Intel Core i7-11370H vs Intel Core i7-5930K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-11370H, which takes 7 of the 8 head-to-head comparisons. The only test where the older Intel Core i7-5930K comes out ahead is Geekbench multicore, where it scores 5715 against 5485 for the newer chip, a 4% advantage. That result is notable because the i7-5930K has more physical cores (6 versus 4) and more threads (12 versus 8), which should theoretically favor it in heavily threaded workloads, yet the margin remains modest.

Every Cinebench test, across three generations of the renderer, goes to the i7-11370H. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the score is 987 versus 886, a delta of 11.4%. The single-core result in the same test shows 139 versus 125, an 11.2% edge. Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern: 4113 versus 3692 in multicore (11.4% delta) and 580 versus 521 in single-core (11.3% delta). Cinebench R23 continues with 9793 versus 8791 in multicore and 1382 versus 1241 in single-core, both at 11.4% deltas. The consistency of these deltas, all hovering near 11.4%, suggests the i7-11370H's architectural efficiency, not just clock speed, is driving the advantage.

The most striking gap appears in Geekbench single-core, where the i7-11370H scores 1667 against 1225 for the i7-5930K. That is a 36.1% difference, by far the largest in the dataset. The i7-11370H boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the i7-5930K tops out at 3.70 GHz, and the newer Tiger Lake architecture clearly extracts more work per clock cycle. In the broader context of the database, the i7-11370H sits at the 51st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2861. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U (average score 2865, a 0.1% deficit), the Intel Xeon E-2126G (2842, 0.7% ahead), the Intel Core i7-6800K (2838, 0.8% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-10600 (2837, 0.9% ahead). The i7-5930K also holds the 51st percentile, with an average score of 2775, placing it near the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G (2774, essentially tied), the Intel Xeon D-1567 (2770, 0.2% behind), the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE (2767, 0.3% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 3 5400U (2765, 0.4% behind).

The average benchmark score difference between the two parts is 2861 versus 2775, a gap of about 3.1% in favor of the i7-11370H. That is a modest overall margin, but the distribution of wins tells a clearer story: the i7-11370H wins decisively in single-threaded and lightly threaded work, while the i7-5930K only manages a narrow win in one multicore test.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear recommendation for most users: the Intel Core i7-11370H is the stronger processor in the majority of measured scenarios. It wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head tests, including all six Cinebench variants, and delivers a 36.1% single-core advantage in Geekbench. For applications that rely heavily on single-thread performance, such as everyday desktop responsiveness, many games, and legacy software, the i7-11370H is the superior choice. Its 4.80 GHz boost clock, combined with the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, gives it a significant per-core efficiency edge over the older 22 nm Haswell design.

That said, the i7-5930K is not without merit. Its Geekbench multicore win, 5715 versus 5485, indicates that in certain heavily threaded workloads, the extra cores and threads (6 cores/12 threads versus 4 cores/8 threads) can overcome the architectural deficit. The i7-5930K also has a 15 MB shared L3 cache versus 12 MB on the i7-11370H, and it supports quad-channel memory, which can help in memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks. However, the Cinebench multicore results, all three of which favor the i7-11370H by 11.4%, suggest that the newer chip's efficiency more than compensates for the core count disadvantage in typical render workloads.

The production statuses are telling. The i7-11370H is listed as active, while the i7-5930K is end-of-life. The i7-5930K was released in 2014, the i7-11370H in 2021. The i7-5930K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing manual overclocking, while the i7-11370H is locked. For a user building a new system today, the i7-11370H represents the more future-proof option, both in terms of available performance and ongoing support.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11370H dominates in single-threaded and lightly threaded applications. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1667 versus 1225, a 36.1% lead, makes it the clear pick for tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and any software that does not scale across many cores. The Cinebench single-core tests, all showing an 11.2% to 11.4% advantage, reinforce this. The i7-11370H also wins in multicore Cinebench workloads, which is notable given its fewer physical cores. Its 4.80 GHz boost clock and modern architecture allow it to outrun the i7-5930K even when all threads are active, at least within the Cinebench renderer.

