Intel Core i5-11500T vs Intel Core i5-1240P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split between these two Intel processors, with the mobile-oriented Core i5-1240P dominating most tests while the desktop Core i5-11500T claims one significant victory. Out of six head-to-head comparisons, the 1240P wins five, but the 11500T takes the most demanding workload test.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 1240P scores 1566.5 against the 11500T's 1093, a 30.2% advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 226 versus 154, a 31.9% margin in favor of the 1240P. These early-generation tests clearly favor the newer Alder Lake architecture.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern continues but with a narrower gap. The 1240P scores 5632 in multicore versus 4558 for the 11500T, a 19.1% lead. The R20 single-core test shows the same 19.1% delta, with scores of 795 and 643 respectively. The consistency of these deltas suggests a fundamental clock speed and IPC advantage for the 1240P in lightly threaded and moderately threaded workloads.

Then comes the outlier. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the 11500T surges ahead with 10854 points against the 1240P's 9392, a 15.6% advantage. This is a remarkable reversal, especially given that the 1240P won R20 multicore by 19.1%. The R23 test is more demanding and longer-running, which may expose thermal or power delivery differences. The 1240P's 28W TDP likely limits sustained all-core performance, while the 11500T's 35W TDP, combined with its simpler 6-core topology, allows it to maintain higher clocks under extended load.

The final test, Cinebench R23 single-core, goes to the 1240P by a modest 4.2%, scoring 1600 versus 1532. This is the smallest margin in the entire comparison, suggesting that IPC improvements in Alder Lake are real but not overwhelming when clock speeds are factored in.

The average benchmark scores tell a nuanced story. The 11500T has an average benchmark score of 3288 across all recorded tests, while the 1240P sits at 3202. Despite losing the head-to-head majority, the 11500T actually averages higher overall because its R23 multicore win is substantial enough to offset the R15 and R20 losses. Both processors sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar mid-range position in the broader market.

The nearest rivals for the 11500T include the Intel Xeon E-2374G at 3278 (0.3% behind), the Core i3-12100T at 3277 (0.3% behind), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3277 (0.4% behind). The 11500T also edges out the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600, which scores 3303, putting the 11500T 0.5% ahead. For the 1240P, its closest competitors are the Core i3-13100T at 3198 (0.1% behind), the Core i7-9700E at 3197 (0.2% behind), and the Xeon E-2136 at 3193 (0.3% behind). The 1240P trails the Intel Atom P5342 by 0.5%, which scores 3217. These rival comparisons place both chips in a tight cluster of mid-range performers, with less than 1% separating each from its nearest neighbors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of direct benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P wins five of six head-to-head tests, including all R15 and R20 tests plus R23 single-core. The 11500T wins only the R23 multicore test.

Q: How large is the 1240P's advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The 1240P scores 1566.5 versus 1093 for the 11500T, a 30.2% lead, the largest margin in any comparison between the two.

Q: Why does the 11500T win Cinebench R23 multicore despite losing R20 multicore?

A: The data shows the 11500T scores 10854 in R23 multicore versus 9392 for the 1240P, a 15.6% advantage. The R23 workload is longer and more demanding, which likely allows the 11500T's higher 35W TDP to sustain performance better than the 1240P's 28W TDP.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of average benchmark scores?

A: The 11500T has a higher average benchmark score at 3288 compared to the 1240P's 3202, despite losing the majority of head-to-head tests.

Q: Are there any rival processors that outperform either chip by more than 1%?

A: No. The nearest rivals for both chips are all within 0.5% of the respective scores. The 11500T's closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600, is only 0.5% ahead, while the 1240P is 0.5% behind the Intel Atom P5342.

Architecture Differences

The 11500T and 1240P represent two distinct Intel design philosophies. The 11500T is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm architecture produced at Intel's own foundry. It uses a monolithic 6-core, 12-thread design with a die size of 276 mm². The 1240P, by contrast, is built on Alder Lake-P, a 10 nm process with a smaller 217 mm² die. This process shrink allows the 1240P to pack 12 cores and 16 threads into a mobile package.

The core configurations differ fundamentally. The 11500T uses six identical cores, each with 80 KB of L1 cache and 511 KB of L2 cache per core. The 1240P also has 80 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 cache is substantially larger at 1.25 MB per core, reflecting the hybrid architecture that Alder Lake employs. Both share the same 12 MB of L3 cache, so the main cache difference lies in L2 capacity.

