the mobile chip wins on specific single-threaded and efficiency-oriented tasks. This comparison is a study in how architectural priorities shape performance, rather than a simple contest of raw speed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11400F wins decisively in multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks. In Cinebench R23, it scores 14340 versus the Core Ultra 7’s 8766, a 63.6% advantage. This pattern holds across the board: Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 34.2% lead (6022 vs 4488), and PassMark multithread shows a 27.2% lead (16908 vs 13296). The desktop chip also excels in data-heavy integer workloads, with PassMark integer math scoring 57624 against 50387 (14.4% ahead) and data compression at 208472 versus 137133, a 52% gap. For extended instruction sets, the i5-11400F is 89.1% ahead, scoring 14976 to the Ultra 7’s 7918, making it the clear choice for scientific or encryption-heavy applications.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U wins in a smaller set of specific tests. It takes PassMark physics (918 vs 842), PassMark find prime numbers (56 vs 51), and PassMark single-thread (2996 vs 2981), though the single-thread margin is a narrow 0.5%. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core (225 vs 204, a 9.3% lead). These wins point to better per-clock efficiency in certain legacy or single-threaded scenarios. Notably, the Ultra 7’s victories are all in lighter workloads, whereas the i5-11400F’s wins are often by wide margins in heavier tasks. The scoreboard reflects this: 12 wins for the i5-11400F versus 5 for the Ultra 7.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The i5-11400F uses the Rocket Lake architecture on Intel’s 14 nm process, with a die size of 276 mm². It is a desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads, running at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The chip has no integrated graphics, which is consistent with its "F" designation.

The Core Ultra 7 164U is a mobile part from the Meteor Lake generation, built on a 7 nm process. It features 12 cores and 14 threads, which indicates a hybrid design mixing performance and efficiency cores, though the fact pack does not specify the core types. Its base clock is listed at 1100.00 MHz, with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy is larger per core: 112 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR5 memory (with the note that it depends on the motherboard) in a dual-channel configuration, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Unlike the i5-11400F, it includes integrated graphics, specifically Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The TDP difference is stark: 65 watts for the i5-11400F versus 9 watts for the Ultra 7, reflecting its ultra-low-power mobile design.

The process node difference (14 nm vs 7 nm) and the TDP gap (65W vs 9W) are the primary architectural drivers of performance. The i5-11400F can sustain high clocks across all its cores due to its higher power budget, which explains its multi-core dominance. The Ultra 7’s lower TDP forces it to prioritize efficiency, which results in a lower multi-core ceiling but allows it to compete in single-threaded bursts. The memory support also differs: DDR4 for the desktop chip, DDR5 for the mobile chip, though the pack does not provide a bandwidth figure for the Ultra 7.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize raw multi-threaded performance: the Intel Core i5-11400F is the superior processor. It is 63.6% faster in Cinebench R23 multicore and 34.2% faster in Cinebench R20 multicore, making it the better option for rendering, video editing, and compilation workloads. Its wins in integer math and data compression further cement its position for productivity tasks. The i5-11400F is also ahead in most single-core benchmarks, except for the legacy Cinebench R15 single-core test where the Ultra 7 leads by 9.3%.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is the right choice for scenarios where power consumption is critical, given its 9-watt TDP compared to the i5-11400F’s 65 watts. Its wins in PassMark physics and prime-number finding suggest it handles certain integer-heavy algorithms efficiently. However, its multi-core scores are significantly lower, and it lags badly in data compression (52% behind) and extended instructions (89.1% behind). For a mobile user who needs occasional bursts of single-thread performance and all-day battery life, the Ultra 7 makes sense. For a desktop user who needs sustained throughput, the i5-11400F is the data-backed winner. The near-identical average scores (17177 vs 17074) are misleading, as they mask the extreme variance in workload-specific performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F wins all multi-core benchmarks, including a 63.6% lead in Cinebench R23 (14340 vs 8766) and a 34.2% lead in Cinebench R20 (6022 vs 4488).

Q: Is the Core Ultra 7 164U faster in any test?

A: Yes, it wins 5 benchmarks, most notably Cinebench R15 single-core (225 vs 204, 9.3% ahead) and PassMark physics (918 vs 842). Its PassMark single-thread score is 2996, marginally above the i5-11400F’s 2981.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i5-11400F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Core Ultra 7 164U has 12 cores and 14 threads.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i5-11400F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Core Ultra 7 164U has a TDP of 9 watts, indicating a much lower power draw for the mobile chip.

Q: Do they support the same memory type?

A: No. The i5-11400F supports DDR4, while the Core Ultra 7 164U supports DDR5 (depending on the motherboard). Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The Core Ultra 7 164U has integrated Arc Xe-LPG 64EU graphics. The i5-11400F has no integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i5-11400F comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 14976 versus 7918, an 89.1% advantage. This is followed by a 63.6% win in Cinebench R23 multicore (14340 vs 8766) and a 59.4% win in PassMark random string sorting (24124 vs 15131). In Cinebench R20, the i5-11400F leads by 34.2% in multicore (6022 vs 4488) and 34.3% in single-core (850 vs 633), which is notable because the Ultra 7 wins the older R15 single-core test. The desktop chip also wins PassMark data compression by 52% (208472 vs 137133) and multithread by 27.2% (16908 vs 13296). Its lead in integer math is 14.4% (57624 vs 50387), and it edges out the Ultra 7 in floating-point math by 1.6% (34127 vs 33581). In data encryption, the i5-11400F is 15.9% ahead (10247 vs 8838).

The Core Ultra 7 164U’s wins are smaller in magnitude. Its best victory is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 225 versus 204, a 9.3% lead. It wins PassMark physics by 8.3% (918 vs 842) and PassMark find prime numbers by 8.9% (56 vs 51). Its PassMark single-thread score of 2996 is only 0.5% above the i5-11400F’s 2981. These wins are concentrated in lighter, less demanding tests, while the i5-11400F’s victories dominate the heavier workloads.

Specification Differences

The key differences lie in core count, process node, power, and platform. The i5-11400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 7 has 12 cores and 14 threads. The i5-11400F uses a 14 nm process, while the Ultra 7 uses a 7 nm process. The base clock differs dramatically: 2.60 GHz for the i5-11400F versus 1100.00 MHz for the Ultra 7. Boost clocks are 4.40 GHz and 4.80 GHz, respectively. TDP is 65 watts versus 9 watts. The socket is Intel Socket 1200 for the i5-11400F and Intel BGA 2551 for the Ultra 7. Cache sizes vary: the i5-11400F has 80 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core, while the Ultra 7 has 112 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3. Memory support is DDR4 for the i5-11400F and DDR5 for the Ultra 7. PCIe lanes differ: the i5-11400F offers 20 Gen 4 lanes, while the Ultra 7 offers 8 Gen 4 lanes. The i5-11400F has no integrated graphics, while the Ultra 7 includes Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The i5-11400F is end-of-life (released 2021-03-15), while the Ultra 7 is active (released 2023-12-13). The i5-11400F has a launch MSRP of $157; the Ultra 7 has a launch MSRP of $448.