Intel Core i7-11390H vs Intel Core i7-9700T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a surprisingly consistent picture across the Cinebench suite. The Intel Core i7-9700T wins seven of the eight head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are remarkably narrow in almost every case. The single exception is a decisive victory for the Intel Core i7-11390H in Geekbench single-core performance.

Looking first at the multi-core results, the pattern is nearly uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-9700T scores 839 against 828 for the i7-11390H, a delta of -1.3% from the perspective of the mobile chip. The R20 multi-core test shows the same relationship: 3496 versus 3451, again a -1.3% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows suit with 8325 against 8218, once more a -1.3% delta. The Geekbench multi-core test is the closest contest of all, with the i7-9700T at 5503 and the i7-11390H at 5478, a delta of only -0.5%.

Single-core results in the Cinebench family mirror the multi-core trend, though the margins shift slightly. In R15 single-core, the i7-9700T posts 118 against 116, a -1.7% delta. R20 single-core shows 493 versus 487, a -1.2% delta. R23 single-core records 1175 against 1160, a -1.3% delta. These are all sub-2% differences, well within the range of measurement noise for many benchmark runs.

The one dramatic outlier is Geekbench single-core. Here the i7-11390H dominates with a score of 1985 versus 1392 for the i7-9700T. That is a 42.6% advantage for the Tiger Lake part, a massive gap that completely inverts the otherwise tight race. This single result suggests a fundamental difference in how the two chips handle the specific workload characteristics of the Geekbench single-threaded test.

What the data does not show is any scenario where the i7-11390H wins a multi-core test. Across all three Cinebench versions and Geekbench multi-core, the older desktop chip maintains a small but consistent lead. The aggregate benchmark scores reflect this: the i7-11390H averages 2715 across all recorded tests, while the i7-9700T averages 2668. The i7-11390H sits at the 50th percentile versus all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1577 with an identical average score of 2715 and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U at 2713, a 0.1% delta. The i7-9700T also sits at the 50th percentile, with the Intel Core i5-9500F close behind at 2670, a -0.1% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-11390H uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Tiger Lake-H variant, built on a 10 nm process node from Intel. The Intel Core i7-9700T uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake Refresh, on a 14 nm process node.

The core counts differ substantially. The i7-11390H provides 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach its thread count. The i7-9700T provides 8 cores and 8 threads, with no Hyper-Threading support. This means the desktop chip has double the physical cores, but the same total thread count as the mobile part. The impact on multi-core performance is muted by the fact that both chips process 8 threads simultaneously, which explains why the multi-core benchmark scores are so close.

Cache hierarchies show clear generational differences. The i7-11390H allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-9700T allocates 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, also with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Tiger Lake part has significantly more L2 cache per core, roughly five times the amount, which aids single-threaded performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Clock speeds tell a story of different operating envelopes. The i7-11390H has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i7-9700T has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The mobile chip has a substantially higher boost ceiling, which directly explains its 42.6% lead in Geekbench single-core. The desktop chip compensates with a lower but more stable base frequency and higher thermal headroom.

The process node difference is significant. The 10 nm Tiger Lake die measures 146.1 mm², while the 14 nm Coffee Lake die measures 180.3 mm². The smaller process allows the i7-11390H to pack its features into a smaller area, contributing to its mobile suitability. The i7-9700T's larger die reflects the older, less dense manufacturing process.

Memory support differs in bandwidth. Both chips support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, but the i7-11390H offers 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7-9700T. This bandwidth advantage for the mobile part does not translate into multi-core wins, but it may contribute to its single-core strength.

PCIe capabilities also diverge. The i7-11390H supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-9700T supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This is a forward-looking difference, with the Tiger Lake part able to connect to faster storage and expansion devices.

Integrated graphics present another contrast. The i7-11390H includes Iris XE graphics with 96 execution units, while the i7-9700T includes UHD Graphics 630. The Tiger Lake integrated solution is substantially more capable, though the database does not record any graphics benchmarks for either chip.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is defined by the benchmark data. The i7-9700T wins in every multi-threaded scenario recorded, plus every Cinebench single-core test. The i7-11390H wins only in Geekbench single-core, but by a commanding margin.

For multi-threaded productivity workloads, the i7-9700T is the consistent choice. Its 8 physical cores provide a small but repeatable edge across all three Cinebench versions and Geekbench multi-core. The differences range from -0.5% to -1.3%, which means the i7-9700T is never more than about 1.3% ahead. This is a narrow advantage, but it is uniform across every multi-threaded test in the database.

For single-threaded applications, the choice depends on the benchmark. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core, the i7-9700T leads by margins of -1.2% to -1.7%. These are negligible differences. In Geekbench single-core, however, the i7-11390H leads by 42.6%, a result that cannot be ignored. The Tiger Lake architecture clearly excels at the specific mix of integer and floating-point operations in that test, likely due to its higher 5.00 GHz boost clock and larger L2 cache.

Practical implications follow from these results. For workloads that are heavily multi-threaded, such as video rendering, compiling, or batch image processing, the i7-9700T offers a slight but consistent performance advantage. For single-threaded tasks that resemble the Geekbench workload, such as certain scripting, spreadsheet, or light development tasks, the i7-11390H is dramatically faster.

The i7-11390H also carries advantages outside raw benchmark scores. It is an active production part, while the i7-9700T is end-of-life. The i7-11390H supports PCIe Gen 4, has a smaller die, and includes a more capable integrated GPU. For a mobile platform, these features matter even if the benchmark deltas are small.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i7-11390H has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for the mobile part and 2000.00 MHz for the desktop part. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 4.30 GHz respectively.

Thermal design power differs substantially: the i7-11390H is rated at 28 W, while the i7-9700T is rated at 35 W. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1449 for the mobile chip, Intel Socket 1151 for the desktop chip.

The process nodes are 10 nm and 14 nm. Die sizes are 146.1 mm² and 180.3 mm². Cache configurations differ in L1 and L2, with the i7-11390H offering 80 KB and 1.25 MB per core, versus 64 KB and 256 KB per core for the i7-9700T. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache.

Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for the i7-11390H and 42.7 GB/s for the i7-9700T. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 20 lanes versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Iris XE 96EU versus UHD Graphics 630.

Release dates are June 2021 for the i7-11390H and April 2019 for the i7-9700T. Production status is Active versus End-of-life. Part numbers are SRKSL and SRG17. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. Neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700T wins 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks in the database, including all Cinebench tests and Geekbench multi-core. The Intel Core i7-11390H wins only Geekbench single-core.

Q: How large is the Intel Core i7-9700T's lead in multi-core performance?

A: Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the i7-9700T leads by -1.3% in each case. In Geekbench multi-core, the lead is -0.5%. These are narrow margins, never exceeding 1.3%.

Q: Why does the Intel Core i7-11390H win Geekbench single-core by such a large margin?

A: The i7-11390H scores 1985 versus 1392 for the i7-9700T, a 42.6% difference. The mobile chip's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz and larger per-core L2 cache of 1.25 MB likely contribute to this result.

Q: Do the two processors have the same thread count?

A: Yes, both support 8 threads. The i7-11390H achieves this with 4 cores and 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i7-9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads without Hyper-Threading.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two chips?

A: The i7-11390H is built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 146.1 mm². The i7-9700T is built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 180.3 mm².

Q: Which processor supports newer PCIe technology?

A: The i7-11390H supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The i7-9700T supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.