Intel Core i5-12600HE vs Intel Core i7-11850HE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE has 8 cores. Both processors support 16 threads.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE boosts to 4.70 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-12600HE's 4.50 GHz boost clock. The i7 also has a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz compared to the i5's 2.50 GHz base.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE scores 17402 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE scores 17217. This gives the i7 a 1.1% advantage in that test.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core i5-12600HE has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-11850HE supports DDR4 only, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the thermal design power for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850HE has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE has a TDP of 45 watts. The i7 is rated at a lower power envelope despite having the higher boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, pattern in favor of the Intel Core i7-11850HE. Across the six head-to-head measurements recorded in the database, the i7 wins all six comparisons. The margins are small, ranging from 1% to 1.2%, but they are uniform across every test category. The i7 leads in both single-core and multi-core workloads, meaning it does not sacrifice one type of performance for the other.

The Intel Core i5-12600HE does not win any of the recorded head-to-head benchmarks. Its closest result comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it trails by only 1%. The i5's higher core count (12 versus 8) does not translate into a multi-core victory in these measurements. The i5 does offer newer memory flexibility with DDR5 support, which is a specification-level advantage that the benchmark scores do not capture. However, strictly by the recorded performance data, the i7 takes every workload category.

For users prioritizing raw benchmark output, the i7-11850HE is the safer choice. For those who value memory platform flexibility, the i5-12600HE provides access to DDR5, but that advantage is not reflected in the benchmark numbers.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and microarchitectures. The Intel Core i7-11850HE is built on Tiger Lake, specifically Tiger Lake-H, part of the Core 11th Gen family. The Intel Core i5-12600HE uses Alder Lake, specifically Alder Lake-H, part of the Core 12th Gen family. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node and produced by Intel's own foundry.

The die sizes differ. The i7-11850HE has a die size of 190 mm², while the i5-12600HE has a larger die at 217 mm². Despite the larger die, the i5 carries less L3 cache: 18 MB shared versus 24 MB shared on the i7. Both processors use the same per-core L1 and L2 cache allocations at 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively.

Memory support is a notable architectural split. The i7-11850HE is limited to DDR4, while the i5-12600HE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for the i5 in the database.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i7-11850HE uses UHD Graphics (Xe-LP), while the i5-12600HE uses Iris Xe 80EU. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. Both are mobile segment processors with PCIe Gen 4 support at 20 lanes from the CPU.

The sockets are different as well. The i7-11850HE uses Intel BGA 1787, and the i5-12600HE uses Intel BGA 1744. This means the two are not socket-compatible with each other.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several clear differences between the two processors.

Cores: The i5-12600HE has 12 cores, the i7-11850HE has 8. Threads are identical at 16 for both.

Clocks: The i7-11850HE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i5-12600HE has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz but a lower boost clock at 4.50 GHz.

TDP: The i7-11850HE is rated at 35 watts, the i5-12600HE at 45 watts.

Socket: Intel BGA 1787 for the i7, Intel BGA 1744 for the i5.

L3 Cache: 24 MB shared on the i7, 18 MB shared on the i5.

Memory Support: DDR4 only for the i7, DDR4 and DDR5 for the i5.

Memory Bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s recorded for the i7, no figure recorded for the i5.

Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) on the i7, Iris Xe 80EU on the i5.

Die Size: 190 mm² for the i7, 217 mm² for the i5.

Launch MSRP: The i7-11850HE has a launch MSRP of $400. No launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-12600HE.

Release Date: The i7-11850HE was released on 2021-08-02. No release date is recorded for the i5-12600HE.

Both processors share the same L1 and L2 cache sizes per core, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, dual-channel memory bus, non-ECC memory support, and locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two processors, all in the Cinebench suite. The Intel Core i7-11850HE wins every one of them.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 1753 against the i5's 1735, a 1% advantage. The single-core portion of R15 shows the i7 at 247 and the i5 at 244, a 1.2% lead for the i7. This is the largest margin recorded in any of the six tests.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 scores 7308 multi-core and 1031 single-core. The i5 scores 7231 multi-core and 1020 single-core. Both deltas are 1.1% in favor of the i7.

In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds. The i7 posts 17402 multi-core and 2456 single-core. The i5 posts 17217 multi-core and 2430 single-core. Again, the i7 leads by 1.1% in both.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story. The i7-11850HE has an average benchmark score of 5095, while the i5-12600HE averages 4980. The i7 sits at the 60th percentile among all CPUs, and the i5 sits at the 59th percentile.

The i7's nearest rivals in the database, based on average score, include the AMD EPYC 7262 at 5109 (-0.3% relative to the i7), the Intel Core i9-7900X at 5120 (-0.5%), the Intel Xeon W-2155 at 5072 (+0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5750GE at 5070 (+0.5%). The i5's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1375PRE at 4985 (-0.1%), the Intel Xeon W-2150B at 4992 (-0.2%), the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 at 4967 (+0.3%), and the Intel Core i3-12300HE at 4995 (-0.3%).

These rival comparisons show that both processors sit in a tightly packed performance band. The i7 is slightly above its nearest neighbors, while the i5 is essentially level with its own. The head-to-head data confirms that the gap between the two chips is real but modest, roughly one to two percent depending on the test.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-11850HE is the faster processor. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, holds a higher average benchmark score (5095 versus 4980), and reaches a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs (60th versus 59th). The largest single margin is 1.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and the most common margin is 1.1% across R20 and R23 tests. The i7 achieves this while carrying a lower TDP of 35 watts compared to the i5's 45 watts, and it does so with fewer cores (8 versus 12).

The Intel Core i5-12600HE does have structural advantages worth noting. It offers 12 cores, a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz, a larger die at 217 mm², and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. It also carries a newer integrated graphics solution in the Iris Xe 80EU. None of these translate into a benchmark victory in the recorded data, but they do provide platform-level flexibility, particularly on the memory side.

For a user selecting purely on measured performance, the data points to the i7-11850HE. It wins every recorded test, delivers a higher average score, and does so at a lower TDP. For a user who prioritizes memory options and core count, the i5-12600HE offers DDR5 support and additional cores, but the benchmark results do not show a performance payoff for those features. The i7-11850HE is the choice when benchmark output is the deciding factor.