Intel Core i7-11600H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165U Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U and the Intel Core i7-11600H. The Core Ultra 7 165U wins the majority of the head-to-head tests, taking 13 victories against 6 for the Core i7-11600H. However, the nature of those victories reveals distinct performance profiles. The Core Ultra 7 165U excels in sustained multi-threaded workloads and specific math tasks, while the Core i7-11600H demonstrates superior performance in certain rendering benchmarks and single-core tests. This is not a simple generational leap; it is a trade-off between a power-efficient 12-core design and a higher-power 6-core design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U comes in the PassMark physics test, where it scores 1141 against the Core i7-11600H's 763. This represents a commanding 49.5% lead, indicating a substantial advantage in simulating physical systems. The Core Ultra 7 165U also shows a strong 23.7% lead in floating-point math (40775 vs 32963) and a 22.4% lead in data encryption (11896 vs 9718). These results suggest the newer architecture is significantly more efficient at processing parallel mathematical operations.

Conversely, the Core i7-11600H secures its largest win in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, posting 13286 against the Core Ultra 7 165U's 10226, a 23% difference. This is a notable reversal, as the Core Ultra 7 165U wins the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a 19.9% margin (1605 vs 1339) and the R20 multi-core test with a 6.5% margin (5943 vs 5580). The R23 result suggests that the Core i7-11600H's 6 high-power cores are better suited for the sustained, heavy load of this particular render test.

In single-core performance, the results are also mixed. The Core i7-11600H wins the Geekbench single-core test decisively, scoring 1924 against the Core Ultra 7 165U's 1450, a 24.6% advantage. It also wins Cinebench R23 single-core (1875 vs 1662, an 11.4% lead). However, the Core Ultra 7 165U wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test (231 vs 188, a 22.9% lead) and the PassMark single-thread test (3357 vs 3019, an 11.2% lead). This inconsistency across different single-thread benchmarks makes it difficult to declare a clear winner in this category.

The Core Ultra 7 165U also demonstrates advantages in several other PassMark sub-tests, including a 6.3% lead in multithread (17101 vs 16093), a 4.2% lead in integer math (57785 vs 55437), and a 1.5% lead in find prime numbers (66 vs 65). The Core i7-11600H counters with wins in passmark extended instructions (12938 vs 10610, an 18% lead), passmark random string sorting (22217 vs 21258, a 4.3% lead), and passmark data compression (190721 vs 188105, a 1.4% lead). Overall, the Core Ultra 7 165U's wins are often larger in magnitude, contributing to its higher win count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is based on the Meteor Lake architecture and is manufactured on a 7 nm process by Intel. It features 12 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 1700.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-11600H uses the Tiger Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz but a lower boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 165U also has a significantly lower TDP of 15W compared to the Core i7-11600H's 35W, highlighting its focus on power efficiency.

Cache configurations also differ considerably. The Core Ultra 7 165U has a smaller shared L3 cache of 12 MB, but its per-core L2 cache is 2 MB, compared to the Core i7-11600H's 1.25 MB per core. The Core i7-11600H compensates with a larger shared L3 cache of 18 MB. The Core Ultra 7 165U's L1 cache is also larger at 112 KB per core versus 80 KB per core. These differences in cache hierarchy likely contribute to the varied performance in different workload types.

Memory support is another key differentiator. The Core Ultra 7 165U supports DDR5 memory, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Core i7-11600H supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The Core Ultra 7 165U also features a newer integrated graphics solution, the Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, compared to the UHD Graphics 750 in the Core i7-11600H. The two processors use different sockets (Intel BGA 2049 vs Intel BGA 1787) and have different PCIe lane counts, with the Core i7-11600H offering 20 lanes (Gen 4) versus the Core Ultra 7 165U's 12 lanes.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has 12 cores, while the Intel Core i7-11600H has 6 cores. The Core Ultra 7 165U also has 14 threads compared to the Core i7-11600H's 12 threads.

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

A: The results are mixed. The Intel Core i7-11600H wins the Geekbench single-core test (1924 vs 1450) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1875 vs 1662), but the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U wins Cinebench R15 single-core (231 vs 188) and PassMark single-thread (3357 vs 3019).

