Intel Core i7-11700F vs Intel Core i9-11900H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700F records an average benchmark score of 21988, while the Intel Core i9-11900H records 21367. Both sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Core i7-11700F scores 17633 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 5.1% ahead of the Core i9-11900H's 16772. The single-core gap is similar, with the desktop part scoring 2489 versus 2367, a 5.2% advantage.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Core i9-11900H wins?

A: Yes, the Core i9-11900H wins two tests. It scores 87 in Passmark find prime numbers versus 56 for the Core i7-11700F, a 35.6% margin, and it scores 953 in Passmark physics versus 885, a 7.1% edge.

Q: What is the difference in launch MSRP between the two?

A: The Core i7-11700F has a launch MSRP of $298, while the Core i9-11900H has a launch MSRP of $546.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core i9-11900H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 16 MB on the Core i7-11700F. The mobile part also has a larger L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory specifications?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures despite sharing the Core 11th Gen series name. The Core i7-11700F is built on Rocket Lake, using a 14 nm process node, while the Core i9-11900H uses Tiger Lake-H on a 10 nm node. The die size reflects this difference: the Rocket Lake desktop chip measures 276 mm², while the Tiger Lake mobile chip is smaller at 190 mm².

Both CPUs have 8 cores and 16 threads, and both boost to 4.90 GHz. The base clocks differ, with the desktop part running at 2.50 GHz and the mobile part at 2.10 GHz. The thermal design power is substantially different, reflecting their intended platforms: the Core i7-11700F carries a 65 W TDP, while the Core i9-11900H is rated at 35 W.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, but the L2 cache on the Tiger Lake part is larger at 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core on Rocket Lake. The L3 cache also favors the mobile chip, with 24 MB shared versus 16 MB shared.

The Core i7-11700F uses the Intel Socket 1200 platform, while the Core i9-11900H uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket, making the desktop part upgradeable in a standard motherboard and the mobile part soldered. The Core i9-11900H includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the Core i7-11700F has no integrated graphics. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The release dates are about two months apart, with the Core i7-11700F launching on 2021-03-15 and the Core i9-11900H on 2021-05-10. Both are end-of-life products and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data covers 23 tests across 3DMark, Cinebench, and Passmark suites. The Core i7-11700F wins 21 of those tests, while the Core i9-11900H wins 2.

The largest win for the desktop part comes in 3DMark max threads, where the Core i7-11700F scores 7479 versus 6109, a 22.4% margin. The 3DMark 16 threads test shows a similar pattern, with 7378 versus 6072, a 21.5% advantage. These are the two biggest gaps in the entire comparison.

The 3DMark scaling tests reveal how the desktop chip pulls ahead as thread counts rise. At 2 threads, the Core i7-11700F leads by 6.3%, scoring 1816 versus 1708. At 4 threads, the lead is 8.1%, with scores of 3355 versus 3104. At 8 threads, the margin grows to 10.2%, with 5513 versus 5001. This pattern suggests the Rocket Lake desktop chip scales better with additional cores under load.

The Cinebench results are consistent across versions. In Cinebench R15, the multi-core score is 1777 versus 1690, a 5.1% lead, and the single-core score is 250 versus 238, a 5% lead. Cinebench R20 shows the same 5.1% multi-core margin, with 7405 versus 7044, and a 5.1% single-core edge with 1045 versus 994. Cinebench R23 follows with a 5.1% multi-core gap (17633 versus 16772) and a 5.2% single-core gap (2489 versus 2367).

The Passmark suite shows mixed results. The Core i7-11700F leads in data compression by 11.1%, scoring 266035 versus 239366. Extended instructions show a 13.6% advantage, with 18308 versus 16123. Integer math favors the desktop part by 8.6% (79133 versus 72882), and floating point math by 7.5% (46307 versus 43094). Random string sorting is 7.7% faster at 30498 versus 28328.

Smaller desktop wins include data encryption at 2.7% (12563 versus 12232) and multithread at 2.8% (20728 versus 20162). Single-thread performance favors the Core i7-11700F by 5.2%, with 3262 versus 3102 in both passmark single thread tests.

