Intel Core i5-11600 vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

Intel Core i7-11850H and Intel Core i5-11600 are both 11th Gen Intel parts, but they target different platforms entirely. The i7-11850H is a Tiger Lake-H mobile processor designed for high-performance laptops, while the i5-11600 is a Rocket Lake desktop chip for mainstream towers. Benchmark data from the database shows the i7-11850H wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, with the i5-11600 taking only two single-threaded PassMark tests. Despite the i5's higher base clock and desktop power envelope, the mobile i7 pulls ahead in nearly every measured workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11850H is the clear winner in multi-threaded and content-creation workloads. Its 8 cores and 16 threads give it a structural advantage over the 6-core, 12-thread Intel Core i5-11600. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-11850H scores 16673 against 15269, a 9.2% lead. That margin repeats across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), both multi-core and single-core, with the same 9.2% delta. This makes it the better choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, and any task that scales with core count.

The i7-11850H also dominates in math-heavy and compression workloads. PassMark integer math shows a 19.7% advantage (71996 vs 60158), while floating-point math is 19.9% ahead (42540 vs 35478). Data compression favors the i7 by 8.7% (236949 vs 218062), and data encryption by 10.4% (12214 vs 11060). Prime number finding shows the largest single gap: the i7-11850H scores 87 versus 56, a 55.4% difference, indicating a substantial advantage in workloads that stress integer arithmetic and cache latency.

The Intel Core i5-11600 wins only in PassMark single-threaded tests. It scores 3284 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, versus 3069 for the i7-11850H, a 6.5% edge. This reflects its higher 2.80 GHz base clock and desktop-class thermal headroom. For lightly-threaded applications like legacy software or certain spreadsheet tasks, the i5-11600 is the faster part. However, this is a narrow win: the i7-11850H still leads in Cinebench R23 single-core (2353 vs 2155) and R20 single-core (988 vs 905), meaning the i5's PassMark advantage does not extend to all single-threaded benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel architectures and process nodes. The i7-11850H uses Tiger Lake-H, built on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 190 mm². The i5-11600 uses Rocket Lake, on a 14 nm process, with a larger 276 mm² die. The i7-11850H is a mobile part (Intel BGA 1787 socket) with a 35 W TDP, while the i5-11600 is a desktop processor (Intel Socket 1200) rated at 65 W TDP.

Core configurations differ significantly. The i7-11850H offers 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 2.80 GHz, and the same 4.80 GHz boost. Both parts share the same L1 cache size at 80 KB per core, but L2 and L3 differ: the i7-11850H has 1.25 MB L2 per core and 24 MB shared L3, while the i5-11600 has 512 KB L2 per core and 12 MB shared L3. The i7's larger caches help explain its strong showing in cache-sensitive benchmarks like prime number finding.

Memory support is identical on paper: both use DDR4, dual-channel, with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe support is also the same: Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i7-11850H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the i5-11600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database. The i7-11850H is still in production, while the i5-11600 is end-of-life. Release dates show the i5-11600 launched earlier, in March 2021, followed by the i7-11850H in May 2021.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most consistent result across all Cinebench tests is a 9.2% win for the i7-11850H. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1680 versus 1538; in R15 single-core, 237 versus 217. Cinebench R20 shows 7002 against 6412 (multi-core) and 988 against 905 (single-core). R23 results are 16673 versus 15269 (multi-core) and 2353 versus 2155 (single-core). This uniformity suggests the i7's extra cores and larger L3 cache provide a steady advantage across different rendering workloads.

PassMark results show wider variation. The i7-11850H leads by 19.9% in floating-point math (42540 vs 35478) and 19.7% in integer math (71996 vs 60158). These are the largest wins outside of prime numbers. The multithread test favors the i7 by 11.9% (20059 vs 17918), while random string sorting shows a 12.8% edge (28395 vs 25178). Data encryption is 10.4% ahead (12214 vs 11060), data compression 8.7% (236949 vs 218062), and physics 7.1% (954 vs 891). Extended instructions are nearly tied: 15788 for the i7 versus 15698 for the i5, a 0.6% difference.

The i5-11600's only wins come in the two identical PassMark single-thread tests. It scores 3284 in both, against 3069 for the i7-11850H, a 6.5% advantage. This is the sole benchmark category where the desktop chip outperforms the mobile one. Notably, the i5-11600 does not win any Cinebench single-core test despite its higher base clock, which suggests the i7-11850H's newer architecture compensates for its lower base frequency.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H wins all multi-core benchmarks. It leads by 9.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (16673 vs 15269) and by 11.9% in PassMark multithread (20059 vs 17918).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11600 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark single-threaded tests. It scores 3284 versus 3069 for the i7-11850H, a 6.5% advantage. It does not win any Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: How do the core counts differ?

A: The i7-11850H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7 also has 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus 12 MB on the i5.

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

A: In PassMark find prime numbers, the i7-11850H scores 87 versus 56, a 55.4% difference. This is the biggest margin in any benchmark.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: No. The i7-11850H uses Intel's 10 nm process with a 190 mm² die, while the i5-11600 uses 14 nm with a 276 mm² die.

Q: Do both support the same memory and PCIe?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-11850H as the stronger processor overall. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with advantages ranging from 0.6% in extended instructions to 55.4% in prime number finding. The 9.2% lead across every Cinebench test makes it the better choice for rendering, encoding, and general productivity. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 24 MB L3 cache give it a structural edge that the i5-11600 cannot overcome despite its higher base clock.

The Intel Core i5-11600 is competitive only in PassMark single-threaded tests, where its 6.5% lead (3284 vs 3069) suggests it handles lightly-threaded legacy applications slightly better. But this advantage does not appear in Cinebench single-core results, where the i7-11850H leads by 9.2%. For users who prioritize single-threaded PassMark performance and prefer a desktop platform, the i5-11600 is a reasonable choice. For everyone else, the i7-11850H is the better pick based on recorded benchmark data. The i5-11600 remains a capable desktop chip, but the i7-11850H delivers superior performance in nearly every measured category.