Intel Core i5-13500H vs Intel Core i9-11900F Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900F and Intel Core i5-13500H occupy different corners of the processor market, one a desktop part from the 11th Gen Rocket Lake family, the other a mobile chip from the 13th Gen Raptor Lake family. The data shows that the i9-11900F wins 18 of 23 head-to-head benchmarks, while the i5-13500H takes 5. The average benchmark scores reflect a close overall picture: the i9-11900F records an average score of 23254, while the i5-13500H sits at 22468. This places the i9-11900F in the 76th percentile of all CPUs and the i5-13500H in the 75th percentile. Despite the generational gap, the desktop part retains an edge in most measured tasks, though the mobile chip demonstrates specific strengths in certain workloads.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-11900F is the choice for users who prioritize raw single-thread performance and sustained multi-thread workloads in a desktop environment. Its boost clock reaches 5.20 GHz, and the data shows a 49.2% lead over the i5-13500H in Cinebench R23 single-core. The i9-11900F also dominates in 3DMark tests, with a 31.1% advantage in 16-thread performance and a 32.3% lead in 8-thread performance. For workloads like video encoding, compilation, or rendering that scale with thread count, the i9-11900F provides a clear performance advantage, as evidenced by its 33.2% margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

The Intel Core i5-13500H is the better fit for mobile systems where power efficiency and portability matter. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost of 4.70 GHz, with a thermal design power of 45 watts compared to the i9-11900F's 65 watts. The i5-13500H wins in specific tasks: Cinebench R15 multi-core by 18%, PassMark data encryption by 8.7%, PassMark find prime numbers by 17.6%, PassMark floating point math by 6.8%, and PassMark physics by 26.4%. These wins indicate that for certain math-heavy or encryption-focused tasks, the newer architecture of the i5-13500H can outperform the older desktop chip, even with fewer resources in some areas.

The i9-11900F suits desktop builders who need maximum clock speed and have access to a Socket 1200 motherboard. The i5-13500H suits laptop buyers who need a balanced processor with integrated graphics and modern memory support, including DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The i9-11900F is end-of-life, while the i5-13500H is active in production. The i9-11900F launched with an MSRP of $422, but no such figure exists for the i5-13500H in the database. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiator.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-11900F wins in the majority of tests, particularly those that emphasize single-thread speed and high-frequency operation. Its 5.20 GHz boost clock drives wins in 3DMark single-thread (3% lead), Cinebench R15 single-core (6.8% lead), Cinebench R20 single-core (5.6% lead), and Cinebench R23 single-core (49.2% lead). It also takes PassMark single-thread tests by 0.5%. The desktop chip leads in integer math (15.1% over the i5-13500H), random string sorting (16.3%), extended instructions (30.7%), and data compression (10.3%). Its multi-thread performance in 3DMark is particularly strong, winning 16-thread by 31.1%, 8-thread by 32.3%, and max-thread by 29.2%.

The i5-13500H wins in tasks that appear to benefit from its newer Raptor Lake architecture and higher core count. The mobile chip has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-11900F has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i5-13500H's wins include Cinebench R15 multi-core (18% lead), PassMark data encryption (8.7% lead), PassMark find prime numbers (17.6% lead), PassMark floating point math (6.8% lead), and PassMark physics (26.4% lead). These results suggest that certain algorithms, particularly those involving prime number calculations or physics simulations, run better on the newer core design. The i5-13500H also has a larger L2 cache of 2 MB per core compared to the i9-11900F's 512 KB per core, which may contribute to its wins in specific memory-dependent workloads.

Architecture Differences

The i9-11900F is built on Rocket Lake, a 14 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 276 mm². The i5-13500H uses Raptor Lake-H, fabricated on a 10 nm process. The process node difference means the i5-13500H packs more transistors in a smaller area, though the database does not list die size or transistor counts for the mobile chip. The i9-11900F has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-13500H has 12 cores and 16 threads. The extra cores in the i5-13500H do not translate to more threads, as both parts support 16 threads, but the core count difference affects how workloads are distributed.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i9-11900F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-13500H also has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but its L2 cache is 2 MB per core, and its L3 cache is 18 MB shared. This gives the i5-13500H a larger total cache, which can help with data reuse in certain applications. The i9-11900F supports DDR4 memory only, while the i5-13500H supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i9-11900F has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-13500H has no memory bandwidth figure in the database.

