Intel Core i5-11600 vs Intel Core i7-13620H Comparison

Intel Core i7-13620H vs Intel Core i5-11600 is a generational clash with a twist. The mobile 13th Gen part and the desktop 11th Gen part occupy the same performance percentile, both sitting at 77th among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are close, 24911 for the i7-13620H and 24563 for the i5-11600, a difference of only 1.4%. However, the head-to-head data reveals a much more nuanced story, with the newer mobile chip winning 15 of 17 direct comparisons, yet losing the two most prominent modern rendering tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-13620H dominates the multi-threaded workload suite in most legacy and synthetic tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2281 against 1538, a 48.3% advantage. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 scores 8305 versus 6412, a 29.5% lead. This pattern suggests that the i7-13620H's additional cores and threads (10 cores, 16 threads versus 6 cores, 12 threads) provide a substantial boost in heavily parallel workloads, though the advantage shrinks as the test becomes more optimized for newer architectures.

The most dramatic wins for the i7-13620H come in PassMark's specialty tests. In physics simulation, it scores 1671 against 891, a massive 87.5% delta. Floating point math shows a 68.4% lead, with scores of 59762 versus 35478. Prime number finding, a test sensitive to integer throughput and cache behavior, shows a 76.8% advantage (99 versus 56). Data encryption is 40.8% faster (15568 versus 11060), and integer math is 34.6% ahead (80948 versus 60158). These results indicate that the i7-13620H's newer architecture and larger cache configuration translate into significant gains for compute-heavy, non-rendering tasks.

The i5-11600 fights back in two critical areas. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it edges out the i7-13620H with a score of 15269 versus 15176, a narrow 0.6% win. This is a notable upset given the i7's core count advantage. Even more striking is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-11600 scores 2155 against 1833, a 14.9% lead. This is the largest single-test victory for the older chip in the entire comparison, and it flips the expected narrative of generational improvement.

Single-thread performance in other tests tells a different story. PassMark single-thread shows the i7-13620H ahead by 9.3%, scoring 3589 versus 3284. The i5-11600's boost clock of 4.80 GHz is close to the i7's 4.90 GHz, but the R23 single-core result suggests that the Rocket Lake architecture has a specific strength in that rendering workload. The i7-13620H also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 21.2% (263 versus 217) and R20 single-core by 29.5% (1172 versus 905), making the R23 result an outlier that warrants attention.

The remaining PassMark tests all favor the i7-13620H. Data compression shows a 29% lead (281335 versus 218062), extended instructions are 11.6% faster (17513 versus 15698), random string sorting is 16.7% faster (29395 versus 25178), and multi-thread overall is 35% faster (24192 versus 17918). The overall picture is one of broad superiority for the i7-13620H, with the i5-11600's wins concentrated in the Cinebench R23 suite.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-13620H is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity, encryption, and math-heavy workloads. Its 10 cores and 16 threads give it a structural advantage in parallel tasks, and the data supports this with wins in PassMark multi-thread (35%), integer math (34.6%), and floating point math (68.4%). The 40.8% lead in data encryption and 29% lead in data compression make it suitable for archiving, database work, and security-related tasks. The 87.5% physics win suggests it also handles simulation and physics-based applications with far greater efficiency.

The i5-11600's wins are narrow but significant. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core victory, though only 0.6%, suggests that certain rendering pipelines may favor its architecture or memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i7). The 14.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is more substantial and indicates that for single-threaded rendering tasks, the older chip has a genuine advantage. Users who prioritize Cinebench R23 specifically, whether for professional rendering or benchmarking, would see better results from the i5-11600.

For general single-threaded performance, the i7-13620H still leads in PassMark single-thread by 9.3%, so the i5's advantage is not universal. The i5-11600 also has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz versus 2.40 GHz), which may help in lightly threaded scenarios that do not boost, but the recorded benchmarks do not isolate this effect. The i5's wins are best described as workload-specific rather than architectural dominance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-13620H has an average benchmark score of 24911, while the Intel Core i5-11600 scores 24563, a difference of 1.4%.

Q: How does the i7-13620H perform in PassMark multi-thread compared to the i5-11600?

A: The i7-13620H scores 24192 in PassMark multi-thread, which is 35% higher than the i5-11600's 17918.

Q: Is there any test where the i5-11600 beats the i7-13620H?

