Intel Core i5-11400H vs Intel Core i7-10850H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-10850H boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-11400H tops out at 4.50 GHz.

Q: Do both chips have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both are 6-core, 12-thread parts.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The data encryption test shows the biggest spread: the i5-11400H scores 9309 versus 3890 for the i7-10850H, a 58.2% difference.

Q: In how many of the head-to-head benchmarks does the i7-10850H win?

A: The i7-10850H wins exactly one test, the PassMark physics workload, by 5.9%.

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

A: The i7-10850H averages 16204 points, while the i5-11400H averages 15749 points, a difference of roughly 2.9% in favor of the older chip.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The i7-10850H uses Intel's 14 nm node, while the i5-11400H is built on the 10 nm node.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent adjacent generations of Intel mobile silicon, and the architectural gap shows in nearly every subsystem. The i7-10850H is a Comet Lake-H part, built on the 14 nm process, while the i5-11400H is a Tiger Lake-H part on the 10 nm node. The newer node gives the i5 a die size of 190 mm², while the i7's die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory bandwidth tells a similar story. The i7-10850H is rated at 46.9 GB/s, while the i5-11400H reaches 51.2 GB/s, both over dual-channel DDR4. The PCIe situation also changes: the i7 provides Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, whereas the i5 moves to Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. That is a generational uplift in both interface speed and lane count.

Cache organization differs notably. The i7-10850H carries 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The i5-11400H increases per-core L1 to 80 KB and L2 to 1.25 MB per core, while retaining the same 12 MB shared L3. The L2 jump is particularly large, and it likely contributes to the i5's consistent lead in latency-sensitive tasks.

Socket and power specifications also diverge. The i7 uses Intel BGA 1440 and is rated at 45 W TDP. The i5 uses Intel BGA 1787 and drops to 35 W TDP. Despite the lower TDP, the i5 posts higher scores across almost every workload in the database, which points to the efficiency gains of the newer architecture. Both chips integrate UHD Graphics, both lack ECC support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The launch dates place the i7 in April 2020 and the i5 in May 2021. The i5 also has a recorded launch MSRP of $250, while the i7's launch MSRP is not available in the database. Both are listed as active production parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is remarkably one-sided. Across 19 recorded comparisons, the i5-11400H takes 18 wins. The only exception is PassMark physics, where the i7-10850H leads 718 to 678, a 5.9% margin.

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 1296 against 986 for the i7, a 23.9% advantage. The single-core test is nearly identical in relative terms: 182 versus 139, also 23.9% ahead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5 again leads by 23.9% in both multicore (5400 versus 4110) and single-core (762 versus 580). Cinebench R23 repeats the exact same 23.9% margin in both multicore (12859 versus 9786) and single-core (1815 versus 1381). The consistency of that delta across all six Cinebench runs suggests a fixed architectural advantage rather than workload-specific variation.

Geekbench results are slightly narrower but still favor the i5. Multicore shows 6396 versus 4997, a 21.9% lead. Single-core shows 1569 versus 1327, a 15.4% gap. Those numbers confirm that the i5's advantage is not limited to rendering workloads; general-purpose compute also shifts decisively toward the newer chip.

The PassMark suite offers the most dramatic outlier. Data encryption shows the i5 at 9309 versus 3890 for the i7, a massive 58.2% difference. That is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. Integer math also favors the i5 heavily: 53286 versus 39919, a 25.1% gap. Floating-point math follows at 32060 versus 25216, a 21.3% margin. Extended instructions land at 12971 versus 10381, a 20% difference. Multithread performance shows 15346 versus 11643, a 24.1% gap.

Some workloads are closer. Random string sorting sees the i5 at 22512 versus 21537, just 4.3% ahead. Find prime numbers is tight as well: 47 versus 41, a 12.8% margin. Single-thread PassMark shows 2975 versus 2668, a 10.3% lead. Data compression sits at 190855 versus 165882, a 13.1% difference.

The overall picture is clear: the i5-11400H does not just edge out the i7-10850H, it beats it by double digits in almost every category, and by nearly 60% in encryption. The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story, however. The i7-10850H averages 16204, which places it just above the i5's 15749. That gap is small, and it reflects the i7's placement among its nearest rivals: the i7 is 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-10600KF, 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core 3 100U, 0.7% behind the Intel Core i7-1260U, and 0.8% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H. The i5-11400H sits within 0.7% of several AMD EPYC server chips, including the EPYC 9254 at a 0% delta, the Ryzen 3 7440U at 0.4% ahead, and the EPYC 9354P at 0.5% behind.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i5-11400H is the stronger performer in nearly every measured workload, despite carrying a lower model number and a lower TDP. The i5 wins 18 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, often by margins exceeding 20%. Its wins include every Cinebench test, every Geekbench test, and nearly all PassMark tests. The i7-10850H retains only a narrow win in PassMark physics and a slightly higher average benchmark score, but that average is driven by a different set of compiled scores and does not translate into a single meaningful workload victory outside physics.

Users who prioritize raw compute throughput, encryption performance, or rendering speed should look to the i5-11400H. The data shows no scenario in the head-to-head set where the i7 wins a productivity or content-creation workload. The i5 also achieves this with a 35 W TDP against the i7's 45 W, which suggests better efficiency per watt, though the database does not include direct power measurements.

The i7-10850H is not without merit. Its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz and its 45 W rating may appeal to users who value peak frequency on paper. But the benchmark results do not reflect that clock advantage in practice. The i5's higher per-core L2 cache, newer 10 nm process, and wider PCIe Gen 4 support appear to outweigh the clock deficit. For a buyer choosing between these two mobile parts strictly on the evidence, the i5-11400H is the defensible pick.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-10850H | Intel Core i5-11400H |

|---|---|---|

| Series | Core 10th Gen | Core 11th Gen |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel BGA 1787 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake-H | Tiger Lake-H |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 190 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Release Date | 2020-04-01 | 2021-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $250 |

| Part Number | SRH8P | SRKT1 |

Shared between both: 6 cores, 12 threads, 12 MB shared L3, dual-channel DDR4 memory support, no ECC, integrated UHD Graphics, mobile market segment, active production status, and locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-11400H dominates the benchmark landscape. It wins every Cinebench test, including R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore variants, by a uniform 23.9% margin. It wins both Geekbench tests, with a 21.9% multicore lead and a 15.4% single-core lead. It wins all PassMark tests except physics. The encryption result is the standout: a 58.2% advantage that makes the i5 the clear choice for any workload involving cryptographic operations or secure data handling. Integer math, floating-point math, and multithreaded PassMark all show leads between 20% and 25%. Even the closest PassMark win, random string sorting at 4.3%, still favors the i5.

The i7-10850H wins exactly one recorded comparison: PassMark physics, 718 versus 678, a 5.9% margin. That single result gives it a narrow niche in physics simulation workloads, but it is an isolated data point. The i7 also holds a slightly higher average benchmark score of 16204 versus 15749, which places it in the 70th percentile of all CPUs compared to the i5's 69th percentile. That difference is marginal and does not correspond to any head-to-head win outside physics.

For most users, the i5-11400H is the answer. Rendering, general compute, data compression, encryption, and single-threaded responsiveness all point to the newer chip. The i7-10850H is only relevant for a very specific workload profile centered on physics calculations, where its 5.9% edge might matter. Even then, the i5's wins in every other category make it the safer recommendation for mixed usage.