Intel Core i7-11700B vs Intel Core i7-11850HE Comparison

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-11700B and Intel Core i7-11850HE are both mobile processors from Intel's 11th Gen Core series, built on the Tiger Lake-H architecture and manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. Both chips share the same Tiger Lake codename, the same foundry, and an identical die size of 190 mm². Each processor packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The cache hierarchy is also identical: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

The two parts diverge most clearly in clock strategy and power envelope. The Core i7-11700B runs a 3.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Core i7-11850HE runs a substantially lower 2.10 GHz base clock with a 4.70 GHz boost. That difference in base frequency is paired with a major thermal design point gap: the 11700B is rated at 65 W TDP, whereas the 11850HE is rated at only 35 W TDP. In practical terms, the 11700B is configured for higher sustained throughput, while the 11850HE is tuned for efficiency and lower power draw.

Both processors use the same Intel BGA 1787 socket, support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, and integrate UHD Graphics based on Xe-LP. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The 11700B was released on May 10, 2021, and is now marked as end-of-life, while the 11850HE launched later on August 2, 2021, and remains an active production part. The 11850HE carries a launch MSRP of $400. The 11700B has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The architectural story is therefore one of identical silicon, differentiated by operating point. Same node, same core count, same cache, same memory subsystem, same graphics. The defining variable is the power and frequency target, which shows up directly in benchmark results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data includes six direct Cinebench comparisons between the two chips, and the Core i7-11700B wins every single one. The margins are consistent, sitting just above 4% across all tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 11700B scores 1826 against 1753 for the 11850HE, a 4.2% advantage. Single-core R15 goes 257 to 247, a 4% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 7609 versus 7308, again 4.1% ahead for the 11700B, and single-core is 1074 versus 1031, a 4.2% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 18119 for the 11700B against 17402 for the 11850HE, a 4.1% gap, and R23 single-core lands at 2558 versus 2456, 4.2% ahead.

The pattern is remarkably uniform. Every head-to-head delta sits between 4.0% and 4.2%, which suggests the performance difference is driven by the sustained clock advantage of the 11700B rather than any architectural quirk. The higher base clock, 3.20 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, allows the 11700B to maintain a consistent edge in both lightly threaded and fully loaded workloads. The boost clocks are closer, 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, which explains why the single-core margins are not dramatically larger than multi-core margins.

The database also records an average benchmark score for each part. The 11700B averages 5241, while the 11850HE averages 5095, a difference of roughly 146 points. Both chips sit at the 60th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite the 11700B's consistent head-to-head wins.

Looking at nearest rivals, the 11700B sits alongside the Intel Core i9-10850K with an average score of 5240 and a delta of 0%, as well as the Intel Core i5-14401E at 5253 (delta -0.2%), the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at 5259 (delta -0.3%), and the Intel Core i5-13400T at 5210 (delta 0.6%). The 11850HE, meanwhile, is bracketed by the AMD EPYC 7262 at 5109 (delta -0.3%), the Intel Xeon W-2155 at 5072 (delta 0.5%), the Intel Core i9-7900X at 5120 (delta -0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5750GE at 5070 (delta 0.5%). Both chips compete in a similar average-score neighborhood, but the 11700B sits slightly higher.

The 11850HE has additional Geekbench results in the database that the 11700B lacks: 8576 multi-core and 1984 single-core. These are not directly comparable to any Geekbench scores for the 11700B, so they serve only as standalone reference points.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-11700B wins across the board in every recorded benchmark. It holds a 4.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 4% lead in R15 single-core, a 4.1% lead in R20 multi-core, a 4.2% lead in R20 single-core, a 4.1% lead in R23 multi-core, and a 4.2% lead in R23 single-core. That is a clean sweep of six head-to-head tests.

The use case for the 11700B is straightforward: any workload that benefits from higher sustained clock speeds. Rendering in Cinebench, CPU-bound productivity tasks, and single-threaded applications will all run faster on the 11700B. The 65 W TDP allows the processor to hold higher frequencies under load, which is precisely what the benchmark data reflects.

The 11850HE, by contrast, has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its advantage is not in measured performance but in its operating characteristics. At 35 W TDP, it consumes less power and generates less heat than the 11700B. For systems where thermal headroom is limited, chassis cooling is constrained, or battery life is a priority, the 11850HE may be the more appropriate fit even though it gives up roughly 4% performance.

The 11850HE also remains an active production part, while the 11700B is end-of-life. For long-term system planning, availability may favor the 11850HE. In terms of raw recorded performance, however, the 11700B is the faster processor in every test the database has measured.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-11700B outperforms the Intel Core i7-11850HE in every recorded benchmark. The margins are consistent at roughly 4% across multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests, from R15 through R23. The 11700B's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, combined with its 65 W TDP, delivers a measurable and repeatable performance advantage.

Users who need maximum CPU throughput from this generation should choose the 11700B. It wins six out of six head-to-head tests, holds a higher average benchmark score of 5241 versus 5095, and matches the 11850HE's 60th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The 11700B also sits in slightly faster company among its nearest rivals, with an average score essentially tied with the Core i9-10850K.

Users who prioritize power efficiency should consider the 11850HE. Its 35 W TDP is well below the 11700B's 65 W rating, and it remains an active production part with a recorded launch MSRP of $400. The performance cost is real but modest, around 4% in every measured test. For thermally constrained or battery-powered systems, that tradeoff may be entirely reasonable.

There is no scenario in the recorded data where the 11850HE beats the 11700B on performance. There is a scenario where the 11850HE's lower power envelope and active production status make it the better system-level choice. Pick the 11700B for speed, the 11850HE for efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700B scores 18119 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE scores 17402. That gives the 11700B a 4.1% lead.

Q: How big is the single-core performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 11700B scores 2558 against 2456 for the 11850HE, a 4.2% advantage. Similar margins appear in R15 and R20 single-core tests.

Q: Do the two processors have the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are Tiger Lake-H parts built on Intel's 10 nm process, with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. They share the same die size of 190 mm² and the same Intel BGA 1787 socket.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Core i7-11700B is rated at 65 W TDP, while the Core i7-11850HE is rated at 35 W TDP. The lower TDP of the 11850HE is paired with a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 3.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-11700B boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Core i7-11850HE boosts to 4.70 GHz. The gap in boost clocks is smaller than the gap in base clocks.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the 11850HE wins?

A: No. The database records six head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the 11700B wins all six. The 11850HE's lowest deficit is 4% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and its largest is 4.2% in several tests.