Intel Core i5-11500H vs Intel Core i7-7820X Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this comparison cleanly by workload type. The Intel Core i7-7820X wins seven of the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including every Cinebench test across R15, R20, and R23, plus the Geekbench multicore test. The Intel Core i5-11500H wins only the Geekbench singlecore test, but it does so by a substantial 20% margin. The i7-7820X is the choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering and compute tasks, where its 8-core/16-thread configuration and quad-channel memory path give it a consistent edge. The i5-11500H is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness in lighter applications, where its newer Tiger Lake architecture and higher 4.60 GHz boost clock overcome the older Skylake-X part's core advantage. For users who prioritize raw multi-core throughput, the i7-7820X leads; for those who need peak single-core speed in a mobile form factor, the i5-11500H takes that specific crown.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras and design philosophies. The i7-7820X uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process node, built for the desktop X-Series 7th Gen platform on Intel Socket 2066. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its thermal design power is 140 W, reflecting a high-power desktop design with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The i5-11500H belongs to the Tiger Lake-H family, fabricated on a 10 nm node, and targets mobile systems on Intel BGA 1787. It offers 6 cores and 12 threads, with a lower 2.40 GHz base clock but a higher 4.60 GHz boost clock, and a much lower 35 W TDP suited for laptops. Its multiplier is locked, so no overclocking headroom exists.

Cache layouts differ notably. The i7-7820X provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 11 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-11500H provides 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Despite the newer architecture, the i5-11500H has a smaller die at 190 mm² versus no listed die size for the i7-7820X, but the core-per-core cache allocation favors the smaller mobile chip. Memory architecture also diverges: the i7-7820X uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-11500H uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. Both lack ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity differs as well — the i7-7820X offers Gen 3 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-11500H provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The i5-11500H also includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, whereas the i7-7820X has no integrated graphics at all.

The production status tells a story of lifecycle positioning: the i7-7820X is end-of-life, released in June 2017 with a launch MSRP of $599, while the i5-11500H remains active, released in May 2021 with a launch MSRP of $250. The i7-7820X is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier; the i5-11500H is a mobile part with a locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core Cinebench results show a consistent pattern of narrow but real victories for the i7-7820X. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-7820X scores 1469 against 1427 for the i5-11500H, a 2.9% advantage. The R20 multicore test repeats the margin exactly: 6121 versus 5949, again 2.9% ahead. The R23 multicore result follows suit — 14576 versus 14166, a 2.9% lead. These three tests paint a picture of dependable multi-threaded superiority, likely driven by the i7-7820X's additional two cores and four threads, even though the i5-11500H's newer architecture closes much of the gap.

Single-core Cinebench results are similarly tight. In R15 singlecore, the i7-7820X scores 207 versus 201, a 3% edge. R20 singlecore shows 863 versus 839, a 2.9% lead, and R23 singlecore shows 2057 versus 1999, also 2.9%. These margins are slim, suggesting that the i7-7820X's higher base clock and older but well-tuned Skylake cores barely edge out the Tiger Lake design in these specific tests.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench multicore, the i7-7820X wins decisively with 7855 against 7135, a 10.1% margin — the largest multi-core victory in the dataset. This suggests the i7-7820X's core count and memory bandwidth combination pays off more substantially in Geekbench's workload mix than in Cinebench. However, in Geekbench singlecore, the i5-11500H dominates with 1778 versus 1422, a 20% swing in its favor. This is the largest delta in either direction across all benchmarks, highlighting a clear architectural advantage for the Tiger Lake part in single-threaded integer and floating-point tasks.

Overall, the i7-7820X wins seven benchmarks and the i5-11500H wins one. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the i7-7820X averages 4321, while the i5-11500H averages 4187, a difference of roughly 3.2%. Percentile rankings are nearly identical — the i7-7820X sits at the 58th percentile of all CPUs, the i5-11500H at the 57th.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-7820X wins every multi-core benchmark in the comparison. It leads by 2.9% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, and by 10.1% in Geekbench multicore.

