Intel Core i5-11600K vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-11600K wins 12 of the 19 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V takes 7. The most decisive victory for the desktop part comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i5-11600K scores 16552 against 9848 for the Ultra 5 226V, a massive 68.1% advantage. That gap is the single largest margin in the entire comparison and sets the tone for multithreaded workloads.

The i5-11600K also dominates integer math, scoring 64664 versus 38647, a 67.3% lead. Data compression follows a similar pattern: 242740 for the i5-11600K against 170687, a 42.2% difference. Extended instructions favor the older chip by 19.6% (17615 vs 14724), and random string sorting shows a 33.9% advantage (27870 vs 20813). These results indicate that the Rocket Lake desktop processor retains a strong grip on CPU-intensive tasks that scale with thread count and raw throughput.

The Ultra 5 226V counters in several specific areas. Its most notable win is PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 166 versus just 58 for the i5-11600K, a 65.1% margin in favor of the Lunar Lake part. Floating point math also goes to the mobile chip: 52270 against 38269, a 26.8% lead. Physics simulation favors the Ultra 5 226V by 34.9% (1449 vs 944). Single-thread PassMark tests show the Ultra 5 226V ahead by 10.9% (3754 vs 3344). Data encryption is a narrow win for the Ultra 5 226V at 12710 vs 12212, a 3.9% edge.

Cinebench single-core results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 5 226V wins with 267 against 235, a 12% margin. However, in Cinebench R20 single-core the i5-11600K takes the lead at 981 vs 900 (9%), and in Cinebench R23 single-core it extends that to 2336 vs 1744 (33.9%). Geekbench single-core also goes to the i5-11600K, but narrowly: 1973 vs 1930, only 2.2% apart. The R15 single-core result stands out as an outlier given the newer chip's wins in other single-thread tests, but the PassMark single-thread score (3754 vs 3344) and the R15 result both favor the Ultra 5 226V.

Multithreaded aggregate scores show consistency. The i5-11600K wins PassMark multithread by 9.4% (19527 vs 17850), Geekbench multicore by 7.4% (9238 vs 8598), Cinebench R20 multicore by 8.9% (6951 vs 6381), and Cinebench R15 multicore by 11.1% (1668 vs 1501). The only multicore test where the Ultra 5 226V comes close is Cinebench R20, yet it still loses. The broader pattern is that the i5-11600K is consistently faster in threaded workloads, while the Ultra 5 226V wins in specialized math, physics, and some single-thread scenarios.

Average benchmark scores place the two close together overall. The i5-11600K has an average benchmark score of 19786, while the Ultra 5 226V sits at 19368. Both share the same 73rd percentile against all CPUs, meaning their overall standing in the database is equivalent despite the different workload distributions. The nearest rivals for the i5-11600K include the Core i5-11600KF (19723, 0.3% ahead), Core i5-12500 (19668, 0.6% ahead), Core i7-11600H (19921, 0.7% behind), and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (19928, 0.7% behind). The Ultra 5 226V sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (19364, 0.0%), Intel Core i5-1345U (19411, 0.2% behind), Intel Core i7-8700K (19238, 0.7% ahead), and Intel Core i7-10700F (19499, 0.7% behind).

Where Each One Wins

The i5-11600K is the pick for sustained multithreaded performance. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 68.1% advantage, and integer math shows 67.3%. Data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting all favor the desktop chip by margins between 19.6% and 42.2%. Any workload that involves encoding, compiling, file compression, or heavy integer processing should favor the i5-11600K based on these recorded results. The PassMark multithread score of 19527 against 17850 reinforces this, as does the Geekbench multicore result of 9238 vs 8598.

The Ultra 5 226V wins where the workload is more specialized. Prime number calculation is its largest victory at 65.1%, which points to strong performance in algorithms that rely on repeated modular arithmetic. Floating point math shows a 26.8% lead, making it the better choice for floating-point-heavy scientific or simulation tasks. Physics simulation is another clear win at 34.9%. Single-thread PassMark also favors the Ultra 5 226V by 10.9%, suggesting snappier responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. Data encryption shows a modest 3.9% advantage, placing it ahead in encryption workloads.

The single-core picture is mixed. The Ultra 5 226V wins PassMark single-thread and Cinebench R15 single-core, but the i5-11600K wins Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core, plus Geekbench single-core. Since Cinebench R23 is a more modern and demanding single-thread test, the i5-11600K's 33.9% lead there carries more weight for current software. The Ultra 5 226V's PassMark single-thread win, however, suggests that its architecture handles certain instruction patterns more efficiently.