Clock speeds favor the 1240P in raw terms. The 1240P has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 4400 MHz, compared to the 11500T's 1500 MHz base and 3900 MHz boost. The 1240P's higher boost clock likely explains its single-core wins, while the 11500T's lower boost but higher TDP budget helps in sustained multicore workloads.

The TDP difference is notable: 28W for the 1240P versus 35W for the 11500T. This matters because the 1240P is designed for mobile platforms, as indicated by its BGA 1744 socket, while the 11500T uses the desktop Socket 1200. The 1240P's lower power envelope constrains its all-core performance, which the R23 multicore result demonstrates.

Memory support also diverges. The 11500T supports only DDR4, while the 1240P supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the 11500T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the 1240P's bandwidth is not listed in the database. Integrated graphics differ as well: the 11500T includes UHD Graphics 750, while the 1240P features Iris Xe 80EU, a more capable integrated GPU for a mobile part.

The 1240P is the newer processor, released on 2022-02-22, while the 11500T came out on 2021-03-15. The 11500T is marked as end-of-life, while the 1240P remains active. The 11500T has a launch MSRP of $192, while the 1240P has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear but nuanced picture. For users prioritizing single-core performance and light-threaded workloads, the Intel Core i5-1240P is the stronger choice. It wins every single-core test by margins ranging from 4.2% to 31.9%, and its higher boost clock of 4400 MHz gives it a decisive edge in bursty tasks. The 1240P also dominates in R15 and R20 multicore, making it the better option for short, moderately threaded workloads.

However, for sustained all-core rendering, the Intel Core i5-11500T is the unexpected victor. Its 15.6% win in Cinebench R23 multicore, the most demanding test in the comparison, suggests that the 35W TDP allows it to maintain performance where the 28W 1240P throttles. The 11500T also averages higher overall, at 3288 versus 3202, which reflects its ability to perform well across a broader mix of workloads.

The choice ultimately depends on the workload profile. Mobile users who need a balance of single-core responsiveness and moderate multicore performance should favor the 1240P, especially given its newer 10 nm process and DDR5 support. Desktop users who prioritize sustained rendering performance and already have a Socket 1200 platform may find the 11500T more compelling. The 11500T's end-of-life status and the 1240P's active production status also factor into long-term availability considerations.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11500T | Intel Core i5-1240P |

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

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1500 MHz | 1700 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3900 MHz | 4400 MHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Rocket Lake | Alder Lake-P |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 217 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 511 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | Iris Xe 80EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2022-02-22 |

| Launch MSRP | $192 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SRKNZ | SRLD9 |

Both processors share the same 80 KB L1 cache per core, dual-channel memory bus, Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes, and lack of ECC memory support. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1240P wins in scenarios that reward high clock speeds and efficient multi-core scaling. Its 4400 MHz boost clock drives victories in Cinebench R15 single-core (226 versus 154, a 31.9% margin) and R20 single-core (795 versus 643, a 19.1% margin). The R23 single-core win, while smaller at 4.2%, confirms the 1240P's single-threaded superiority. For R15 multicore, the 1240P's 30.2% lead and R20 multicore's 19.1% lead show that its hybrid core design excels in moderately threaded workloads that don't push sustained power limits. Mobile users, given the BGA 1744 socket and 28W TDP, will find the 1240P well-suited to laptops and compact devices where burst performance matters and DDR5 support offers future flexibility.

The Intel Core i5-11500T wins in sustained all-core rendering scenarios. Its 15.6% victory in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 10854 against 9392, demonstrates that the higher 35W TDP enables better thermal headroom for long-running workloads. The 11500T's desktop Socket 1200 platform and 276 mm² die suggest it can maintain clocks where the 1240P's mobile design concedes. Users who render video, compile large codebases, or run extended batch processing will see the 11500T pull ahead as workloads extend beyond what the R20 test captures. The 11500T also holds a higher average benchmark score of 3288, indicating more consistent performance across diverse test conditions. Desktop builders with existing Socket 1200 motherboards and DDR4 memory can adopt the 11500T without platform changes, though its end-of-life status means new supply is limited.