Intel Core i5-11500H vs Intel Core i9-9900 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11500H and the Intel Core i9-9900 are separated by a single percentage point in average benchmark score, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: a modern mobile processor with a 10 nm process and a desktop processor from an older generation with a 14 nm process. Overall, the data shows the i5-11500H wins seven of eight head-to-head tests, but the i9-9900 delivers a decisive victory in Geekbench multicore performance, making the choice dependent on workload priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-11500H has an average benchmark score of 4187, while the Intel Core i9-9900 scores 4163. The i5-11500H leads by 0.6% in this metric.

Q: How does the i5-11500H compare to the i9-9900 in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-11500H scores 14166 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 4.9% higher than the i9-9900’s score of 13509. This is one of the largest multicore advantages for the i5-11500H in the Cinebench suite.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i9-9900 beat the i5-11500H?

A: The i9-9900 wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 8175, compared to the i5-11500H’s 7135. This represents a 12.7% advantage for the i9-9900, which is the single largest delta in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11500H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i9-9900 offers two more physical cores and four more threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is higher than the i5-11500H’s boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i9-9900 also has a higher base clock at 3.10 GHz versus 2.40 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The i5-11500H is built on a 10 nm process, while the i9-9900 uses a 14 nm process. The i5-11500H also has a smaller die size of 190 mm² compared to the i9-9900’s 180.3 mm².

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The Intel Core i5-11500H is based on the Tiger Lake-H architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process node. In contrast, the Intel Core i9-9900 uses the Coffee Lake-R architecture on a 14 nm process, reflecting a generation gap in manufacturing technology. This process difference is a primary driver of the i5-11500H’s ability to achieve competitive performance despite a lower thermal design power.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The i5-11500H includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core and a substantial 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but its shared L3 cache is 12 MB. The i9-9900 has smaller per-core caches at 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, but compensates with a larger 16 MB shared L3 cache. This means the i9-9900 has 4 MB more L3 cache, which can benefit workloads that repeatedly access a large working set.

Memory and I/O capabilities also differ. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory, but the i5-11500H has a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus the i9-9900’s 42.7 GB/s. The i5-11500H also features PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-9900 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i5-11500H featuring UHD Graphics 750 and the i9-9900 using UHD Graphics 630.

The i5-11500H is a mobile part with a 35 W TDP, designed for laptops, and uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket. The i9-9900 is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP on the Intel Socket 1151. The production status also tells a story: the i5-11500H is listed as Active, while the i9-9900 is End-of-life. The i9-9900 released on 2019-04-22, while the i5-11500H launched on 2021-05-10.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a pattern where the i5-11500H dominates in single-core and most multicore tests, but the i9-9900 wins decisively in Geekbench multicore. Starting with Cinebench R15, the i5-11500H scores 1427 in multicore against the i9-9900’s 1361, a 4.8% lead. In R15 single-core, the margin is 4.7%, with scores of 201 and 192 respectively.

The trend continues in Cinebench R20. The i5-11500H posts a multicore score of 5949, beating the i9-9900’s 5673 by 4.9%. The single-core test shows the same 4.9% gap, with scores of 839 and 800. Cinebench R23 mirrors this almost exactly: the i5-11500H scores 14166 multicore versus 13509 for the i9-9900, another 4.9% win, and 1999 single-core versus 1907, a 4.8% advantage.

Geekbench tells a different story. In single-core, the i5-11500H wins with 1778 against 1687, a 5.4% margin. However, in Geekbench multicore, the i9-9900 reverses the trend entirely, scoring 8175 against the i5-11500H’s 7135. This 12.7% swing is the largest performance delta in the entire comparison, and it is the only test where the i9-9900 emerges victorious.

The wins tally is lopsided at 7-1 in favor of the i5-11500H, but the magnitude of the i9-9900’s Geekbench multicore win is substantial. This suggests that the i9-9900’s additional two cores and four threads provide a real advantage in certain parallel workloads, even though the i5-11500H’s newer architecture and higher IPC keep it ahead in the Cinebench suite.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The i5-11500H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i9-9900 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the i5-11500H and 3.10 GHz for the i9-9900. Boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 5.00 GHz, respectively. The i9-9900 holds the clock speed advantage in both metrics.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator: the i5-11500H is rated at 35 W, while the i9-9900 is rated at 65 W. This nearly 2x TDP difference highlights the i5-11500H’s efficiency focus as a mobile part. The i5-11500H uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket, whereas the i9-9900 uses the Intel Socket 1151.

Cache configurations are distinct. The i5-11500H offers 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. The i9-9900 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-11500H at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. PCIe support also differs: the i5-11500H has Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the i9-9900 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Process technology and physical characteristics differ as well. The i5-11500H uses a 10 nm process with a die size of 190 mm², while the i9-9900 uses a 14 nm process with a die size of 180.3 mm². The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750 on the i5-11500H and UHD Graphics 630 on the i9-9900. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i5-11500H is in the Mobile market segment, while the i9-9900 is in the Desktop segment.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11500H is the clear winner in the Cinebench series of tests, taking all three versions (R15, R20, R23) in both single-core and multicore. It also wins Geekbench single-core. This makes it the superior choice for workloads that rely on single-threaded performance or that scale well with the efficiency of a newer architecture. The data shows its advantage ranges from 4.7% to 5.4% in these wins, which is consistent and reliable.

The i5-11500H also wins on efficiency metrics, with a 35 W TDP compared to the i9-9900’s 65 W. It supports faster memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s vs. 42.7 GB/s) and newer PCIe Gen 4 connectivity. For users building a laptop system or prioritizing power efficiency, the i5-11500H’s profile is clearly superior.

The Intel Core i9-9900 wins exactly one benchmark, but it is a significant one: Geekbench multicore, with a 12.7% margin. This indicates that in certain heavily multi-threaded applications, the i9-9900’s 8-core/16-thread configuration provides a tangible benefit that outweighs the i5-11500H’s architectural advantages. The i9-9900 also has a larger 16 MB L3 cache, which can be advantageous for data-intensive workloads that fit within that cache footprint.

The i9-9900 further offers higher base and boost clock speeds (3.10 GHz and 5.00 GHz), which can help in lightly threaded tasks that don’t benefit from the i5-11500H’s IPC improvements. Its desktop form factor and 65 W TDP also suggest it can sustain higher clocks under continuous load in a desktop chassis with adequate cooling.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-11500H is the superior processor in the majority of tests, winning seven out of eight head-to-head comparisons. It holds a narrow overall average score lead of 0.6% and delivers consistent wins across all Cinebench versions, making it the recommended choice for general productivity, rendering, and single-threaded applications. Its 10 nm architecture, higher memory bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 4 support position it as the more modern and efficient option.

However, the Intel Core i9-9900 should be the pick for users whose primary workloads resemble the Geekbench multicore test, where it outperforms the i5-11500H by 12.7%. This benchmark win suggests that applications with heavy parallel scaling and large thread counts will benefit from the i9-9900’s 8 cores and 16 threads. The i9-9900’s larger 16 MB L3 cache and higher peak clocks further support its case for specific high-thread-count, cache-sensitive tasks.

For a mobile platform, the i5-11500H is the only viable option given its BGA 1787 socket and 35 W TDP. For a desktop build where power draw is less of a concern and raw multi-threaded throughput in Geekbench-style loads is the priority, the i9-9900 offers a clear, if narrow, advantage. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-dependent choice. The i5-11500H is the default recommendation for most users, but the i9-9900 remains relevant for its singular, decisive multicore victory.