Intel Core i5-11500 vs Intel Core i5-11600 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11500 and the Intel Core i5-11600 are two nearly identical Rocket Lake desktop processors, but the data splits them cleanly: the i5-11600 wins every single benchmark in the database, while the i5-11500 offers one distinction in its feature set. The i5-11600 is the outright performance leader, with margins ranging from roughly 3% to 9% across all 17 recorded tests, while the i5-11500 counters with an integrated GPU, making it the choice for systems that bypass a discrete graphics card. The average benchmark score confirms the hierarchy: the i5-11600 scores 24,563 points against 23,718 for the i5-11500, a difference of about 845 points.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11600 wins in every compute category recorded in the database. There are no benchmark tests where the i5-11500 takes the lead, so the use-case split is not about performance tiers but about system configuration. The i5-11600 is the pick for raw throughput: multi-threaded rendering, single-thread responsiveness, encryption, compression, and math workloads all favor it. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-11600 scores 15,269 versus 14,513 for the i5-11500, a 5% advantage. In single-core R23, the i5-11600 posts 2,155 against 2,049, again 5% ahead. The margins are consistent across Passmark tests: floating point math shows a 3% lead (35,478 vs 34,422), integer math also 3% (60,158 vs 58,352), and data compression 3.3% (218,062 vs 210,796).

The i5-11500, by contrast, wins only in the feature comparison: it includes Intel UHD Graphics 750, while the i5-11600 has no integrated graphics listed. This makes the i5-11500 the only viable option for a build without a discrete GPU, for troubleshooting a graphics card, or for office and light media use where the CPU alone drives the display. The i5-11600 requires a dedicated graphics solution, which is a hardware requirement, not a performance penalty. For users with a GPU, the i5-11600 is strictly faster; for users without one, the i5-11500 is the functional choice.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600 is faster in every multi-threaded test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 15,269 versus 14,513 for the i5-11500, a 5% lead. Passmark multithread shows 17,918 versus 17,107, a 4.5% advantage.

Q: Is the single-core performance difference significant?

A: Yes, the i5-11600 leads by about 5% in single-core tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,155 versus 2,049, and Cinebench R20 single-core shows 905 versus 860. Passmark single-thread shows 3,284 versus 3,131, a 4.7% gap.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. The difference in performance comes from clock speeds: the i5-11600 has a 2.80 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost, while the i5-11500 runs at 2.70 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-11500 has Intel UHD Graphics 750. The Intel Core i5-11600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the largest performance margin between the two?

A: The biggest gap is in Passmark find prime numbers, where the i5-11600 scores 56 versus 51 for the i5-11500, a delta of 8.9%. The second largest is Passmark physics, at 891 versus 823, a 7.6% difference.

Q: Are there any workloads where the i5-11500 wins?

A: No. Across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-11600 wins every test. The i5-11500 only distinguishes itself by having integrated graphics, not by benchmark performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the i5-11600 wins all 17 tests, with deltas ranging from 2.7% to 8.9%. The smallest margin is in Passmark random string sorting, where the i5-11600 scores 25,178 versus 24,505, a 2.7% lead. The largest margin is in Passmark find prime numbers, a 56 to 51 result, which is 8.9% faster. This workload appears to be particularly sensitive to clock speed, which aligns with the 200 MHz boost advantage of the i5-11600 (4.80 GHz vs 4.60 GHz).

In Cinebench tests, the delta is remarkably consistent at 4.9% to 5.1%. R15 multi-core shows 1,538 versus 1,462 (4.9%), R15 single-core shows 217 versus 206 (5.1%), R20 multi-core shows 6,412 versus 6,095 (4.9%), R20 single-core shows 905 versus 860 (5%), and R23 multi-core shows 15,269 versus 14,513 (5%). This consistency suggests the clock speed advantage translates directly into rendering performance, with no architectural differences to complicate the comparison.

