Intel Core i7-11800H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165U Comparison

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-11800H is the dominant performer in this comparison, winning 16 of the 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U manages only 3 wins, all in specific single-thread or physics-related workloads. Despite the newer architecture, the Core Ultra 7 165U consistently trails in raw throughput, with the largest deficit reaching a substantial 38.6% in multi-core rendering.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Core i7-11800H comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16663 against the Core Ultra 7 165U's 10226. This represents a 38.6% advantage, a massive gap that highlights the difference in sustained multi-threaded performance. The single-core variant shows a similar trend, with the i7-11800H scoring 2352 versus 1662, a 29.3% lead. These results indicate that the i7-11800H’s higher power envelope translates directly into superior rendering capability.

The margin narrows but remains firmly in favor of the i7-11800H across other CPU-intensive tasks. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-11800H leads by 15.1% with a score of 6998 compared to 5943. The Geekbench multi-core test shows an 8.2% advantage for the i7-11800H (7986 vs 7329), while its single-core score of 1666 is 13% higher than the 1450 posted by the Core Ultra 7 165U. PassMark integer math results show a 19.1% lead for the i7-11800H (71423 vs 57785), and extended instructions testing reveals a 34% gap (16068 vs 10610). Data compression also favors the i7-11800H significantly, with a 21.4% higher score (239304 vs 188105).

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U does secure a notable win in PassMark physics, scoring 1141 against the i7-11800H's 938, a 21.6% advantage. It also takes the PassMark single-thread test by a 10.3% margin (3357 vs 3043). These wins suggest that in certain lightly-threaded or physics-simulation workloads, the newer Meteor Lake architecture can outperform the older Tiger Lake design. However, these are isolated victories within a benchmark suite that overwhelmingly favors the i7-11800H. In floating-point math, the i7-11800H still wins, but by a smaller 3.9% margin (42423 vs 40775), and the data encryption test shows a close 2.8% difference (12241 vs 11896). The i7-11800H also wins in random string sorting (25.2% lead), find prime numbers (22.4% lead), and the multithread test (14.5% lead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and generations. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-11800H uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process. This makes the Core Ultra 7 165U the more modern silicon, but the i7-11800H is designed for a different performance class. The Core Ultra 7 165U is a 12-core, 14-thread part with a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The i7-11800H is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

The i7-11800H has a significantly higher TDP at 35 watts, compared to the Core Ultra 7 165U's 15 watts. This power budget explains the performance differences, as the i7-11800H can sustain higher clocks under load. The cache configurations also differ substantially. The Core Ultra 7 165U features 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The i7-11800H has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but a much larger shared 24 MB L3 cache. This larger L3 cache likely contributes to the i7-11800H's strong performance in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support is another key differentiator. The Core Ultra 7 165U supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The i7-11800H uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a lower memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Despite the newer and faster memory standard on the Core Ultra 7 165U, the i7-11800H still outperforms it in most tests, indicating that memory bandwidth is not the limiting factor. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core Ultra 7 165U uses Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, while the i7-11800H has UHD Graphics 750. The Core Ultra 7 165U uses socket Intel BGA 2049, while the i7-11800H uses Intel BGA 1787.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-11800H is the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks. Its wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core, and PassMark integer math demonstrate its strength in rendering, video encoding, and general productivity. The 38.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is particularly significant for users who rely on CPU rendering. The i7-11800H also excels in data compression and extended instruction workloads, making it a better fit for software compilation and scientific computing. The 34% lead in PassMark extended instructions (16068 vs 10610) shows a major advantage in workloads that use AVX or similar instruction sets.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U’s wins are more specialized. Its 21.6% advantage in PassMark physics suggests it has a well-optimized microarchitecture for game physics calculations. The 10.3% lead in PassMark single-thread (3357 vs 3043) indicates it has a slight edge in lightly-threaded applications that rely on a single core's efficiency. However, this single-thread win does not translate to other single-core tests, as the i7-11800H wins in Cinebench R23 single-core (2352 vs 1662), Cinebench R20 single-core (987 vs 839), and Geekbench single-core (1666 vs 1450). The Core Ultra 7 165U’s wins appear to be workload-specific rather than indicative of a general single-thread advantage.

The i7-11800H wins in both data encryption (12241 vs 11896) and floating-point math (42423 vs 40775), though by smaller margins. It also takes the multithread test (20012 vs 17101) and random string sorting (28411 vs 21258). In every multi-threaded test except physics, the i7-11800H is ahead, often by double-digit percentages.

The Verdict

Based strictly on benchmark results, the Intel Core i7-11800H is the superior processor for almost all workloads. Its 16 wins out of 19 comparisons, including a dominant 38.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, make it the clear choice for users who prioritize performance. The i7-11800H's higher 35-watt TDP, larger 24 MB L3 cache, and 16 threads give it a decisive edge in multi-threaded applications. Its launch MSRP was $395.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U, with a launch MSRP of $448, is not a direct performance competitor. Its advantages are limited to PassMark physics and the PassMark single-thread test. However, its 15-watt TDP and support for DDR5 memory make it suitable for power-constrained systems where the i7-11800H's higher power draw is a concern. The data does not support choosing the Core Ultra 7 165U for compute performance; it wins only in specific niche scenarios. For any user needing maximum CPU throughput, the i7-11800H is the unequivocal choice.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 16663 versus the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U's 10226, a 38.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 3 out of 19 head-to-head comparisons. It leads in PassMark physics (1141 vs 938, a 21.6% advantage) and the PassMark single-thread test (3357 vs 3043, a 10.3% advantage).

Q: How do their memory bandwidth specifications compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-11800H supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has 12 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core i7-11800H has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has a shared 24 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has a shared 12 MB L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-11800H has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has a TDP of 15 watts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 7 165U | Intel Core i7-11800H |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 14 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1700 MHz | 1900 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2049 | Intel BGA 1787 |

| Architecture | Meteor Lake | Tiger Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU | UHD Graphics 750 |

| Launch MSRP | $448 | $395 |

| Part Number | SRN6D | SRKT3 |