Intel Core i5-12490F vs Intel Core i9-11900H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two Intel processors. The Intel Core i9-11900H, a mobile Tiger Lake part, and the Intel Core i5-12490F, a desktop Alder Lake chip, trade blows across different workload types. Out of 23 recorded head-to-head tests, the i5-12490F takes 14 wins, while the i9-11900H secures 9. The average benchmark score reflects this: the i9-11900H sits at 21367, while the i5-12490F averages 20802, placing them at the 75th and 74th percentiles of all CPUs respectively.

The most decisive victories for the i9-11900H come in integer-heavy and data manipulation tasks. In PassMark integer math, the i9-11900H posts 72882 against 60548 for the i5-12490F, a commanding 20.4% advantage. Random string sorting shows a similar pattern, with the i9-11900H scoring 28328 versus 23791, a 19.1% lead. The i9-11900H also wins in data encryption (12232 vs 12018, 1.8% ahead), data compression (239366 vs 237304, 0.9% ahead), and extended instructions (16123 vs 15993, 0.8% ahead). In the 3DMark suite, the i9-11900H wins the 8-thread test (5001 vs 4811, 3.9% ahead), the max-thread test (6109 vs 5936, 2.9% ahead), and the 16-thread test (6072 vs 5923, 2.5% ahead).

The i5-12490F answers with equally clear wins in single-threaded and floating-point workloads. PassMark single-thread shows the i5-12490F at 3682 versus 3102 for the i9-11900H, a substantial 15.8% margin. Floating-point math goes to the i5-12490F by 47326 to 43094, an 8.9% advantage. The PassMark physics test is the largest gap of all: 1345 for the i5-12490F against 953 for the i9-11900H, a 29.1% difference. In the Cinebench suite, the i5-12490F wins every test, including R23 multicore (17284 vs 16772) and R23 singlecore (2440 vs 2367), both by 3% margins. The 3DMark low-thread tests go to the i5-12490F: 2-thread (1727 vs 1708, 1.1% ahead), 4-thread (3133 vs 3104, 0.9% ahead), and single-thread (946 vs 917, 3.1% ahead). The PassMark multithread test is essentially a tie, with the i5-12490F at 20202 and the i9-11900H at 20162, a 0.2% difference. The prime number test ends in a dead heat at 87 for both.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-12490F as the better all-around performer for most users. It wins 14 of 23 benchmarks, and its wins are often larger in magnitude. The 15.8% single-thread lead is significant, as it translates to snappier everyday responsiveness and better performance in applications that rely on one or two cores. The 29.1% advantage in physics simulation is also notable for anyone running physics-heavy workloads or certain types of simulations.

However, the i9-11900H is not without its merits. Its 20.4% lead in integer math and 19.1% lead in random string sorting indicate strengths in specific data processing tasks. The i9-11900H also holds a small edge in multi-threaded 3DMark tests, which may reflect its higher core count of 8 versus 6.

For a desktop builder choosing between these two, the i5-12490F is the stronger pick from the recorded data. It wins the Cinebench multicore tests despite having fewer cores (6 vs 8), which suggests its newer architecture extracts more performance per thread. The i9-11900H, being a mobile part with a 35W TDP, appears to be thermally constrained compared to the 65W desktop i5-12490F. The i5-12490F also offers DDR5 memory support, which the i9-11900H lacks, and its socket is actively produced, while the i9-11900H is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11900H wins in integer math, data encryption, data compression, and random string sorting. These are workloads that often benefit from a higher core count and the ability to keep many threads busy. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration of the i9-11900H shows its strength here, outperforming the 6-core, 12-thread i5-12490F by 20.4% in integer math. The 3DMark results with 8 or more threads also favor the i9-11900H, indicating that threaded gaming or rendering scenarios can benefit from its additional cores.

The Intel Core i5-12490F wins in single-threaded performance, floating-point math, physics simulation, and all Cinebench tests. The 3.00 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock, combined with the newer Alder Lake architecture, give it a clear edge in latency-sensitive tasks. The 15.8% single-thread lead and 8.9% floating-point lead are the kind of margins that matter for frame pacing in games or for productivity apps that are not perfectly threaded. The Cinebench results, where the i5-12490F wins both multicore and singlecore tests by 3%, show that its efficiency per core is superior.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-12490F has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do they compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The i5-12490F is clearly ahead. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3682 versus 3102 for the i9-11900H, a 15.8% advantage. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the i5-12490F scores 2440 against 2367, a 3% lead.

Q: Which CPU is better for multi-core workloads like rendering?

A: The i5-12490F wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test with 17284, while the i9-11900H scores 16772, a 3% difference. The i9-11900H does win the 3DMark 8-thread and 16-thread tests, so the answer depends on the specific workload. For Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-12490F is ahead.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H has a TDP of 35 watts. The Intel Core i5-12490F has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Do these CPUs support DDR5 memory?

A: Only the i5-12490F supports DDR5. The i9-11900H supports DDR4 exclusively. The i5-12490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The i9-11900H includes UHD Graphics 750. The i5-12490F has no integrated graphics, as indicated by the null value in its specifications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different microarchitectures. The i9-11900H is based on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-H variant, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The i5-12490F is based on Alder Lake, specifically Alder Lake-S, also on a 10 nm process but with a newer design. Both are manufactured by Intel, with the i9-11900H having a die size of 190 mm² and the i5-12490F a die size of 163 mm².

The cache layouts differ. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache differs: the i9-11900H has 24 MB shared, while the i5-12490F has 20 MB shared. This gives the i9-11900H a larger total cache footprint, which may contribute to its wins in data-heavy tasks like compression and encryption.

Memory support marks a major architectural divergence. The i9-11900H supports only DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-12490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also with a dual-channel bus, though its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The PCIe capabilities also differ: the i9-11900H offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-12490F offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This means the i5-12490F has access to newer, faster storage and GPU interconnects.

The production status and release dates differ significantly. The i9-11900H was released on 2021-05-10 and is now end-of-life. The i5-12490F has no recorded release date in the database and is marked as active production. The i9-11900H has a launch MSRP of $546, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-12490F. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: the i9-11900H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-12490F has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds also differ. The i9-11900H has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The i5-12490F has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i5-12490F starts faster but tops out lower.

TDP is a major difference: 35 watts for the i9-11900H versus 65 watts for the i5-12490F. This reflects their different market segments: the i9-11900H is a mobile processor (Intel BGA 1787 socket), while the i5-12490F is a desktop processor (Intel Socket 1700). The i9-11900H includes UHD Graphics 750 integrated graphics, while the i5-12490F has no integrated graphics. The memory support differs as noted above: DDR4-only for the i9-11900H, DDR4 and DDR5 for the i5-12490F. The PCIe generation also differs: Gen 4 for the i9-11900H, Gen 5 for the i5-12490F. The i9-11900H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-12490F has no such figure recorded. The part numbers are SRKT7 for the i9-11900H and SRL4X for the i5-12490F. The i9-11900H is end-of-life; the i5-12490F is active.