Intel Core i5-11600K vs Intel Core i5-1345U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11600K and Intel Core i5-1345U are fundamentally different processors, a desktop part versus a mobile part, and the benchmark data reflects this divide. The 11600K wins 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, often by large margins, while the 1345U takes only 3 wins, all in single-threaded tests. However, the 1345U matches the 11600K in overall percentile ranking, with both sitting at the 73rd percentile, and their average benchmark scores are close (19786 vs 19411), showing that the mobile chip’s efficiency does not come at the cost of general capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K has a higher average benchmark score of 19786, compared to the Intel Core i5-1345U's 19411. This is a difference of 375 points, roughly 1.9%.

Q: How do these chips compare in multi-core rendering performance?

A: The 11600K dominates in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 16552 versus the 1345U's 7724, a massive 114.3% advantage. In the older Cinebench R20 multicore test, the 11600K leads 6951 to 4942, a 40.7% gap.

Q: Does the 1345U win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the 1345U wins 3 head-to-head tests, all in single-threaded workloads. It wins Cinebench R15 singlecore (240 vs 235) and both Passmark single-thread tests (3415 vs 3344), each time by a 2.1% margin.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The 11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 1345U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Despite having more cores, the 1345U has the same thread count.

Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two?

A: The 11600K has a TDP of 125 watts, while the 1345U has a TDP of just 15 watts. This represents an 110-watt difference, highlighting the mobile chip's focus on power efficiency.

Q: Which processor has a more recent release date?

A: The Intel Core i5-1345U was released on 2023-01-03, making it newer than the Intel Core i5-11600K, which was released on 2021-03-15.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for users needing sustained multi-core performance: the Intel Core i5-11600K is the clear choice. Its 114.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 48% lead in Passmark data compression are decisive. This desktop processor is for anyone running heavy rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing tasks where the sheer compute throughput of the 11600K is required.

The Intel Core i5-1345U is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness and power-sensitive environments. It ekes out a 2.1% win in Passmark single-thread and matches the 11600K in Cinebench R15 singlecore. With a 15-watt TDP versus 125 watts, it is designed for laptops and ultrabooks where battery life and thermal limits are paramount. Its 10 cores and 12 threads provide adequate multitasking for everyday productivity, but it cannot match the desktop part's raw multi-core muscle.

For a desktop user, the 11600K is the obvious winner. For a mobile user, the 1345U is the only viable option, and its performance is surprisingly competitive in single-threaded tasks. The average benchmark scores are close, but the 11600K’s wins are in the most demanding workloads, making it the higher-performance part overall.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the 11600K scores 16552 against the 1345U's 7724. This 114.3% delta is the largest of any test and shows that the desktop chip’s higher TDP and clock speeds translate directly into heavy multi-threaded workloads. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multicore, but the 11600K still wins decisively at 6951 versus 4942, a 40.7% advantage.

The 11600K also shows a significant edge in Passmark extended instructions, scoring 17615 versus 9178, a 91.9% difference. This indicates a major advantage in tasks using advanced CPU instruction sets. In Passmark data compression, the 11600K’s 242740 score beats the 1345U’s 164005 by 48%, reinforcing its strength in data-heavy operations.

The 1345U’s wins are narrow but consistent. In Passmark single-thread, it scores 3415 versus 3344, a 2.1% edge. The same 2.1% margin appears in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the 1345U scores 240 versus 235. These results suggest that the newer Raptor Lake architecture has slightly better per-core efficiency in short, light bursts, but the 11600K’s higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.70 GHz keeps it competitive in single-core Cinebench R20 and R23 tests.

Other notable wins for the 11600K include Passmark random string sorting (27870 vs 18888, a 47.6% delta) and Passmark integer math (64664 vs 52847, a 22.4% delta). The 11600K also wins Passmark floating point math by a smaller margin of 6.5%, scoring 38269 against 35939.

Specification Differences

The most fundamental difference is the socket and market segment. The 11600K uses Intel Socket 1200 and is a desktop part, while the 1345U uses Intel BGA 1744 and is a mobile part. This directly impacts upgradeability and system design.

The 11600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The 1345U has a much lower base clock of 1600.00 MHz (1.60 GHz) but a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The desktop chip’s higher base clock is crucial for sustained workloads, while the mobile chip relies on boosting for short bursts.

TDP is another major divider: 125 watts for the 11600K versus 15 watts for the 1345U. This is an 8.3x difference in power draw, which explains the performance gap in multi-core tests.

Memory support differs, with the 11600K supporting DDR4 only, while the 1345U supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The 11600K has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the 1345U has no memory bandwidth figure listed.

PCIe lanes also differ: the 11600K offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 1345U offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different as well, with the 11600K featuring UHD Graphics 750 and the 1345U featuring Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

The 11600K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the 1345U is locked. The 11600K is listed as end-of-life, while the 1345U is active. The 11600K has a launch MSRP of $262, and the 1345U has a launch MSRP of $309.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different generations and architectures. The 11600K is based on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm process from Intel's 11th generation (Core i5, Rocket Lake-S). The 1345U is based on Raptor Lake, a 10 nm process from Intel's 13th generation (Core i5, Raptor Lake-U). The newer 10 nm node is a key reason the 1345U can achieve competitive single-thread performance at a fraction of the power.

The core configurations differ significantly. The 11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 1345U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The 1345U’s extra cores do not translate into higher multi-threaded scores, likely due to its lower power envelope and clock speeds.

Cache layouts also differ. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the L2 cache differs: the 11600K has 256 KB per core, while the 1345U has 1.25 MB per core. This larger L2 cache on the 1345U likely helps with its single-threaded efficiency.

The die size is listed only for the 11600K at 276 mm², with no die size data for the 1345U. The 11600K’s memory bus is dual-channel, and the 1345U also uses a dual-channel bus. Both support ECC memory, but both are listed as not supporting it (false).

The 1345U supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the 11600K is limited to DDR4. The PCIe configuration also differs, with the desktop part having 12 more lanes than the mobile part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-11600K is the definitive winner for multi-threaded, compute-intensive workloads. Its 114.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore makes it the choice for 3D rendering, video editing, and software compilation. The 48% advantage in data compression and 91.9% lead in extended instructions also make it superior for data processing and scientific computing tasks. Users running Passmark physics, integer math, or random string sorting will see significant benefits, with deltas of 15.4%, 22.4%, and 47.6% respectively.

The 11600K is also the better choice for any task that can utilize its full 12 threads, as evidenced by its 34.6% win in Passmark multithread. Its higher TDP of 125 watts is a trade-off, but for a desktop system with adequate cooling, the performance is clearly superior.

The Intel Core i5-1345U wins in very specific, light-threaded scenarios. It beats the 11600K by 2.1% in Passmark single-thread and Cinebench R15 singlecore. This makes it the better option for basic office productivity, web browsing, and applications that are not heavily multi-threaded. Its 10 cores provide enough parallelism for everyday multitasking, and its 12 threads match the 11600K in that regard.

The 1345U’s real advantage is not in raw performance but in its 15-watt TDP. This makes it the only choice for fanless or low-power laptop designs where battery life is critical. The data shows that for users who need a mobile processor, the 1345U offers a single-threaded performance that nearly matches a high-end desktop chip from two years prior, while consuming a fraction of the power.

In summary, the 11600K is the performance king for desktop users, while the 1345U is the efficiency king for mobile users. The 11600K’s 14 benchmark wins are overwhelming, but the 1345U’s 3 wins in single-threaded tests show that Intel’s newer architecture has closed the per-core gap. The choice comes down to power versus performance, a trade-off clearly quantified by the 125-watt versus 15-watt TDP difference.