Intel Core i5-13400 vs Intel Core i7-11850H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i5-13400 and the Intel Core i7-11850H is decisively lopsided. Of the 19 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core i5-13400 claims 16 victories, while the Core i7-11850H takes only 3. The margin of victory in many of these tests is substantial, making the overall performance picture clear.

The single largest win for the Core i5-13400 comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 12289 against 8002 for the Core i7-11850H, a delta of 53.6%. That is a commanding lead in a broadly used cross-platform benchmark. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 40.4% advantage for the i5-13400, with scores of 2358 versus 1680. PassMark floating point math also favors the i5-13400 heavily, at 58786 versus 42540, a 38.2% difference. The i5-13400 leads in PassMark physics by 30.4% (1244 to 954) and in PassMark data encryption by 30% (15880 to 12214). Data compression is another strong area, with the i5-13400 ahead by 27.2% (301481 to 236949).

Cinebench R20 results show a 21.8% advantage for the i5-13400 in both multicore (8526 versus 7002) and single-core (1203 versus 988). PassMark extended instructions follow a similar pattern, with the i5-13400 ahead by 21.4% (19161 versus 15788). PassMark multithread sees the i5-13400 ahead by 18.2% (23719 versus 20059). Single-thread performance in PassMark favors the i5-13400 by 15.3% (3538 versus 3069), and the same delta appears in the duplicate PassMark singlethread entry. PassMark random string sorting shows an 8.6% lead for the i5-13400 (30851 versus 28395), while PassMark integer math is closer, at 8% (77721 versus 71996). Cinebench R15 single-core rounds out the i5-13400 wins with an 8.4% edge (257 versus 237). Geekbench single-core also goes to the i5-13400, at 2112 versus 1703, a 24% difference.

The Core i7-11850H does have its moments. Its best result is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2353 against 1786 for the i5-13400, a 24.1% advantage. That is a remarkable turnaround from the R15 and R20 single-core tests, where the i5-13400 led. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-11850H scores 16673 versus 15953 for the i5-13400, a 4.3% edge. PassMark find prime numbers also goes to the i7-11850H, at 87 versus 74, a 14.9% difference. These wins are real but narrow in the multicore case, and the i7-11850H cannot overcome the breadth of the i5-13400's dominance elsewhere.

Looking at aggregate standing, the database places the Core i7-11850H at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, slightly ahead of the Core i5-13400 at the 76th percentile. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: the i7-11850H averages 24935, while the i5-13400 averages 24280. The nearest rivals for the i5-13400 include the Intel Core i7-1360P at 24344 (a 0.3% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650H at 24364 (also 0.3%). The i7-11850H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13620H at 24911 and the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F at 24964. Both chips sit in a crowded performance band where small deltas separate many products.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 wins 16 of the 19 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i7-11850H wins the remaining 3.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench multicore, where the Intel Core i5-13400 scores 12289 versus 8002 for the Intel Core i7-11850H, a 53.6% difference.

Q: Are there any tests where the Core i7-11850H wins by a wide margin?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 single-core the Core i7-11850H leads by 24.1%, scoring 2353 versus 1786. It also wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 4.3% and PassMark find prime numbers by 14.9%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11850H has a higher average benchmark score of 24935, while the Intel Core i5-13400 averages 24280. The i7-11850H also sits at the 77th percentile versus the 76th percentile for the i5-13400.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 has 10 cores, while the Intel Core i7-11850H has 8 cores. Both processors have 16 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core i7-11850H supports DDR4 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-13400 is the clear choice for workloads that scale with multiple cores and general compute throughput. Its 53.6% lead in Geekbench multicore and 40.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore show a strong advantage in heavily threaded applications. Content creation tasks that rely on floating point math, such as rendering or scientific simulation, will benefit from the 38.2% edge in PassMark floating point math. Data compression and encryption workloads also favor the i5-13400, with leads of 27.2% and 30% respectively. For users running physics simulations or extended instruction set workloads, the i5-13400 holds a 30.4% and 21.4% advantage. Even in integer math, where the gap is narrower, the i5-13400 still leads by 8%. The i5-13400 also wins in single-threaded tests in Geekbench, Cinebench R15, Cinebench R20, and PassMark, making it the better all-around performer for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-11850H has a narrower set of strengths. Its 24.1% win in Cinebench R23 single-core suggests that in certain newer single-threaded workloads, it can pull ahead significantly. The 4.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is notable, as it indicates that under the R23 test specifically, the i7-11850H can outpace the i5-13400 despite losing in R15 and R20 multicore. PassMark find prime numbers is the only other win, with a 14.9% margin, which points to an advantage in prime number calculation tasks. These wins are isolated, however, and do not translate into broader superiority in the benchmark suite.

For a user deciding between the two, the data points strongly to the i5-13400 for almost all workloads, with the i7-11850H being relevant only in the specific scenarios where its R23 and prime number results apply. The i5-13400 is a desktop part, while the i7-11850H is a mobile part, and the benchmark results reflect that the desktop chip generally offers more compute headroom.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core i5-13400 has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11850H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds differ as well: the i5-13400 runs at 2.50 GHz, while the i7-11850H runs at 2.10 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the i5-13400 at 4.60 GHz and the i7-11850H at 4.80 GHz, giving the mobile part a higher top speed. Thermal design power is very different: the i5-13400 carries a 65 W TDP, while the i7-11850H is rated at 35 W, reflecting its mobile positioning.

The socket types are incompatible. The i5-13400 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i7-11850H uses Intel BGA 1787. The market segment also differs, with the i5-13400 listed as a Desktop part and the i7-11850H as Mobile. PCIe support varies: the i5-13400 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-11850H offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-13400 includes UHD Graphics 730, and the i7-11850H includes UHD Graphics 750.

Memory support is another differentiator. The i5-13400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11850H supports DDR4 only. The i7-11850H does have a recorded memory bandwidth figure of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-13400 has no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. Release dates are also distinct: the i5-13400 was released on 2023-01-03, while the i7-11850H was released on 2021-05-10. The launch MSRP for the i5-13400 is $221, and the launch MSRP for the i7-11850H is $395. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i5-13400 is built on Raptor Lake, with the codename Raptor Lake-S, and belongs to Core 13th Gen. The Intel Core i7-11850H is built on Tiger Lake, with the codename Tiger Lake-H, and belongs to Core 11th Gen. Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process node at Intel, but the design philosophies differ considerably.

Cache hierarchies show a notable difference in L3 cache. The i5-13400 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-11850H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. L1 and L2 caches are identical on a per-core basis: 80 KB per core for L1 and 1.25 MB per core for L2. The die sizes are close, with the i5-13400 at 215 mm² and the i7-11850H at 190 mm². The i5-13400's extra cores are offset by the i7-11850H's larger L3 pool, which may explain why the i7-11850H can win in Cinebench R23 tests despite losing elsewhere.

The i5-13400 is a desktop-oriented Raptor Lake-S part, designed for socketed platforms with PCIe Gen 5 support. The i7-11850H is a mobile Tiger Lake-H part, soldered to the board via BGA 1787 and built around PCIe Gen 4 with more lanes. The i7-11850H's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz and larger L3 cache are likely contributors to its R23 single-core victory. The i5-13400 counters with more cores, a higher base clock, and newer architecture generation. Both parts are listed as Active in production status, and both come from Intel's foundry. The i5-13400 supports a wider range of memory types with DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11850H is limited to DDR4. These architectural differences map cleanly onto the benchmark results: the i5-13400 dominates in most multi-threaded and general compute tests, while the i7-11850H holds specific advantages in R23 and prime number workloads.