The two wins for the Core i9-11900H are notable for their specificity. The Passmark find prime numbers test shows a 35.6% advantage for the mobile chip, scoring 87 versus 56. The Passmark physics test gives the mobile part a 7.1% edge, with 953 versus 885. These are the only tests where the desktop chip does not take the lead, and both are narrow workload categories within the Passmark suite.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear overall picture: the Core i7-11700F is the stronger performer in the vast majority of benchmarks. Its average benchmark score of 21988 is 2.9% higher than the Core i9-11900H's 21367, and it wins 21 of 23 head-to-head tests. The desktop part also comes with a lower launch MSRP of $298 versus $546 for the mobile chip.

For desktop builders who need maximum throughput in rendering, encoding, or general compute workloads, the Core i7-11700F is the choice supported by the recorded data. Its advantages in 3DMark multi-threaded tests reach over 20%, and its Cinebench margins are consistent at around 5% across all versions. The lack of integrated graphics on the desktop part is a consideration, but the benchmark results show no penalty in compute performance.

The Core i9-11900H makes sense for mobile platforms where the 35 W TDP is a constraint and integrated graphics are required. Its two benchmark wins, in prime number finding and physics simulations, suggest it has strengths in specific mathematical workloads. The larger L2 and L3 caches may contribute to these results, though the data does not isolate cache effects directly.

The percentile rankings are identical at 75 for both processors, placing them in the same performance tier relative to all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for each chip are different, but both sit in a similar competitive neighborhood. The Core i7-11700F is closest to the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X with a 0% delta, while the Core i9-11900H is closest to the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V with a -0.3% delta.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The core counts are identical at 8 cores and 16 threads, and the boost clock is identical at 4.90 GHz. The base clock differs, with the Core i7-11700F at 2.50 GHz and the Core i9-11900H at 2.10 GHz.

The TDP is a major difference: 65 W for the desktop part versus 35 W for the mobile part. The sockets are different, with Intel Socket 1200 for the Core i7-11700F and Intel BGA 1787 for the Core i9-11900H. The architecture and codename differ, with Rocket Lake for the desktop chip and Tiger Lake for the mobile chip. The process nodes are 14 nm and 10 nm respectively, and the die sizes are 276 mm² and 190 mm².

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3. The L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core, but the L2 is 512 KB per core on the desktop part versus 1.25 MB per core on the mobile part. The L3 is 16 MB shared versus 24 MB shared.

The integrated graphics field is a key difference: the Core i7-11700F has none, while the Core i9-11900H includes UHD Graphics 750. The market segments are Desktop and Mobile respectively. The release dates differ by about two months, and the launch MSRP values are $298 and $546. The part numbers are SRKNR for the desktop chip and SRKT7 for the mobile chip.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-11700F dominates in multi-threaded workloads that scale across cores. The 3DMark results show the largest margins, with 21.5% at 16 threads and 22.4% at max threads. These are the kinds of workloads that benefit from sustained high clock speeds across all cores, and the desktop part's 65 W TDP allows it to maintain performance without the thermal constraints of a mobile platform.

Rendering workloads in Cinebench consistently favor the desktop part by roughly 5% in both single-core and multi-core tests. The consistency of this margin across R15, R20, and R23 suggests a fundamental clock or efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific effect. The desktop chip's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz likely contributes to this pattern.

Data-heavy tasks in Passmark also favor the Core i7-11700F. Compression, encryption, extended instructions, integer math, and floating point math all show desktop advantages ranging from 2.7% to 13.6%. These are common compute patterns in general productivity and scientific workloads.

The Core i9-11900H wins in two specific Passmark tests. The find prime numbers test gives it a 35.6% advantage, which is a CPU-bound mathematical workload that may benefit from the larger cache hierarchy. The physics test shows a 7.1% edge, suggesting the mobile chip handles certain simulation-type calculations more efficiently. These wins indicate that the Tiger Lake architecture, despite its lower power envelope, has strengths in particular computational patterns.

For users choosing between these two, the decision hinges on platform requirements rather than raw performance. The desktop chip is the stronger compute performer across nearly every benchmark category, and it carries a lower launch MSRP. The mobile chip offers integrated graphics, a lower TDP, and a larger cache, making it suitable for laptops where power efficiency and built-in display output are requirements. The data shows that the Core i7-11700F is the better choice for maximum performance in a desktop system, while the Core i9-11900H serves mobile use cases where its specific cache and efficiency characteristics matter more than raw multi-threaded throughput.