Passmark workloads show more variance. Data compression is 3.3% faster (218,062 vs 210,796), data encryption is 4.2% faster (11,060 vs 10,592), and extended instructions are 3.7% faster (15,698 vs 15,111). Floating point math and integer math both show exactly 3% differences (35,478 vs 34,422 and 60,158 vs 58,352, respectively). The multithread test shows a 4.5% gap (17,918 vs 17,107), and physics shows a 7.6% gap (891 vs 823). These variations indicate that the i5-11600's higher clocks benefit some instruction patterns more than others, but the direction is always the same.

The single-thread Passmark test shows 3,284 versus 3,131, a 4.7% delta, which is duplicated in the passmark_singlethread field. This confirms that the i5-11600's boost clock advantage is consistently realized in single-core scenarios, not just in multi-threaded loads.

Specification Differences

The two processors are nearly identical in base specifications, differing only in clock speeds and integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-11500 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Core i5-11600 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. That 0.10 GHz base and 0.20 GHz boost difference is the entire source of the performance gap.

The integrated graphics are the other difference. The i5-11500 includes Intel UHD Graphics 750, while the i5-11600 lists no integrated graphics. This is a major functional difference for system builders, because the i5-11600 cannot output video without a discrete GPU.

Both processors share the same TDP of 65 watts, the same Intel Socket 1200, the same 6 cores and 12 threads, and the same memory support: DDR4 with dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both have the same PCIe configuration: Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Both lack ECC memory support, both have locked multipliers, and both were released on the same date, 2021-03-15. The launch MSRP differs: the i5-11500 launched at $192, the i5-11600 at $213. Both are marked end-of-life in production status.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are the same processor. Both use the Rocket Lake architecture, the 14 nm process node from Intel, and the same die size of 276 mm². The codename is identical, and both belong to the Core 11th Gen series. The cache hierarchy is identical: 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB L3 shared. Memory bandwidth is the same at 51.2 GB/s.

The part numbers are different (SRKNY for the i5-11500, SRKNW for the i5-11600), which reflects the clock binning rather than a structural change. The integrated graphics difference is the only architectural feature that varies, with the i5-11500 carrying the UHD Graphics 750 die portion while the i5-11600 appears to omit it. This does not affect compute benchmarks, as the head-to-head results show no workload where the i5-11500 gains an advantage from its GPU.

Both processors are built on the same foundry (Intel), same node (14 nm), and same generation (Rocket Lake-S). The percentile ranks are close: the i5-11500 is in the 76th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-11600 is in the 77th percentile. This small percentile difference reflects the average score gap of 24,563 versus 23,718.

The Verdict

The data supports a simple conclusion: choose the Intel Core i5-11600 if you have a discrete GPU and want maximum performance. It wins all 17 benchmarks, with margins that are consistent and meaningful. The 5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (15,269 vs 14,513) and single-core (2,155 vs 2,049) translates to faster rendering and snappier application response. The 8.9% lead in prime number finding (56 vs 51) and 7.6% in physics (891 vs 823) indicate that clock-sensitive workloads benefit substantially. The i5-11600 sits in the 77th percentile versus the 76th for the i5-11500, and its nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-12450HX with a delta of -0.1%, meaning it trades blows with that chip rather than dominating it.

Choose the Intel Core i5-11500 only if you require integrated graphics. It has Intel UHD Graphics 750, which the i5-11600 lacks entirely. This is not a performance trade-off; it is a hardware capability. For a system without a graphics card, the i5-11500 is the only one of the two that will produce a display output. For users building a PC with a GPU, the i5-11500 offers no advantage in any recorded test, and the i5-11600 is the correct pick. The i5-11500's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U with a delta of 0%, indicating it is a mid-pack performer, while the i5-11600's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-12450HX, a higher-tier mobile chip, showing it competes above its class. The verdict is decisive: the i5-11600 is the superior processor in every measurable way, and the i5-11500 only wins in the specific scenario of needing onboard video output.