PCIe support differs: the i9-11900F offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-13500H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The i5-13500H includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, whereas the i9-11900F has no integrated graphics listed. The i9-11900F uses Socket 1200 for desktop motherboards, while the i5-13500H uses BGA 1744 for soldered mobile installation. The i9-11900F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost of 5.20 GHz, while the i5-13500H has a base of 2.60 GHz and a boost of 4.70 GHz. The i9-11900F has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i5-13500H has a TDP of 45 watts, reflecting the mobile chip's lower power draw. Neither part supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier not unlocked).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900F has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-13500H boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two?

A: The i9-11900F has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-13500H has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i9-11900F wins with a score of 18759, which is 33.2% higher than the i5-13500H's 14081.

Q: Does the i5-13500H support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, the i5-13500H supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X, while the i9-11900F supports only DDR4.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i5-13500H includes Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the i9-11900F has no integrated graphics listed.

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

A: The i9-11900F has a TDP of 65 watts, and the i5-13500H has a TDP of 45 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i9-11900F comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2648 against the i5-13500H's 1775, a 49.2% advantage. This is a massive gap that underscores the desktop chip's high boost clock. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-11900F scores 18759 versus 14081, a 33.2% lead. The 3DMark tests also favor the i9-11900F: 16-thread scores 7995 against 6099 (31.1% lead), 8-thread scores 6018 against 4550 (32.3% lead), and max-thread scores 7961 against 6160 (29.2% lead). PassMark extended instructions show a 30.7% lead for the i9-11900F, with scores of 19443 versus 14872.

The i5-13500H's biggest win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 1289 versus the i9-11900F's 949, a 26.4% advantage. This is a notable reversal, suggesting that the mobile chip's architecture handles physics calculations more efficiently. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-13500H scores 2304 against 1890, an 18% lead. PassMark find prime numbers goes to the i5-13500H with 74 versus 61, a 17.6% margin. PassMark data encryption favors the i5-13500H with 14938 versus 13636, an 8.7% lead. PassMark floating point math also goes to the i5-13500H, 52123 versus 48562, a 6.8% margin.

Other notable wins for the i9-11900F include PassMark integer math (83718 versus 72724, 15.1% lead), PassMark random string sorting (32520 versus 27955, 16.3% lead), PassMark data compression (280847 versus 254661, 10.3% lead), and PassMark multithread (22115 versus 21366, 3.5% lead). The i9-11900F also takes 3DMark 4-thread (3613 versus 3385, 6.7% lead), 3DMark 2-thread (1905 versus 1887, 1% lead), and 3DMark single-thread (996 versus 967, 3% lead). In Cinebench R20, the i9-11900F wins multi-core (7878 versus 7464, 5.5% lead) and single-core (1112 versus 1053, 5.6% lead). Cinebench R15 single-core goes to the i9-11900F with 266 versus 249, a 6.8% lead. PassMark single-thread is nearly identical, with the i9-11900F scoring 3413 versus 3397, a 0.5% lead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i9-11900F belongs to the Core 11th Gen series, while the i5-13500H belongs to the Core 13th Gen series. Their architectures are Rocket Lake and Raptor Lake, respectively. The process node is 14 nm for the i9-11900F and 10 nm for the i5-13500H. The i9-11900F has a die size of 276 mm², while the i5-13500H has no die size listed. Core counts differ: 8 cores for the i9-11900F versus 12 cores for the i5-13500H, though both have 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i9-11900F and 2.60 GHz for the i5-13500H. Boost clocks are 5.20 GHz and 4.70 GHz, respectively. TDP is 65 watts for the i9-11900F and 45 watts for the i5-13500H.

Sockets differ: Intel Socket 1200 for the i9-11900F and Intel BGA 1744 for the i5-13500H. L2 cache is 512 KB per core for the i9-11900F and 2 MB per core for the i5-13500H. L3 cache is 16 MB shared for the i9-11900F and 18 MB shared for the i5-13500H. Memory support is DDR4 only for the i9-11900F, while the i5-13500H supports DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, LPDDR5, and LPDDR5X. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for the i9-11900F, with no figure for the i5-13500H. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the i9-11900F and Gen 5 with 8 lanes for the i5-13500H. Integrated graphics are absent for the i9-11900F and present as Iris Xe Graphics 80EU for the i5-13500H. Market segments are Desktop for the i9-11900F and Mobile for the i5-13500H. Production status is End-of-life for the i9-11900F and Active for the i5-13500H. Release dates are March 2021 for the i9-11900F and January 2023 for the i5-13500H. The i9-11900F has a launch MSRP of $422, while the i5-13500H has no launch MSRP listed.