The Intel Core i7-5930K wins specifically in the Geekbench multicore test. This suggests that in certain mixed workloads, particularly those that combine multiple threads with memory access patterns that benefit from the quad-channel memory bus, the older chip can pull ahead. The i7-5930K offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, far more than the i7-11370H's 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which could matter for systems with multiple GPUs or high-speed storage arrays. Its unlocked multiplier also makes it attractive to enthusiasts who are willing to overclock, potentially closing or reversing some of the single-core gap.

In practical terms, the i7-11370H suits a mobile or compact system where power efficiency matters (its 28 W TDP versus 140 W) and where single-core speed is paramount. The i7-5930K suits a desktop workstation with heavy multi-threading demands and a need for extensive PCIe expansion, where its 140 W TDP is less of a concern.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-11370H. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1667 versus 1225 for the i7-5930K, a 36.1% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core also favors it, 1382 versus 1241.

Q: Does the i7-5930K ever win in benchmarks?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multicore, it scores 5715 against 5485 for the i7-11370H, a 4% advantage. This is its only head-to-head win out of 8 tests.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The i7-5930K has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-11370H has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the i7-11370H wins 6 of 7 multicore tests in the dataset.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The i7-11370H supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i7-5930K supports quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The i7-11370H is listed as active, while the i7-5930K is end-of-life. The i7-11370H was released in 2021, the i7-5930K in 2014.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-11370H includes Iris XE 96EU integrated graphics. The i7-5930K has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i7-11370H uses the Tiger Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process node, with a die size of 146.1 mm². The Intel Core i7-5930K uses the Haswell architecture, specifically Haswell-E, on a 22 nm process node, with a much larger die size of 356 mm². The newer process allows the i7-11370H to pack more efficiency into a smaller area.

The cache layouts differ significantly. The i7-11370H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-5930K has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a larger 15 MB shared L3 cache. Despite the smaller L3, the i7-11370H's per-core L2 cache is much larger, which helps in single-threaded workloads.

The i7-11370H supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the i7-5930K supports PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes. The newer standard offers higher bandwidth per lane, but the older chip offers far more lanes for expansion. Both support DDR4 memory, but the i7-11370H uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-5930K uses a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s.

The i7-11370H includes integrated graphics (Iris XE 96EU), making it suitable for systems without a discrete GPU. The i7-5930K has no integrated graphics, requiring a separate graphics card. The i7-11370H is a mobile part, while the i7-5930K is a desktop part. The i7-5930K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the i7-11370H does not.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: the i7-11370H has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-5930K has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for the i7-11370H and 3.50 GHz for the i7-5930K, but boost clocks favor the newer chip, 4.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The TDP is drastically different: 28 W for the i7-11370H versus 140 W for the i7-5930K.

The sockets are incompatible: the i7-11370H uses Intel BGA 1449, while the i7-5930K uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The process nodes differ (10 nm versus 22 nm), as do the die sizes (146.1 mm² versus 356 mm²) and transistor counts (the i7-5930K has 2,600 million transistors; no count is recorded for the i7-11370H).

The L1 and L2 cache configurations differ per core, as noted above. The L3 cache is 12 MB on the i7-11370H and 15 MB on the i7-5930K. Memory bandwidth differs (51.2 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s), as does the memory bus (dual-channel versus quad-channel). PCIe support differs: Gen 4 with 20 lanes versus Gen 3 with 40 lanes.

The i7-11370H has integrated graphics (Iris XE 96EU), while the i7-5930K has none. The i7-11370H is an active production part with a launch MSRP of $426; the i7-5930K is end-of-life with no recorded launch MSRP. The i7-5930K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-11370H is locked. Release dates are 2021 for the i7-11370H and 2014 for the i7-5930K.