Intel Core i5-11600KF vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165U Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U and the Intel Core i5-11600KF occupy different corners of the processor market. The Ultra 7 is a mobile Meteor Lake part with a 15 W TDP, while the i5 is a desktop Rocket Lake chip rated at 125 W. In the database's head-to-head comparison, the i5 wins 14 of 19 tests, but the Ultra 7 takes 5, including some surprising wins. Their average benchmark scores are close: the Ultra 7 scores 20249, the i5 19723, placing them at the 74th and 73rd percentiles respectively. The Ultra 7's average sits 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-9700K and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 30, while the i5's average is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-12500 and 0.5% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430. This suggests a nuanced performance picture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-11600KF's largest victory comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 16503 against the Ultra 7's 10226, a 38% lead. That margin is echoed in Cinebench R20 multicore (6931 vs 5943, 14.3% ahead) and R15 multicore (1663 vs 1605, 3.5% ahead). Single-core performance also favors the i5: R23 single-core 2329 vs 1662 (28.6% ahead), R20 single-core 978 vs 839 (14.2% ahead), and R15 single-core 234 vs 231 (1.3% ahead). Geekbench follows the same pattern: multicore 8688 vs 7329 (15.6% ahead), single-core 1904 vs 1450 (23.8% ahead).

In Passmark, the i5 leads in data compression (242730 vs 188105, 22.5% ahead), extended instructions (17619 vs 10610, 39.8% ahead), integer math (64195 vs 57785, 10% ahead), multithread (19513 vs 17101, 12.4% ahead), and random string sorting (27767 vs 21258, 23.4% ahead). Data encryption is close: 12198 vs 11896, a 2.5% edge for the i5.

The Ultra 7 165U counters in a few specific areas. It wins Passmark find prime numbers by 11.9% (66 vs 59), floating point math by 6.9% (40775 vs 38129), and physics by 19.6% (1141 vs 954). In Passmark single-thread, it edges out the i5 by 0.9% (3357 vs 3327), a result that appears twice in the data. These wins are narrow except for physics, but they show the Ultra 7 is not universally slower.

The i5's dominance in Cinebench and Geekbench suggests a strong all-around performance advantage, especially in multi-threaded workloads. The Ultra 7's wins in physics and prime number finding hint at different instruction scheduling or cache behavior. The single-thread Passmark result is nearly a tie, while the i5's single-core Cinebench lead is substantial.

Architecture Differences

Under the hood, these are very different designs. The Ultra 7 uses Intel's Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm process, while the i5 is Rocket Lake on 14 nm. The Ultra 7 has 12 cores and 14 threads, the i5 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite fewer cores, the i5's higher base clock (3.90 GHz vs 1.70 GHz) and identical boost clock (4.90 GHz) help it in many tests. The i5 also has a larger die size of 276 mm², while the Ultra 7's die size is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ: the Ultra 7 has 112 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core, while the i5 has 80 KB L1 and 512 KB L2. Both share 12 MB L3. Memory support is another split: the Ultra 7 uses DDR5 with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, the i5 uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes also differ: the Ultra 7 offers 12 Gen 4 lanes, the i5 offers 20. The Ultra 7 includes integrated Arc Xe-LPG 64EU graphics; the i5 has none. The Ultra 7 is a mobile BGA 2049 part, the i5 a desktop Socket 1200 part. The i5 is unlocked for overclocking, the Ultra 7 is not.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-11600KF is the stronger performer in the majority of tests. It wins 14 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench and Geekbench tests, and leads in most Passmark workloads. The Ultra 7 165U wins only in physics, floating point math, prime number finding, and a narrow single-thread Passmark result. For users who prioritize raw compute, the i5 is the clear choice. However, the Ultra 7 offers integrated graphics, a much lower TDP (15 W vs 125 W), and a newer production status (Active vs End-of-life). The i5 is a desktop part, the Ultra 7 a mobile part, so the intended use case matters. The data does not support the Ultra 7 as a performance alternative to the i5 in most scenarios, but it does show specific strengths in physics and floating point workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11600KF has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core score?

A: It depends on the test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5 scores 2329 vs 1662, a 28.6% lead. In Passmark single-thread, the Ultra 7 scores 3357 vs 3327, a 0.9% lead.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Ultra 7 has a TDP of 15 W, the i5 has a TDP of 125 W.

Q: Does the Ultra 7 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it has Arc Xe-LPG 64EU. The i5 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Ultra 7 supports DDR5, while the i5 supports DDR4. The Ultra 7 also has a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU is still in production?

A: The Ultra 7 is listed as Active, the i5 as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-11600KF wins in multi-threaded rendering (Cinebench R23, R20, R15), general productivity (Geekbench), data compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, multithread, and random string sorting. It is the better choice for heavy compute tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, and software compilation, based on the recorded scores. The Ultra 7 165U wins in physics simulation (Passmark physics), floating point math, prime number finding, and a narrow single-thread Passmark result. These wins suggest it may handle certain scientific or physics-based workloads more efficiently. For mobile use, the Ultra 7's integrated graphics and low TDP make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the i5 is a desktop part with no graphics.

Specification Differences

Here are the fields where the two CPUs differ, based on the database records:

• Cores: 12 (Ultra 7) vs 6 (i5)
• Threads: 14 vs 12
• Base clock: 1.70 GHz vs 3.90 GHz
• TDP: 15 W vs 125 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 2049 vs Intel Socket 1200
• Architecture: Meteor Lake vs Rocket Lake
• Process node: 7 nm vs 14 nm
• Die size: not recorded vs 276 mm²
• L1 cache per core: 112 KB vs 80 KB
• L2 cache per core: 2 MB vs 512 KB
• Memory support: DDR5 vs DDR4
• Memory bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 4, 12 lanes vs Gen 4, 20 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Arc Xe-LPG 64EU vs none
• Market segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Production status: Active vs End-of-life
• Release date: 2023-12-13 vs 2021-03-15
• Launch MSRP: $448 vs $237
• Multiplier unlocked: No vs Yes
• Part number: SRN6D vs SRKNV