For users who prioritize battery-driven mobile workloads, the Ultra 5 226V is the only option given its mobile market segment and 17W TDP. The i5-11600K is a desktop part with a 125W TDP. That difference in power envelope is not a benchmark score, but it dictates where each processor can realistically be deployed. The i5-11600K is end-of-life, while the Ultra 5 226V is active in production.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-11600K as the stronger overall performer in the majority of tests. It wins 12 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, and its victories include the most important multithreaded benchmarks by wide margins. Its 68.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 67.3% lead in integer math are decisive. The average benchmark score of 19786 versus 19368 further confirms its overall edge. Anyone purchasing for desktop workloads that involve content creation, data processing, or heavy multitasking should favor the i5-11600K based on these measurements.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is the better choice for specific workloads and for mobile platforms. Its 65.1% advantage in prime number calculation, 34.9% in physics, and 26.8% in floating point math make it the winner in those areas. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3754 versus 3344 also gives it an edge in lightly threaded tasks that rely on single-core speed. For a mobile processor with a 17W TDP, it delivers competitive average performance at the 73rd percentile, matching the desktop chip's overall standing.

The verdict depends on use case. Desktop users with access to standard power delivery and cooling should choose the i5-11600K for its multithreaded dominance. Mobile users or those building power-constrained systems should choose the Ultra 5 226V, accepting lower multicore scores in exchange for wins in floating point, physics, and prime number workloads. The i5-11600K also carries a launch MSRP of $262, while the Ultra 5 226V has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K is significantly faster, scoring 16552 against 9848 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, a 68.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, it wins 7 of 19 head-to-head tests, including PassMark find prime numbers (166 vs 58), PassMark floating point math (52270 vs 38269), PassMark physics (1449 vs 944), PassMark single-thread (3754 vs 3344), PassMark data encryption (12710 vs 12212), and Cinebench R15 single-core (267 vs 235).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K has an average benchmark score of 19786, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has 19368. Both are at the 73rd percentile against all CPUs.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, compared to 4.50 GHz for the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V. The base clocks are 3.90 GHz and 2.10 GHz, respectively.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600K is end-of-life, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is active in production. The i5-11600K was released on 2021-03-15, and the Ultra 5 226V was released on 2024-09-23.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different Intel architectures and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i5-11600K is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V uses Lunar Lake, fabricated on a 3 nm node by TSMC. This process gap explains some of the efficiency differences, though the benchmark data shows the older chip still wins in raw throughput.

Core topology differs substantially. The i5-11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach 12 threads. The Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores but only 8 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. Despite having fewer physical cores, the i5-11600K wins most multithreaded tests, which indicates its higher clock speeds and thread count overcome the Ultra 5 226V's two extra physical cores.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The i5-11600K has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 226V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The newer chip has much larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but less total L3. This cache structure likely contributes to the Ultra 5 226V's strong single-thread and floating point results, while the i5-11600K's larger shared L3 helps with threaded workloads.

Memory support differs as well. The i5-11600K supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Ultra 5 226V's memory support is listed as unknown and depends on the motherboard, though it also uses dual-channel memory. The i5-11600K uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 5 226V uses PCIe Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. Both lack ECC memory support.

Integrated graphics are another differentiator. The i5-11600K includes UHD Graphics 750, while the Ultra 5 226V includes Arc 130V. The i5-11600K has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Ultra 5 226V is locked. The i5-11600K uses Intel Socket 1200 for desktop motherboards, whereas the Ultra 5 226V uses Intel BGA 2833, which is soldered for mobile platforms.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i5-11600K and Intel Core Ultra 5 226V differ across nearly every specification field. The i5-11600K has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 226V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.90 GHz for the i5-11600K and 2.10 GHz for the Ultra 5 226V. Boost clocks are 4.90 GHz and 4.50 GHz, respectively. TDP differs dramatically: 125W for the desktop chip versus 17W for the mobile chip.

The socket and market segment separate them clearly. The i5-11600K uses Intel Socket 1200 and targets the desktop segment. The Ultra 5 226V uses Intel BGA 2833 and targets mobile. The i5-11600K is end-of-life, while the Ultra 5 226V is active. Release dates are 2021-03-15 and 2024-09-23, respectively. The i5-11600K has a launch MSRP of $262, while the Ultra 5 226V has no recorded launch MSRP.

Process node and foundry differ: 14 nm at Intel for the i5-11600K versus 3 nm at TSMC for the Ultra 5 226V. The i5-11600K has a die size of 276 mm², while the Ultra 5 226V has no recorded die size. Cache specifications are 80 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3 for the i5-11600K. The Ultra 5 226V has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.

Memory support, PCIe, and graphics all differ. The i5-11600K supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The Ultra 5 226V has unknown memory support that depends on the motherboard, no recorded bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750 for the i5-11600K and Arc 130V for the Ultra 5 226V. The i5-11600K has an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra 5 226V does not. Part numbers are SRKNU for the i5-11600K and SRPMQSRPMR for the Ultra 5 226V.