Intel Core i5-13500H vs Intel Core i7-11700 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct roles. The Intel Core i5-13500H, a mobile part from the 13th Gen Raptor Lake-H series, wins 13 of the 23 head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core i7-11700, a desktop Rocket Lake-S chip, takes 10 wins. The distribution of those wins tells a clear story about workload compatibility.

The i5-13500H dominates in workloads that reward newer instruction handling and efficient threading patterns. Its wins include Cinebench R15 multicore by 30.6%, PassMark physics by 48.5%, and PassMark find prime numbers by 34.5%. These are tasks where the mobile chip's architecture and cache layout provide tangible advantages. It also wins PassMark floating point math by 12.4%, data encryption by 17.6%, and the multithread aggregate by 3.4%.

The i7-11700, by contrast, asserts its strength in sustained multi-core throughput and single-core burst performance in specific benchmarks. It wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 19.6% and single-core by 28.2%, plus 3DMark 16-thread by 20%, 8-thread by 19.3%, and max-thread by 19.4%. Integer math, extended instructions, data compression, and random string sorting also favor the desktop chip.

The pattern suggests the i5-13500H excels in mixed, latency-sensitive, or floating-point-heavy tasks, while the i7-11700 pulls ahead in longer, more uniform multi-core renders and instruction-heavy integer workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which chip has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13500H has 12 cores, while the Intel Core i7-11700 has 8 cores. Both chips expose 16 threads to the operating system.

Q: Why does the i7-11700 win Cinebench R23 multicore despite having fewer cores?

A: The recorded data shows the i7-11700 scoring 17504 in Cinebench R23 multicore versus 14081 for the i5-13500H, a 19.6% gap. The desktop chip's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz against 4.70 GHz, combined with sustained desktop power delivery, overcomes the core-count deficit in this render workload.

Q: Which chip wins in single-threaded PassMark?

A: The i5-13500H wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 3397 versus 3263 for the i7-11700, a 4.1% difference. The mobile chip also wins 3DMark single-thread by 1.9% with 967 against 949.

Q: Does the i7-11700 support faster PCIe?

A: Yes, the i7-11700 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-13500H supports PCIe Gen 5 but with only 8 lanes (CPU only). The newer standard offers higher bandwidth per lane, but the desktop chip has more lanes available.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i5-13500H is listed as Active, while the i7-11700 is marked End-of-life. This reflects their respective release cycles: the mobile chip launched in January 2023, the desktop chip in March 2021.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-13500H has an average benchmark score of 22468, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-11700 averages 21891, also in the 75th percentile. The delta between them is roughly 2.6% in favor of the mobile chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i5-13500H comes in PassMark physics, where it scores 1289 against 868 for the i7-11700, a 48.5% advantage. This is a striking result for a mobile processor against a desktop part, indicating the Raptor Lake-H architecture handles physics simulation far more efficiently. The Cinebench R15 multicore result reinforces this: the i5-13500H scores 2304 versus 1764, a 30.6% lead. In PassMark find prime numbers, the mobile chip scores 74 against 55, a 34.5% margin.

The i7-11700's biggest wins are equally decisive. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2471 against 1775, a 28.2% lead. This is the largest single-thread gap in the dataset, suggesting the desktop chip's 4.90 GHz boost clock delivers a significant advantage in this specific render test. The i7-11700 also wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 19.6% (17504 versus 14081) and 3DMark 16-thread by 20% (7624 versus 6099). The 8-thread and max-thread 3DMark results show 19.3% and 19.4% leads respectively.

The mid-range results show a nuanced picture. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-13500H wins by just 1.5% (7464 versus 7351), and in single-core by the same margin (1053 versus 1037). The 3DMark 4-thread test goes to the i7-11700 by 0.8%, while the 2-thread test goes to the i5-13500H by 3.3%. PassMark data encryption favors the mobile chip by 17.6%, but data compression favors the desktop chip by 3.4%. Extended instructions go to the i7-11700 by 18.8%, while integer math goes to it by 8.7%.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ fundamentally in their physical design. The i5-13500H uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, a mobile package, while the i7-11700 uses Intel Socket 1200 for desktop installation. The mobile chip has a TDP of 45 watts, compared to 65 watts for the desktop part. Base clocks are close: 2.60 GHz for the i5-13500H versus 2.50 GHz for the i7-11700. Boost clocks favor the desktop chip: 4.90 GHz versus 4.70 GHz.

Cache configurations differ markedly. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core. The L2 cache, however, is 2 MB per core on the i5-13500H versus 512 KB per core on the i7-11700. Total L3 cache is 18 MB shared on the mobile chip versus 16 MB shared on the desktop chip. Memory support splits cleanly: the i5-13500H supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, while the i7-11700 supports only DDR4. Both are dual-channel. The i7-11700 lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not recorded for the i5-13500H.

PCIe capabilities differ: the mobile chip offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes, the desktop chip offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU on the i5-13500H versus UHD Graphics 750 on the i7-11700. The die size is listed only for the i7-11700 at 276 mm². The i5-13500H launched with no recorded MSRP, while the i7-11700 has a launch MSRP of $323.

Architecture Differences

The process nodes are a generation apart. The i5-13500H uses Intel's 10 nm process, while the i7-11700 uses 14 nm. Both are fabricated by Intel, but the smaller node on the mobile chip enables its 12-core configuration within a 45-watt TDP. The i5-13500H belongs to the Raptor Lake-H codename and the 13th Gen Core series, while the i7-11700 uses the Rocket Lake codename and belongs to the 11th Gen Core series.

Core layout differs: the i5-13500H packs 12 cores into a mobile form factor, while the i7-11700 uses 8 cores in a desktop socket. The L2 cache per core is four times larger on the mobile chip (2 MB versus 512 KB), which likely contributes to its wins in physics and floating-point workloads. The L3 cache is 2 MB larger on the mobile chip as well.

The i7-11700's die size of 276 mm² reflects its older 14 nm process, which requires more silicon area for fewer cores. The i5-13500H has no recorded die size, but its 10 nm node allows a denser layout. The i7-11700 supports only DDR4 memory, limiting its memory bandwidth to the listed 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-13500H's broader memory support includes DDR5 and LPDDR5 variants.

Production status also differs: the i5-13500H is Active, while the i7-11700 is End-of-life. This suggests the mobile chip remains a current offering, while the desktop chip has been superseded.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear use-case split. For mobile computing, rendering tasks that favor the i5-13500H's architecture, and workloads involving physics, encryption, or floating-point math, the Intel Core i5-13500H is the stronger choice. Its 48.5% win in PassMark physics and 30.6% win in Cinebench R15 multicore demonstrate that core count and cache efficiency can overcome a lower boost clock in specific scenarios. The 12-core, 16-thread configuration with 2 MB L2 per core gives it a structural advantage in latency-sensitive tasks.

For desktop users prioritizing sustained multi-core render performance and single-core burst speed, the Intel Core i7-11700 holds the edge. Its 28.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 19.6% lead in multicore reflect the benefit of a 4.90 GHz boost clock and desktop-class power delivery. The 20 Gen 4 PCIe lanes also provide more connectivity for expansion cards and NVMe storage.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 22468 for the i5-13500H versus 21891 for the i7-11700, both in the 75th percentile. The i5-13500H wins 13 comparisons, the i7-11700 wins 10. The choice hinges on workload: the mobile chip wins where architecture and cache matter, the desktop chip wins where raw clock speed and sustained throughput matter. Given the i7-11700's End-of-life status and the i5-13500H's Active production, the mobile chip represents the newer platform, but the desktop chip remains competitive in its specific strengths.