Intel Core i7-11700 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 228V Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-11700 and Intel Core Ultra 5 228V are both 8-core parts, but they serve completely different segments. The i7-11700 is an end-of-life desktop chip from the Rocket Lake generation, while the Ultra 5 228V is an active mobile processor from Lunar Lake. The benchmark record shows the i7-11700 wins 10 of 17 head-to-head tests, while the Ultra 5 228V wins 7. That does not tell the whole story, because the margins are not uniform.

For users building a desktop system with an Intel Socket 1200 motherboard, the i7-11700 is the obvious pick. It dominates multi-threaded workloads, especially in Cinebench R23 multicore where it scores 17,504 versus 9,932, a 76.2% advantage. It also wins integer math by over 100% and data compression by 51.5%. If your work involves rendering, compiling, or heavy spreadsheet crunching, the i7-11700 is the clear winner.

For users who need a mobile processor with low power draw and strong single-thread performance, the Ultra 5 228V is the better choice. Its 17 W TDP versus the i7-11700's 65 W TDP makes it far more suitable for thin laptops. It also wins passmark single-thread by 14.9%, passmark physics by 43.6%, and floating-point math by 13%. The Ultra 5 228V is also the only one of the two with active production status.

Do not pick either if you need the other's strengths. The i7-11700 is a desktop workhorse, the Ultra 5 228V is an efficient mobile part. The data does not support using one in the other's role.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-11700 wins every multicore Cinebench test in the head-to-head record. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 17.4% lead, R20 multicore shows a 13.2% lead, and R23 multicore shows a massive 76.2% lead. It also wins passmark multithread by 13.4%, integer math by 100.8%, extended instructions by 23.8%, data compression by 51.5%, and random string sorting by 41.8%. These are all throughput-heavy tasks where having 16 threads versus 8 threads matters.

The Ultra 5 228V wins in single-thread and specialized workloads. Passmark single-thread shows a 14.9% lead, Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 7.1% lead, and passmark physics shows a 43.6% lead. It also wins floating-point math by 13% and data encryption by 2.5%. The prime number finding test is a standout: the Ultra 5 228V scores 168 versus 55, a 67.3% advantage. That test appears to favor the newer architecture's efficiency in a specific instruction pattern.

The split is clean. The i7-11700 wins where thread count and raw throughput dominate. The Ultra 5 228V wins where per-core efficiency and specialized execution matter. If you have a workload that is heavily parallel, the older chip wins. If your workload is single-threaded or uses specific math patterns, the newer chip wins.

Architecture Differences

The i7-11700 uses Rocket Lake, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. It supports DDR4 memory, dual-channel, with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. It uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 750. It is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200.

The Ultra 5 228V uses Lunar Lake, built on TSMC's 3 nm process. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, so no Hyper-Threading. Base clock is 2.10 GHz, boost is 4.50 GHz. Cache is 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is listed as unknown and depends on the motherboard, but it is dual-channel. PCIe is Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are Arc 130V. It is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833.

The architectural gap is stark. The i7-11700 is a 14 nm desktop chip with 16 threads and a 65 W TDP. The Ultra 5 228V is a 3 nm mobile chip with 8 threads and a 17 W TDP. The Ultra 5 has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, but the i7-11700 has double the shared L3 (16 MB versus 8 MB). The i7-11700 also has far more PCIe lanes (20 versus 4) and a higher boost clock. The Ultra 5 228V compensates with a more modern process node and a newer graphics core.

Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-11700 has a launch MSRP of $323; the Ultra 5 228V has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-11700 wins every multicore head-to-head test. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 76.2% lead, R20 multicore shows 13.2%, and R15 multicore shows 17.4%. Passmark multithread also favors the i7-11700 by 13.4%.

Q: Is the Ultra 5 228V ever faster?

A: Yes, in single-threaded and specialized tests. It wins passmark single-thread by 14.9%, Cinebench R15 single-core by 7.1%, passmark physics by 43.6%, floating-point math by 13%, data encryption by 2.5%, and prime number finding by 67.3%.

Q: Why does the Ultra 5 228V have fewer threads?

A: The Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-11700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The newer Lunar Lake architecture does not use Hyper-Threading, which explains the thread count difference and contributes to the i7-11700's multicore advantage.

Q: Can I use the i7-11700 in a laptop?

A: No. The i7-11700 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200, with a 65 W TDP. The Ultra 5 228V is a mobile part on Intel BGA 2833 with a 17 W TDP.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The Ultra 5 228V has Arc 130V, while the i7-11700 has UHD Graphics 750. The benchmark record does not include graphics tests, but the newer Arc 130V is part of the Lunar Lake architecture.

Q: Is the i7-11700 still in production?

A: No. The i7-11700 is marked as end-of-life, released on 2021-03-15. The Ultra 5 228V is active, released on 2024-09-23.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the i7-11700 is Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 17,504 versus 9,932. That is a 76.2% delta, the largest anywhere in the head-to-head table. Passmark integer math shows a 100.8% lead: 79,687 versus 39,679. Data compression is also heavily in favor of the i7-11700, with 263,563 versus 173,924, a 51.5% edge. Random string sorting goes to the i7-11700 by 41.8%, and extended instructions by 23.8%. Even in Cinebench R20 multicore, the i7-11700 leads 7,351 versus 6,491, a 13.2% margin.

The biggest win for the Ultra 5 228V is passmark find prime numbers, scoring 168 versus 55, a 67.3% advantage. Passmark physics shows a 43.6% lead: 1,538 versus 868. Passmark single-thread shows 3,836 versus 3,263, a 14.9% edge. Floating-point math goes to the Ultra 5 228V by 13%, and data encryption by 2.5%. Cinebench R15 single-core is close: 267 versus 248, a 7.1% win for the Ultra 5 228V.

Notable near-ties: Cinebench R20 single-core actually goes to the i7-11700, scoring 1,037 versus 916, a 13.2% win. That is surprising because the Ultra 5 228V wins other single-thread tests. The data shows the i7-11700's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz helps in some single-thread scenarios, while the Ultra 5 228V wins others due to architectural efficiency.

Overall, the i7-11700 wins 10 tests, the Ultra 5 228V wins 7. The average benchmark score for the i7-11700 is 21,891, and for the Ultra 5 228V it is 21,440. Both sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs. The i7-11700's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9554P with an average score of 21,899 and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U at 21,874. The Ultra 5 228V's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 at 21,484 and the Intel Core i9-11900H at 21,367.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-11700 | Intel Core Ultra 5 228V |

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

| Cores | 8 | 8 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 17 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel BGA 2833 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Lunar Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | Unknown, depends on motherboard |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | Arc 130V |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2024-09-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $323 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SRKNS | SRPMVSRPMU |

The two chips differ in nearly every meaningful specification. The i7-11700 has double the threads, a higher boost clock, a 65 W TDP, a desktop socket, more PCIe lanes, more L3 cache, and a higher memory bandwidth rating. The Ultra 5 228V has a smaller process node, larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, a 17 W TDP, a mobile socket, and PCIe Gen 5. The i7-11700 is end-of-life, the Ultra 5 228V is active. The only shared traits are 8 cores, dual-channel memory, no ECC, and no unlocked multiplier.