Intel Core i7-11800H vs Intel Core i7-8700K Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data delivers an unambiguous outcome: the Intel Core i7-11800H wins all 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i7-8700K, with zero wins for the desktop part. The average benchmark scores reinforce this gap, as the 11800H posts 19998 against 19238 for the 8700K, a difference that places the mobile chip at the 74th percentile of all CPUs versus the 73rd percentile for the desktop chip. Despite the 8700K’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz, the 11800H’s newer architecture and additional cores prove decisive in nearly every workload.

Who should pick which? Strictly from the data, the 11800H is the superior choice for anyone prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, single-thread responsiveness, encryption, prime number calculations, and floating-point or integer math. Its 35 W TDP also implies lower power draw, though the database does not quantify thermals directly. The 8700K, with its unlocked multiplier and desktop socket, remains relevant for users who require an overclockable part on Socket 1151, but the benchmark results show it trailing in every measured category. The 11800H’s 44.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, for example, is a decisive margin that no overclocking effort can realistically overcome based on the recorded scores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The 11800H uses Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-H) built on a 10 nm process, while the 8700K uses Coffee Lake on a 14 nm process. This node advantage likely explains part of the performance gap, though the database only records the process sizes, not the specific transistor-level improvements. The die size also differs: the 11800H measures 190 mm², while the 8700K is smaller at 154 mm², despite the mobile chip containing more cores and cache.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. The 11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 8700K has 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache allocations follow suit: the 11800H provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The 8700K offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 cache on the 11800H is particularly notable for workloads that benefit from shared data access.

Memory support shows both parts using DDR4 with dual-channel buses, but the 11800H achieves a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the 8700K. PCIe capabilities also differ: the 11800H supports Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the 8700K is limited to Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the 11800H featuring UHD Graphics 750 versus UHD Graphics 630 on the 8700K. Neither part supports ECC memory.

The socket and market segment separate these chips physically: the 11800H is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1787, while the 8700K is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151. The 8700K has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the 11800H does not. Production status also differs, with the 11800H listed as Active and the 8700K as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the 11800H wins every benchmark, the more useful question is where the 8700K comes closest and where the 11800H runs away. The smallest margins appear in single-threaded tests: Geekbench single-core shows a 5.8% lead for the 11800H, and PassMark single-thread shows an 11.9% lead. These are the only two tests where the 8700K stays within striking distance, meaning that for lightly threaded tasks, the older chip is not far behind.

The largest gaps favor the 11800H in specialized workloads. PassMark data encryption shows a 156.3% lead, and PassMark find prime numbers shows a 117.9% lead. These results suggest the 11800H’s architecture handles cryptographic and integer-heavy prime sieving far more efficiently. Floating-point math also favors the mobile chip by 48.7%, and integer math by 55.6%. Cinebench tests consistently show a 44.5% to 44.8% advantage for the 11800H across R15, R20, and R23, covering both single-core and multi-core runs.

For general productivity, PassMark multithread shows the 11800H ahead by 47.4%, while data compression is 20.3% faster. Physics calculations, which often stress memory and cache, show a 15.7% lead for the 11800H. Random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive test, shows a 12.4% advantage. The 8700K’s best showing, outside of the two single-thread tests noted above, is in Geekbench multi-core, where it trails by 11.8%.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8700K beat the 11800H in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 19 wins for the 11800H and 0 wins for the 8700K across all tests, including single-thread and multi-thread workloads.

Q: How much faster is the 11800H in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The 11800H scores 16663 against 11527 for the 8700K, a 44.6% advantage. The same margin appears in R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The 11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 8700K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 11800H also has 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus 12 MB on the 8700K.

Q: Is the 8700K overclockable?

A: Yes, the 8700K has an unlocked multiplier, while the 11800H does not. However, the benchmark data shows the 11800H still leads in every test, including single-thread performance.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The 11800H supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the 8700K supports 42.7 GB/s. Both use DDR4 with dual-channel buses.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The 11800H features UHD Graphics 750, while the 8700K has UHD Graphics 630. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking results come from the encryption and prime number tests. PassMark data encryption shows the 11800H scoring 12241 versus 4776 for the 8700K, a delta of 156.3%. This is the largest relative gap in the entire comparison. PassMark find prime numbers follows closely, with the 11800H at 85 against 39, a 117.9% lead. These results suggest the 11800H’s newer instruction set and memory subsystem deliver outsized gains in integer-heavy, algorithmically intensive tasks.

Cinebench tests provide a consistent picture of both single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 11800H scores 16663 versus 11527, a 44.6% margin. Single-core R23 shows 2352 against 1627, also a 44.6% lead. The same pattern holds in R20 (6998 vs 4841, 44.6% multi-core; 987 vs 683, 44.5% single-core) and R15 (1679 vs 1161, 44.6% multi-core; 236 vs 163, 44.8% single-core). The near-identical deltas across all Cinebench versions indicate a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench results show a narrower gap. Multi-core scores 7986 for the 11800H versus 7140 for the 8700K, an 11.8% lead. Single-core scores 1666 versus 1575, a 5.8% lead. These are the smallest margins in the entire dataset, suggesting that Geekbench’s workload mix is less sensitive to the architectural differences than Cinebench or PassMark.

PassMark tests reveal the breadth of the 11800H’s dominance. Integer math shows 71423 versus 45892, a 55.6% lead. Floating-point math shows 42423 versus 28538, a 48.7% lead. Multithread performance scores 20012 versus 13576, a 47.4% advantage. Data compression is 239304 versus 198951, a 20.3% lead. Extended instructions score 16068 versus 13514, an 18.9% lead. Physics shows 938 versus 811, a 15.7% advantage. Random string sorting is 28411 versus 25270, a 12.4% lead. Single-thread PassMark scores 3043 versus 2720, an 11.9% advantage, matching the duplicate singlethread test exactly.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ according to the database.

| Field | Intel Core i7-11800H | Intel Core i7-8700K |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1900.00 MHz | 3700.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Tiger Lake-H | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Core i7 (Tiger Lake-H) | Core i7 (Coffee Lake) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 190 mm² | 154 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2021-05-10 | 2017-10-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $395 | $359 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SRKT3 | SR3QRQNMK |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 19998 | 19238 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 74 | 73 |