Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i7-11800H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11800H and Intel Core i5-12500 present a classic generational clash, pitting an 8-core mobile flagship from Tiger Lake against a 6-core desktop part from Alder Lake. The benchmark data reveals a fragmented battlefield: the i7-11800H dominates in raw thread-count-sensitive workloads, while the i5-12500 counters with superior single-core and memory-latency-sensitive performance. With 11 wins for the i7-11800H and 14 for the i5-12500 across the head-to-head suite, the decision hinges entirely on workload characteristics. The i7-11800H's 8 cores and 16 threads provide a structural advantage in parallel tasks, yet the i5-12500's newer Alder Lake architecture, despite having fewer cores, delivers a decisive edge in Geekbench and several Passmark sub-tests. This analysis dissects the exact deltas, architectural divergences, and the resulting use-case scenarios.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided victory for the Intel Core i7-11800H comes in passmark_random_string_sorting, where it scores 28,411 versus 23,523 for the i5-12500, a 20.8% advantage. This is a clear indicator of the i7's superior multi-threaded memory throughput and core count in a task that scales well with parallel execution. Similarly, passmark_integer_math shows a 15.9% win for the i7 (71,423 vs. 61,626), and passmark_find_prime_numbers yields a 13.3% lead (85 vs. 75). The 3DMark suite also favors the i7-11800H in multi-threaded scenarios: 3dmark_8_threads shows a 10.7% delta (5,384 vs. 4,862), while 3dmark_16_threads and 3dmark_max_threads provide 8.5% (6,518 vs. 6,007) and 8.7% (6,548 vs. 6,023) leads, respectively. These results consistently underscore the i7’s advantage when all cores are engaged.

Conversely, the i5-12500’s most significant triumph is in passmark_physics, where it scores 1,242 against the i7's 938, a commanding 24.5% delta. This test often reflects single-threaded efficiency and clock behavior under specific instruction patterns. The i5 also dominates in geekbench_singlecore with a 15.4% margin (1,969 vs. 1,666) and geekbench_multicore with a 14.8% margin (9,374 vs. 7,986). The Geekbench multicore result is particularly striking because the i5 achieves this with only 6 cores and 12 threads, indicating a massive per-core performance advantage. passmark_single_thread (3,666 vs. 3,043) shows a 17% lead for the i5, and passmark_floating_point_math (48,004 vs. 42,423) gives the i5 an 11.6% edge. Even in Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-12500 edges out the i7 (16,759 vs. 16,663), albeit by a slim 0.6% margin, suggesting that the i5's architectural efficiency nearly offsets the i7's 33% core-count advantage.

The 3DMark single-thread test is another i5 victory, with a 4.5% delta (951 vs. 908). However, the i7-11800H fights back in 3dmark_2_threads (0.9% win) and 3dmark_4_threads (4.6% win), showing that its multi-core scaling is robust even at lower thread counts. In data compression, the i7 wins by a hair (239,304 vs. 238,753, 0.2%), while data encryption also goes to the i7 (12,241 vs. 12,033, 1.7%). The passmark_multithread score (20,012 vs. 19,893) gives the i7 a narrow 0.6% win, reinforcing the pattern that the i7 excels in integer-heavy, parallel workloads while the i5 wins in floating-point and latency-sensitive tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 19,998 compared to the i5-12500's 19,668, a difference of roughly 1.7%. Both processors sit in the 73rd-74th percentile of all CPUs, with the i7 at 74 and the i5 at 73.

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

A: The i5-12500 is decisively faster in single-core tests. It leads by 15.4% in Geekbench single-core (1,969 vs. 1,666), 17% in Passmark single-thread (3,666 vs. 3,043), and 4.5% in 3DMark single-thread (951 vs. 908). Cinebench R23 single-core also favors the i5, with a 2,366 score versus 2,352 for the i7.

Q: Does the i7-11800H's higher core count guarantee a win in all multi-threaded tests?

A: No. While the i7 wins in 3DMark multi-threaded tests and Passmark integer math, the i5-12500 wins in Geekbench multicore (9,374 vs. 7,986) and Cinebench R23 multicore (16,759 vs. 16,663). The i5's architectural efficiency in Alder Lake offsets the i7's 8-core versus 6-core physical advantage in several applications.

Q: What is the difference in their Passmark physics scores?

A: This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The i5-12500 scores 1,242 in Passmark physics, while the i7-11800H scores 938, giving the i5 a 24.5% lead. This suggests a marked difference in how the two architectures handle physics simulations and similar floating-point-heavy tasks.

Q: Are there any tests where the difference is negligible?

