Intel Core i5-12500H vs Intel Core i7-11700F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between the Intel Core i5-12500H and the Intel Core i7-11700F reveals a clear split based on workload type. The mobile Alder Lake part claims 12 benchmark wins, while the desktop Rocket Lake chip takes 11, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw count.

In the Cinebench suite, the i5-12500H is decisively ahead. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19840 beats the i7-11700F's 17633 by 12.5%. The same 12.5% advantage appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (8332 vs 7405) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (1999 vs 1777). Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R23 shows 2801 against 2489 (12.5% gap), R20 shows 1176 against 1045 (12.5%), and R15 shows 282 against 250 (12.8%). This consistency across all three Cinebench versions indicates a genuine architectural edge in rendering workloads, not a test-specific anomaly.

The i5-12500H also dominates in several PassMark sub-tests. Data encryption shows a 17.4% lead (14749 vs 12563). Floating point math favors the mobile chip by 12.8% (52227 vs 46307). Physics simulation scores 1018 against 885, a 15% advantage. Prime number finding is nearly tied, with the i5-12500H ahead by just 1.8% (57 vs 56). PassMark single-thread performance also goes to the i5-12500H, with 3418 against 3262, a 4.8% margin.

The i7-11700F counters with strong showings in 3DMark and several PassMark workloads. The desktop chip wins 3DMark 16-threads by 19.3% (7378 vs 5954), 8-threads by 20.3% (5513 vs 4394), and max-threads by 19.2% (7479 vs 6043). Its 3DMark 4-thread lead is 6.4% (3355 vs 3139), while 2-thread and single-thread margins are smaller at 2.4% and 2% respectively. This suggests the i7-11700F has an advantage in simulation and gaming-oriented multi-threaded workloads that scale beyond the i5-12500H's hybrid core arrangement.

PassMark integer math goes to the i7-11700F by 9.4% (79133 vs 71714). Extended instructions favor the desktop chip by 18.3% (18308 vs 14965). Data compression shows a 4.7% edge for the i7-11700F (266035 vs 253431), and random string sorting goes its way by 7.9% (30498 vs 28099). The overall PassMark multithread score is essentially a tie: the i7-11700F leads by just 0.5% (20728 vs 20625).

The i7-11700F also holds a small lead in Geekbench, a test not present in the i5-12500H's recorded data. Its multi-core score is 9680 and single-core is 1891.

Looking at aggregate positioning, the i5-12500H sits at the 76th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 22625. The i7-11700F sits at the 75th percentile with an average of 21988. The nearest rivals for the i5-12500H include the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U at 22618 (0% delta), the Intel Core i7-1270P at 22502 (0.5% delta), and the Intel Core i5-13500H at 22468 (0.7% delta). The i7-11700F's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X at 21992 (0% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V at 21981 (0% delta). The mobile chip's average score is 2.9% higher than the desktop chip's, a modest but measurable aggregate advantage.

The Verdict

The data presents two different value propositions, but the i5-12500H is the stronger overall processor in the recorded benchmarks. It wins the most important content-creation tests by a consistent 12.5% margin across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core. It also leads in the average benchmark score (22625 vs 21988) and percentile ranking (76th vs 75th). The i7-11700F is competitive in 3DMark and some PassMark workloads, but its wins are concentrated in areas that matter less for general productivity.

For users who prioritize rendering, encryption, floating-point math, and physics simulation, the i5-12500H is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19840 is 12.5% higher than the i7-11700F's 17633, and its data encryption score of 14749 is 17.4% higher. The mobile chip's single-thread advantage in PassMark (4.8%) and Cinebench (12.5%) also makes it more responsive in lightly threaded tasks.

The i7-11700F is not without merit. Its 3DMark 16-thread score of 7378 is 19.3% higher, and its 8-thread score of 5513 is 20.3% higher. These results suggest it handles heavily threaded simulation workloads better. Its PassMark integer math lead of 9.4% and extended instructions lead of 18.3% indicate strengths in compute-heavy integer tasks. The desktop chip also benefits from a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz compared to 4.50 GHz on the mobile part.