Q: Does the newer i5-11500H beat the i7-7820X in any test?

A: Yes, it wins the Geekbench singlecore test with a score of 1778 versus 1422, a 20% margin. That is the only benchmark win for the i5-11500H out of the eight head-to-head tests.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The i7-7820X has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-11500H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-7820X also has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 2.40 GHz), but the i5-11500H has a slightly higher boost clock (4.60 GHz vs 4.50 GHz).

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The i7-7820X has a 140 W TDP, reflecting its desktop design, while the i5-11500H has a 35 W TDP, suitable for mobile systems. The i7-7820X also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5-11500H is locked.

Q: Which processor supports more memory bandwidth?

A: The i7-7820X supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The i5-11500H supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The i7-7820X is end-of-life with a release date of June 2017. The i5-11500H is active, with a release date of May 2021.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-7820X wins in every scenario that stresses multiple cores simultaneously. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration delivers consistent 2.9% advantages across all three Cinebench multi-core versions (R15, R20, R23), and a much larger 10.1% win in Geekbench multicore. The quad-channel memory interface with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth likely contributes to this edge, particularly in memory-intensive multi-threaded tasks. The i7-7820X also edges out the i5-11500H in every single-core Cinebench test, though by narrow margins of 2.9% to 3%. Its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz helps in these lightly threaded workloads, even against a newer architecture. This makes the i7-7820X the better pick for rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and any desktop workload where sustained multi-threaded performance is paramount. Its unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking for further gains, although the data does not quantify that headroom.

The i5-11500H wins in exactly one scenario: Geekbench singlecore, where it scores 1778 versus 1422, a 20% advantage. This indicates a strong architectural efficiency in single-threaded tasks, likely from the newer Tiger Lake core design and the higher 4.60 GHz boost clock. The 10 nm process node and larger per-core cache allocations (80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core) support this efficiency. For users running single-threaded applications such as certain legacy software, spreadsheets, or light coding tasks, the i5-11500H delivers better peak responsiveness. Its 35 W TDP and mobile form factor also make it the only option for laptops, where the i7-7820X's 140 W desktop design cannot physically fit. The i5-11500H also includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, providing a display output without a discrete GPU, something the i7-7820X cannot offer.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every major specification line. The i7-7820X has 8 cores and 16 threads; the i5-11500H has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: 3.60 GHz for the i7-7820X versus 2.40 GHz for the i5-11500H. Boost clocks are close but favor the i5-11500H: 4.50 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP is a major separator — the i7-7820X draws 140 W, the i5-11500H draws 35 W. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 2066 for the desktop part, Intel BGA 1787 for the mobile part. Architecture and process node differ: Skylake on 14 nm for the i7-7820X, Tiger Lake on 10 nm for the i5-11500H. The i5-11500H lists a die size of 190 mm²; the i7-7820X has none listed.

Cache configurations are distinct. The i7-7820X uses 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 11 MB shared L3. The i5-11500H uses 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: the i7-7820X has quad-channel DDR4 at 85.3 GB/s, the i5-11500H has dual-channel DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s. Both lack ECC support. PCIe generations and lane counts differ: Gen 3 with 28 lanes (CPU only) for the i7-7820X, Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the i5-11500H. Integrated graphics are absent on the i7-7820X but present as UHD Graphics 750 on the i5-11500H. Market segments differ: Desktop for the i7-7820X, Mobile for the i5-11500H. Production status differs: end-of-life for the i7-7820X, active for the i5-11500H. Release dates differ: June 2017 versus May 2021. The i7-7820X has an unlocked multiplier; the i5-11500H does not. Launch MSRP values are $599 for the i7-7820X and $250 for the i5-11500H. Part numbers are SR3L5 for the i7-7820X and SRKT2 for the i5-11500H.