Intel Core i5-9500F vs Intel Core i7-11390H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a split picture across the eight benchmark tests. The Intel Core i5-9500F claims victory in six of them, but the margins are consistently narrow, while the Intel Core i7-11390H wins the remaining two with one of those being a decisive blowout.

In Cinebench workloads, the desktop part takes every round. The i5-9500F scores 852 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 828 for the i7-11390H, a 2.8% advantage. The same 2.8% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (3550 vs 3451) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (8453 vs 8218). Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: the i5-9500F leads by 3.3% in R15 (120 vs 116) and by 2.8% in both R20 (501 vs 487) and R23 (1193 vs 1160). None of these margins are large enough to suggest a fundamental performance tier difference.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. The i7-11390H wins Geekbench multi-core with 5478 points against 5185, a 5.7% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the mobile chip absolutely dominates with 1985 points versus 1504, a massive 32% advantage. This is the largest delta recorded in the entire head-to-head set, and it points to a significant architectural strength in lightly threaded scenarios.

What stands out is how the two chips trade places depending on the benchmark suite. Cinebench favors the older desktop processor consistently, while Geekbench favors the newer mobile processor just as consistently. The average benchmark scores reflect this closeness: the i7-11390H averages 2715 across all tests, while the i5-9500F averages 2670. The nearest rivals for the i7-11390H include the Intel Xeon D-1577 at a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U at 0.1%, and the Intel Xeon E-2226G at 0.2%. The i5-9500F sits near the Intel Core i7-9700T at 0.1%, the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 at 0.2%, and the Intel Core i7-9750HF at 0.3%. Both processors occupy the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-9500F is the safer pick for sustained multi-core rendering workloads. Its Cinebench victories across all three versions (R15, R20, and R23) show consistency in thread-heavy tasks. The 65 W TDP and six physical cores without hyper-threading suggest a design aimed at predictable desktop throughput. The data shows it taking a 2.8% lead in every multi-core Cinebench test, which indicates a stable, repeatable advantage in render-style workloads.

The i7-11390H wins where responsiveness and single-thread performance matter. The 32% lead in Geekbench single-core is the headline number. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 5.7%, which is curious given that it loses every Cinebench multi-core test. The Geekbench suite appears to reward the newer Tiger Lake architecture in ways that Cinebench does not. For users whose applications resemble Geekbench's workload mix, the i7-11390H is clearly the stronger option.

The use-case split is straightforward. Desktop rendering, video encoding, and other Cinebench-like workloads favor the i5-9500F, albeit by small margins. Everyday responsiveness, browser workloads, and applications that scale well with single-thread performance favor the i7-11390H by a much wider margin. The i7-11390H also brings integrated Iris XE 96EU graphics, so systems built around it do not require a separate GPU for basic display output, while the i5-9500F has no integrated graphics at all.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and different markets. The i7-11390H uses Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It is a mobile part with a 28 W TDP, designed for Intel BGA 1449 sockets. The i5-9500F uses Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel, but it is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP on Intel Socket 1151.

Core counts differ meaningfully. The i7-11390H has 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on hyper-threading to reach its thread count. The i5-9500F has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. Clock speeds also differ: the i7-11390H runs at a 2.90 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the i5-9500F runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.40 GHz. The higher boost clock on the mobile chip likely explains its single-core dominance.

Cache hierarchies are organized differently. The i7-11390H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-9500F has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The die size for the i7-11390H is recorded as 146.1 mm², while no die size is listed for the i5-9500F.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4 with dual-channel memory buses, but the i7-11390H reaches 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 42.7 GB/s for the i5-9500F. PCIe support differs as well: the i7-11390H offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-9500F offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Production status separates them further. The i7-11390H is listed as active production with a release date of June 20, 2021. The i5-9500F is end-of-life, released on April 22, 2019. The i7-11390H has a launch MSRP of $426; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-9500F.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11390H wins Geekbench single-core with 1985 points versus 1504 for the Intel Core i5-9500F, a 32% advantage. However, the i5-9500F wins all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by 2.8% to 3.3%.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i5-9500F wins every Cinebench multi-core test by 2.8%, scoring 852 in R15, 3550 in R20, and 8453 in R23. The i7-11390H counters with a 5.7% win in Geekbench multi-core, scoring 5478 versus 5185.

Q: Do these processors have integrated graphics?

A: The i7-11390H includes Iris XE 96EU integrated graphics. The i5-9500F has no integrated graphics, which is indicated by the "F" suffix in its name.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i7-11390H has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-9500F has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What socket types do they use?

A: The i7-11390H uses Intel BGA 1449, a mobile socket. The i5-9500F uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop socket.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The i7-11390H supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The i5-9500F supports 42.7 GB/s. Both use DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses.

The Verdict

The data does not crown a single winner across all scenarios. The i5-9500F wins six of eight head-to-head benchmarks, but its margins are small, never exceeding 3.3%. The i7-11390H wins two benchmarks, but one of those wins is a 32% landslide in Geekbench single-core. The average benchmark scores place the i7-11390H slightly ahead at 2715 versus 2670, a difference of roughly 1.7%.

For users building a desktop system focused on Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-9500F is the logical choice. Its six physical cores deliver consistent, if modest, wins across every Cinebench test. It is also the only one of the two that fits a desktop Socket 1151 motherboard. The lack of integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is mandatory, but that is a common requirement for rendering-focused builds.

For users who value single-thread responsiveness, the i7-11390H is the better pick. The 32% Geekbench single-core lead is too large to ignore, and its 5.7% Geekbench multi-core win shows it can hold its own in that suite despite having fewer physical cores. The integrated Iris XE 96EU graphics also provide display output without a separate GPU, which matters for compact or portable systems. The mobile BGA 1449 socket limits its use to laptops or embedded boards, but within that context it is the stronger performer.

The production status difference matters for long-term planning. The i7-11390H remains active, while the i5-9500F is end-of-life. Both sit at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-11390H | Intel Core i5-9500F |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 146.1 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris XE 96EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | June 20, 2021 | April 22, 2019 |

| Launch MSRP | $426 | Not listed |