Intel Core i7-10700 vs Intel Core i7-11600H Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i7-11600H wins 12 of the 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-10700 takes 7. However, the nature of those wins matters more than the count. The i7-11600H dominates in synthetic rendering and single-threaded workloads, while the i7-10700 holds advantages in several PassMark stress tests that favor its higher core and thread count.

For users prioritizing Cinebench rendering performance or Geekbench single-core speed, the i7-11600H is the stronger choice. Its single-core Geekbench score of 1924 versus 1275 for the i7-10700 represents a 50.9% advantage, which is substantial for applications that rely on lightly threaded performance. The i7-11600H also leads in every Cinebench test by a consistent 21.8% margin, both single-core and multi-core.

The i7-10700 is preferable for workloads that scale with raw core count and memory bandwidth. Its PassMark data compression score of 252113 beats the i7-11600H's 190721 by 24.4%, and its random string sorting score of 31585 surpasses 22217 by 29.7%. Those are meaningful gains for file compression and data processing tasks.

The average benchmark scores place the i7-11600H at 19921 and the i7-10700 at 19145, a difference of roughly 4%. Both processors sit at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i7-11600H's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX at 19928 and the Intel Core i7-11800H at 19998, placing it in strong company. The i7-10700's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700K at 19238 and the Intel Core i5-12400F at 19039, indicating it remains competitive in its segment.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and use entirely different designs. The Intel Core i7-11600H uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-10700 uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm node. This node difference helps explain the i7-11600H's single-thread dominance: the newer process allows higher instruction efficiency at similar clock speeds.

Core counts differ as well. The i7-11600H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-10700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i7-10700's two additional cores provide a structural advantage in heavily parallel workloads, though the i7-11600H compensates with higher per-core efficiency.

Cache configurations reflect the generation gap. The i7-11600H has 80 KB L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 18 MB shared L3. The i7-10700 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. The i7-11600H's larger per-core L2 and overall L3 cache contribute to its performance in latency-sensitive tasks.

Memory bandwidth favors the i7-11600H at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s for the i7-10700, despite both using dual-channel DDR4. PCIe support also differs: the i7-11600H offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the i7-10700 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. For storage and GPU connectivity, the newer platform has a clear edge.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-11600H includes UHD Graphics 750, while the i7-10700 ships with UHD Graphics 630. The i7-11600H is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1787, whereas the i7-10700 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200. Their TDP ratings reflect this: 35 W for the mobile chip versus 65 W for the desktop chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Geekbench single-core test. The i7-11600H scores 1924 against 1275 for the i7-10700, a 50.9% advantage. This is the largest single-core margin in the entire comparison and demonstrates the architectural leap between generations.

Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the i7-11600H. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1339 versus 1099, a 21.8% gain. The single-core R15 test shows 188 versus 155, also 21.3% higher. Cinebench R20 and R23 follow the same pattern: the i7-11600H leads by 21.8% in both multi-core and single-core variants. The R23 multi-core score of 13286 versus 10910 is particularly notable because the i7-10700 has two additional cores yet still falls behind.

Geekbench multi-core also favors the i7-11600H at 6563 versus 5092, a 28.9% margin. This reinforces the conclusion that the i7-11600H's architectural efficiency outweighs the i7-10700's core count advantage in mainstream benchmarks.

PassMark results tell a more complex story. The i7-11600H wins data encryption with 9718 versus 5379, an 80.7% margin, the largest win for either processor in the entire comparison. It also takes find prime numbers at 65 versus 47, a 38.3% improvement, and single-thread performance at 3019 versus 2891, a 4.4% edge.

The i7-10700 counters in data-heavy workloads. Data compression shows 252113 versus 190721, a 24.4% win for the desktop chip. Random string sorting goes 31585 to 22217, a 29.7% advantage. Extended instructions favor the i7-10700 at 16160 versus 12938, a 19.9% margin. Floating point math also goes to the i7-10700 at 38823 versus 32963, a 15.1% gain, and integer math at 62988 versus 55437, a 12% difference.