A: Yes. In Passmark extended instructions, the i5 wins by only 0.1% (16,090 vs. 16,068). Passmark data compression is virtually tied, with the i7 winning by 0.2% (239,304 vs. 238,753). Several Cinebench R15/R20 multicore tests show a 0.6% delta favoring the i5, indicating near-parity in those specific workloads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: Both processors have the same maximum boost clock of 4.60 GHz. However, the i5-12500 has a significantly higher base clock of 3.00 GHz compared to the i7-11800H's 1.90 GHz, which may contribute to its superior performance in lightly threaded and short-burst tasks.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-11800H is built on the Tiger Lake-H architecture, while the Intel Core i5-12500 uses Alder Lake-S. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node, but they represent different design philosophies. Tiger Lake-H is a monolithic design optimized for mobile power envelopes, whereas Alder Lake-S is a desktop-oriented architecture with a different core layout and microarchitectural improvements. The i7-11800H's die size is 190 mm², while the i5-12500's die is smaller at 163 mm², yet the i5 manages to deliver higher performance in many metrics due to its newer core design.

The cache hierarchy is a major differentiator. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but the i7-11800H has a larger 24 MB shared L3 cache compared to 18 MB on the i5-12500. This 6 MB difference benefits the i7 in multi-threaded scenarios where more data can be cached locally. However, the i5's Alder Lake architecture likely features a more efficient prefetcher and memory controller, which may explain its wins in latency-sensitive tasks like Passmark physics and Geekbench single-core.

Memory support also differs: the i7-11800H supports DDR4 only, while the i5-12500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5. This gives the i5 a potential bandwidth advantage in systems configured with DDR5, though the i7's memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s. PCIe capabilities are another divergence: the i7 offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the i5 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes, providing double the theoretical data rate for compatible devices. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7 featuring UHD Graphics 750 and the i5 featuring UHD Graphics 770.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: the i7-11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-12500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7's base clock is 1.90 GHz, significantly lower than the i5's 3.00 GHz, but both boost to 4.60 GHz. The TDPs reflect their market segments: the i7 is a 35-watt mobile part, while the i5 is a 65-watt desktop part. This higher thermal envelope allows the i5 to sustain its clocks more aggressively, likely contributing to its single-core dominance.

The sockets are incompatible: the i7 uses Intel BGA 1787 (soldered for mobile), while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1700 (a desktop LGA socket). The i7's release date is 2021-05-10, while the i5's is 2022-01-03. The i7 has a launch MSRP of $395, and the i5 has a launch MSRP of $212. Both lack an unlocked multiplier. The i7's part number is SRKT3, and the i5's is SRL5V. The i7 has a lower L3 cache size of 24 MB versus the i5's 18 MB, but the i5 supports a wider memory range (DDR4 and DDR5) compared to the i7's DDR4-only support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11800H is the clear winner in workloads that scale with core count and thread-level parallelism. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a tangible advantage in 3DMark multi-threaded tests, particularly 3DMark 8-thread (10.7% lead) and 16-thread (8.5% lead). It also excels in integer-heavy math, as shown by its 15.9% win in Passmark integer math and 13.3% win in prime number finding. For data compression and encryption, the i7 edges out the i5, making it a better choice for file archiving and security-related tasks. The i7's larger 24 MB L3 cache also benefits applications that repeatedly access large datasets, such as database workloads or complex simulations.

The Intel Core i5-12500 is the superior choice for single-threaded and latency-critical applications. Its 17% lead in Passmark single-thread and 15.4% lead in Geekbench single-core make it ideal for gaming, where frame pacing often depends on single-core performance. The 24.5% win in Passmark physics is particularly notable for physics-based gaming engines and scientific simulations. The i5's 14.8% lead in Geekbench multicore suggests that its architectural efficiency in Alder Lake can outperform the i7's raw core count in some multi-threaded scenarios, especially those that are memory-bandwidth sensitive or have lower thread counts. The i5's higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs. 1.90 GHz) also makes it more responsive in bursty, short-duration tasks.

In summary, the i7-11800H is a mobile powerhouse for heavy multi-threaded productivity, while the i5-12500 is a desktop champion for single-threaded and mixed workloads. The i5's wins in Cinebench R23 multicore, despite fewer cores, indicate that Alder Lake's IPC improvements are substantial. Users with workloads that heavily utilize all available threads—such as video rendering, 3D modeling, or scientific computing—will find the i7-11800H's extra cores beneficial. Conversely, those prioritizing gaming, general desktop responsiveness, or software that favors newer instruction sets will prefer the i5-12500. The data clearly shows that more cores do not always mean more performance, especially when comparing across architectural generations.