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i7-11600H has a TDP of 35W, which is higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U's TDP of 15W.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-11600H supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-11600H has a larger shared L3 cache at 18 MB, compared to the 12 MB shared L3 cache on the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U show its biggest lead?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U shows its biggest lead in the PassMark physics test, where it scores 1141 compared to the Core i7-11600H's 763, a 49.5% advantage.

Specification Differences

• Cores: 12 (Ultra 7 165U) vs 6 (i7-11600H)
• Threads: 14 (Ultra 7 165U) vs 12 (i7-11600H)
• Base Clock: 1700.00 MHz (Ultra 7 165U) vs 2500.00 MHz (i7-11600H)
• Boost Clock: 4.90 GHz (Ultra 7 165U) vs 4.60 GHz (i7-11600H)
• TDP: 15W (Ultra 7 165U) vs 35W (i7-11600H)
• Socket: Intel BGA 2049 (Ultra 7 165U) vs Intel BGA 1787 (i7-11600H)
• Architecture: Meteor Lake (Ultra 7 165U) vs Tiger Lake (i7-11600H)
• Process Node: 7 nm (Ultra 7 165U) vs 10 nm (i7-11600H)
• L1 Cache: 112 KB per core (Ultra 7 165U) vs 80 KB per core (i7-11600H)
• L2 Cache: 2 MB per core (Ultra 7 165U) vs 1.25 MB per core (i7-11600H)
• L3 Cache: 12 MB shared (Ultra 7 165U) vs 18 MB shared (i7-11600H)
• Memory Support: DDR5 (Ultra 7 165U) vs DDR4 (i7-11600H)
• Memory Bandwidth: 89.6 GB/s (Ultra 7 165U) vs 51.2 GB/s (i7-11600H)
• PCIe Lanes: 12 (Ultra 7 165U) vs 20 (i7-11600H)
• Integrated Graphics: Arc Xe-LPG 64EU (Ultra 7 165U) vs UHD Graphics 750 (i7-11600H)
• Launch MSRP: $448 (Ultra 7 165U) vs $395 (i7-11600H)

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U as the more versatile processor for a majority of tasks. Its 13 benchmark wins out of 19 head-to-head comparisons, combined with a higher average benchmark score of 20249 versus 19921, indicate a broader performance advantage. The Core Ultra 7 165U's strengths in physics simulation (49.5% lead), floating-point math (23.7% lead), and data encryption (22.4% lead) are significant. Its lower TDP of 15W also makes it a more compelling choice for power-sensitive mobile designs. The Intel Core i7-11600H, however, remains a strong contender for specific workloads. Its dominance in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test and a substantial 24.6% lead in Geekbench single-core performance highlights its capability in certain rendering and lightly-threaded applications. For a user prioritizing overall multi-threaded throughput and modern features like DDR5 support, the Core Ultra 7 165U is the clear choice. For those who need peak performance in Cinebench R23 rendering or specific single-threaded tasks, the Core i7-11600H has a compelling case.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U wins in scenarios that benefit from its higher core count and newer architecture. This includes physics calculations, where its PassMark score is nearly 50% higher, and floating-point intensive workloads like scientific simulations and financial modeling. Its significant lead in data encryption also makes it the better option for security-related tasks. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, enabled by DDR5 support, gives it an edge in memory-hungry applications. Its lower TDP makes it the preferred choice for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal management are paramount.

The Intel Core i7-11600H wins in scenarios that respond well to its higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache. Its victory in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test suggests it can handle heavy, sustained rendering workloads better than the Core Ultra 7 165U. Its 24.6% lead in Geekbench single-core and 11.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core indicate a strong advantage in legacy applications or tasks that rely heavily on a single thread. The i7-11600H also demonstrates superiority in extended instruction sets (18% lead) and random string sorting, making it potentially better suited for specific database or encryption workloads that leverage these instructions. Its higher TDP of 35W suggests it is designed for laptops that can accommodate more robust cooling solutions.