The closest result is PassMark multithread: 16161 for the i7-10700 versus 16093 for the i7-11600H, a mere 0.4% difference. PassMark physics is similarly tight at 794 versus 763, a 3.9% margin for the i7-10700.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The i7-11600H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-10700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz and 2.90 GHz respectively, while boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 4.80 GHz. The i7-10700 runs at higher clock speeds, but the i7-11600H still wins most benchmarks.

The process node separates them by a full generation: 10 nm for Tiger Lake versus 14 nm for Comet Lake. The i7-11600H has a die size of 190 mm², while no die size is recorded for the i7-10700. L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core. L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB per core. L3 cache is 18 MB shared versus 16 MB shared.

Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for the i7-11600H and 46.9 GB/s for the i7-10700. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the mobile chip and Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the desktop chip. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750 and UHD Graphics 630 respectively.

Market segments are fundamentally different: the i7-11600H is a mobile processor, while the i7-10700 is a desktop processor. TDP is 35 W versus 65 W. The i7-11600H uses Intel BGA 1787, while the i7-10700 uses Intel Socket 1200. The i7-11600H was released in May 2021 and has a launch MSRP of $395. The i7-10700 was released in April 2020. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The i7-11600H wins all single-core benchmarks. Its Geekbench single-core score is 1924 versus 1275 for the i7-10700, a 50.9% advantage. PassMark single-thread also favors the i7-11600H at 3019 versus 2891, a 4.4% gain.

Q: Does the i7-10700's extra core count matter?

A: It matters in specific workloads. The i7-10700 wins PassMark data compression by 24.4%, random string sorting by 29.7%, and extended instructions by 19.9%. However, the i7-11600H still wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 21.8% despite having fewer cores.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth?

A: The i7-11600H offers 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s for the i7-10700. Both use dual-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for each processor?

A: The i7-11600H's biggest win is PassMark data encryption at 9718 versus 5379, an 80.7% margin. The i7-10700's biggest win is PassMark random string sorting at 31585 versus 22217, a 29.7% margin.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i7-11600H has an average benchmark score of 19921, while the i7-10700 scores 19145.

Q: Which processor is better for Cinebench rendering workloads?

A: The i7-11600H wins every Cinebench test by 21.8% in both multi-core and single-core variants. Its R23 multi-core score is 13286 versus 10910 for the i7-10700.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-11600H is the winner for single-threaded and lightly threaded applications. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1924 is 50.9% higher than the i7-10700's 1275, making it the clear choice for software that cannot utilize many cores. The Cinebench results show that even in multi-threaded rendering, the i7-11600H outperforms the i7-10700 by 21.8% despite having two fewer cores. This makes it the stronger option for creative professionals running rendering or 3D workloads.

The i7-11600H also dominates in encryption and prime number calculations. Data encryption performance is 80.7% higher, and find prime numbers is 38.3% higher. These results suggest strong cryptographic and mathematical processing capabilities. Its single-thread PassMark score of 3019 versus 2891 gives it a smaller but consistent 4.4% edge.

The i7-10700 wins in data compression and sorting. Its data compression score of 252113 is 24.4% above the i7-11600H's 190721, and random string sorting is 29.7% higher. These are meaningful for database operations, file archiving, and data processing pipelines. Extended instructions performance is also 19.9% higher, which may benefit specialized instruction sets in certain applications.

Floating point and integer math favor the i7-10700 by 15.1% and 12% respectively. These are classic CPU stress workloads where additional cores provide a direct advantage. PassMark multithread is nearly identical at 16161 versus 16093, a 0.4% difference that effectively makes the two processors equal in that test. PassMark physics also slightly favors the i7-10700 at 794 versus 763.

The overall picture is that the i7-11600H is the better processor for most modern workloads due to its architectural efficiency, while the i7-10700 retains advantages in specific data-heavy tasks that leverage its 8-core, 16-thread configuration. Users who run compression, sorting, or math-heavy server workloads may prefer the i7-10700. Users who value single-thread speed, rendering performance, or platform features like PCIe Gen 4 should choose the i7-11600H.