However, the i5-12500H is the better overall processor in the aggregate data. It wins more tests, wins by larger margins in the most important rendering benchmarks, and holds a higher average benchmark score. The i7-11700F is end-of-life, while the i5-12500H is active, which matters for platform longevity. The i5-12500H also includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU), while the i7-11700F has none recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-12500H wins in rendering and creative workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19840 is 12.5% ahead, and its floating-point math score of 52227 is 12.8% ahead. Data encryption favors it by 17.4%, and physics simulation by 15%. These workloads benefit from the Alder Lake hybrid architecture's combination of performance and efficiency cores.

The i5-12500H also wins in single-threaded productivity. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3418 is 4.8% higher, and all three Cinebench single-core tests show a 12.5% to 12.8% advantage. This makes it the better choice for everyday responsiveness, office applications, and lightly threaded software.

The i7-11700F wins in heavily threaded simulation and 3D workloads. Its 3DMark 16-thread score of 7378 is 19.3% higher, and its 8-thread score of 5513 is 20.3% higher. The 3DMark max-threads score of 7479 is 19.2% higher. These results point to an advantage in gaming and physics-heavy applications that can utilize many threads.

The i7-11700F also wins in integer-heavy compute tasks. Its PassMark integer math score of 79133 is 9.4% higher, and its extended instructions score of 18308 is 18.3% higher. Data compression (266035 vs 253431, a 4.7% lead) and random string sorting (30498 vs 28099, a 7.9% lead) also favor the desktop chip.

The i7-11700F edges out the i5-12500H in the 3DMark 2-thread test by 2.4% and the 4-thread test by 6.4%, suggesting it handles moderately threaded workloads well. Its PassMark multithread score of 20728 is nearly identical to the i5-12500H's 20625, a 0.5% difference that is effectively a tie.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500H scores 19840, which is 12.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-11700F's 17633.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The i5-12500H wins PassMark single-thread with 3418 against 3262, a 4.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-12500H scores 2801 against 2489, a 12.5% advantage. The i7-11700F leads in 3DMark single-thread by 2% (943 vs 924).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i5-12500H has 12 cores and 16 threads. The i7-11700F has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The i5-12500H has an average benchmark score of 22625, while the i7-11700F has an average of 21988. The i5-12500H also ranks at the 76th percentile among all CPUs, compared to the 75th percentile for the i7-11700F.

Q: Which processor is better for 3DMark workloads?

A: The i7-11700F wins all five recorded 3DMark tests. Its 16-thread score of 7378 is 19.3% higher, the 8-thread score of 5513 is 20.3% higher, and the max-threads score of 7479 is 19.2% higher.

Q: What are the process nodes for each processor?

A: The i5-12500H uses a 10 nm process node, while the i7-11700F uses a 14 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-12500H is a mobile processor from the Core 12th Gen series, built on the Alder Lake architecture with the codename Alder Lake-H. The Intel Core i7-11700F is a desktop processor from the Core 11th Gen series, built on the Rocket Lake architecture with the codename Rocket Lake.

The process nodes differ significantly. The i5-12500H uses a 10 nm process, while the i7-11700F uses a 14 nm process. The die sizes reflect this difference: the i5-12500H measures 217 mm², while the i7-11700F measures 276 mm². Both are manufactured by Intel.

Core and thread counts differ. The i5-12500H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-11700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i5-12500H uses a hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores, which explains its higher core count with the same thread count. The i7-11700F uses a traditional homogeneous core design.

Cache configurations also differ. The i5-12500H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-11700F also has 80 KB of L1 cache per core but only 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-12500H's larger L2 cache per core and larger L3 cache contribute to its Cinebench advantages.

Memory support varies. The i5-12500H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i7-11700F supports only DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The i5-12500H includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU), while the i7-11700F has no integrated graphics recorded. The i5-12500H uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the i7-11700F uses Intel Socket 1200.

Clock speeds are close but favor the desktop chip. The i5-12500H has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i7-11700F also has a base clock of 2.50 GHz but boosts to 4.90 GHz. The TDP differs substantially: the i5-12500H is rated at 45 watts, while the i7-11700F is rated at 65 watts. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Production status differs. The i5-12500H is marked as active, while the i7-11700F is end-of-life. The i7-11700F has a recorded release date of 2021-03-15 and a launch MSRP of $298. The i5-12500H has no recorded release date or launch MSRP. The i7-11700F also has a recorded part number of SRKNR, while the i5-12500H has SRLCY.