A: Yes, the i5-11600 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (15269 versus 15176, a 0.6% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (2155 versus 1833, a 14.9% lead).

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark physics, where the i7-13620H scores 1671 compared to the i5-11600's 891, a 87.5% difference.

Q: Do both processors have the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, despite their different average scores.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-13620H has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i7-13620H has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-11600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ, with the i5-11600 starting at 2.80 GHz and the i7-13620H at 2.40 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, 4.90 GHz for the i7 and 4.80 GHz for the i5. Thermal design power differs significantly, 45 W for the i7-13620H versus 65 W for the i5-11600, an interesting inversion given the i7's higher performance in most tests.

The socket and platform are completely different. The i7-13620H uses Intel BGA 1744, a mobile socket, while the i5-11600 uses Intel Socket 1200, a desktop platform. This dictates their market segments, mobile for the i7 and desktop for the i5. The i7-13620H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i5-11600 supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i5-11600 has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not available for the i7.

PCIe support differs notably. The i7-13620H offers PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-11600 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This means the i5 has more available lanes but older generation support, while the i7 has fewer lanes but newer generation bandwidth. The i5-11600 has an integrated graphics solution listed as null, meaning it relies on a discrete GPU, while the i7-13620H includes UHD Graphics 770.

Production status and release dates also diverge. The i7-13620H is listed as Active and was released on 2023-01-03, while the i5-11600 is End-of-life and was released on 2021-03-15. The i7-13620H has a launch MSRP of $502, and the i5-11600 has a launch MSRP of $213. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-11600 has a die size of 276 mm², while the i7-13620H has no die size listed. Both have 80 KB L1 cache per core, but L2 cache differs, 2 MB per core for the i7 and 512 KB per core for the i5. L3 cache also differs, 24 MB shared for the i7 and 12 MB shared for the i5.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The i7-13620H is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-H mobile variant, using a 10 nm process node. The i5-11600 is built on Rocket Lake, the desktop variant, using a 14 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process node difference explains much of the performance and efficiency gap. The i7's newer 10 nm process allows for higher transistor density and better power efficiency, which is reflected in its lower 45 W TDP despite having more cores.

Cache architecture differs substantially. Both have 80 KB L1 per core, but the i7-13620H has 2 MB L2 per core, four times the i5's 512 KB per core. L3 cache is also doubled, 24 MB shared for the i7 versus 12 MB shared for the i5. This larger cache hierarchy likely contributes to the i7's wins in data compression, encryption, and integer math, where data locality matters. The i5-11600's die size is listed at 276 mm², but no comparable figure exists for the i7.

Memory support shows the generational leap. The i7-13620H supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-11600 is limited to DDR4. This gives the i7 a potential memory bandwidth advantage, though the i5 has a listed 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and the i7 has none listed. The i7 also features PCIe Gen 5 support, a generation ahead of the i5's PCIe Gen 4, though with fewer lanes (8 versus 20). Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-13620H includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-11600 has no integrated graphics listed. This makes the i7 suitable for systems without a discrete GPU, at least for basic display output, while the i5 requires a separate graphics card. The market segments reflect this, mobile for the i7 and desktop for the i5, though the i5's desktop nature allows for more expansion options via its 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-13620H as the stronger processor in the vast majority of measured scenarios. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, with particularly large margins in physics (87.5%), floating point math (68.4%), and prime number finding (76.8%). Its higher core count, larger cache, and newer process node give it a clear edge in multi-threaded and math-intensive workloads. The average benchmark scores confirm this, 24911 versus 24563, though both sit at the same 77th percentile.

The Intel Core i5-11600 is not without merit. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core win, however narrow, and its 14.9% single-core lead in the same suite show that certain rendering workloads favor its architecture. Users whose primary benchmark is Cinebench R23 would see better results from the i5-11600. Its 65 W TDP and desktop socket also imply a different use case, one where a fixed desktop platform with 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes is preferred over a mobile platform with 8 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

The choice depends on workload priorities. For compute-heavy tasks, encryption, compression, and general multi-threaded productivity, the i7-13620H is the clear winner. For Cinebench R23 rendering specifically, the i5-11600 holds a surprising advantage. The i7-13620H also offers integrated graphics and DDR5 support, making it more flexible for mobile or compact systems, while the i5-11600 is a desktop part with a longer list of expansion options. Both processors are competitive, but the i7-13620H's broader benchmark dominance makes it the stronger all-around performer.