Intel Core i7-12700F vs Intel Core i9-11980HK Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record for these two processors is decisively lopsided. The Intel Core i7-12700F wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i9-11980HK takes only 3. The overall average benchmark score reinforces this divide: the i7-12700F sits at 31081, roughly 2.2% higher than the i9-11980HK's 30422. The i7-12700F also ranks in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, one point ahead of the i9-11980HK's 81st percentile.

The most dramatic margin appears in floating-point math. The i7-12700F scores 81804 in PassMark floating point math versus 46262 for the i9-11980HK, a gap of 76.8%. This is not a close contest; the desktop part more than doubles the mobile chip's throughput in this workload. Data encryption shows a similar pattern, with the i7-12700F ahead by 46.1% (20185 versus 13813). Data compression follows at 44.2% (384463 versus 266571), and extended instructions show a 40.4% advantage (24783 versus 17654).

Multi-core rendering places the i7-12700F firmly ahead in the older Cinebench releases. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-12700F scores 2610 against 1876, a 39.1% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 10767 versus 7819, a 37.7% advantage. Single-core results in R20 match that same 37.7% delta, with 1519 versus 1103. Cinebench R15 single-core is closer, only a 2.7% edge for the i7-12700F (271 versus 264).

PassMark integer math gives the i7-12700F a 36% win (107013 versus 78682), and PassMark multi-thread performance shows a 35.7% lead (30445 versus 22436). Physics simulation favors the i7-12700F by 33.8% (1488 versus 1112), and random string sorting is 25.7% ahead (39852 versus 31709). Single-thread PassMark results give the i7-12700F an 18.1% advantage (3850 versus 3261).

The i9-11980HK's wins are concentrated in the newest Cinebench release. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-11980HK scores 18617 against 15291, a 17.9% reversal. The single-core R23 result is even more pronounced: 2628 versus 1898, a 27.8% lead for the mobile chip. The third win is narrow, PassMark prime number finding at 100 versus 98, a 2% margin. These three results suggest the i9-11980HK has genuine strengths, but they are isolated within specific test conditions rather than broad superiority.

Where Each One Wins

The data indicates a clear use-case split. The i7-12700F dominates workloads that stress parallel throughput and general desktop productivity. Its wins in data compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math, and multi-thread PassMark point to strong performance in content creation, scientific computation, and everyday multitasking. The 35.7% multi-thread PassMark advantage and the 76.8% floating-point gap are the kind of margins that translate directly into faster video encoding, complex spreadsheet calculations, and software compilation.

The i9-11980HK, despite being a mobile processor, shows its strength in the Cinebench R23 suite. A 27.8% single-core win and a 17.9% multi-core win in that specific test suggest the Tiger Lake architecture handles the modern R23 rendering workload particularly well. This could indicate an advantage in short, bursty rendering tasks or in single-threaded applications that rely on the latest instruction sets. However, the i9-11980HK's wins do not extend to other single-thread tests, as the i7-12700F leads by 18.1% in PassMark single-thread and 2.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

For buyers choosing between a desktop and a mobile part, the benchmark record clearly favors the i7-12700F for sustained multi-core work. The i9-11980HK's R23 victories are notable but do not outweigh the i7-12700F's broader 14-win margin. The prime number finding result is effectively a tie, with only a 2% difference, so it carries little practical weight.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations and market segments. The i7-12700F is built on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S desktop variant, while the i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-H for mobile. Both use a 10 nm process node from Intel, and both have an identical L1 cache of 80 KB per core and an identical L2 cache of 1.25 MB per core. The shared L3 cache differs slightly: 25 MB for the i7-12700F versus 24 MB for the i9-11980HK.

The core configurations are fundamentally different. The i7-12700F provides 12 cores and 20 threads, while the i9-11980HK provides 8 cores and 16 threads. This 4-core and 4-thread gap explains much of the i7-12700F's multi-threaded dominance. The i7-12700F also uses a 215 mm² die, larger than the i9-11980HK's 190 mm². Both processors support dual-channel memory, but the i7-12700F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the i9-11980HK is limited to DDR4. The i9-11980HK has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while no such figure exists for the i7-12700F.

PCIe support differs by generation and lane count. The i7-12700F offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i9-11980HK offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The newer PCIe standard on the desktop part matters for high-speed storage and graphics, though the mobile part has more total lanes. The i9-11980HK includes integrated UHD Graphics 750, while the i7-12700F lists no integrated graphics. The i7-12700F uses the Intel Socket 1700, and the i9-11980HK uses the Intel BGA 1787, reflecting its soldered mobile design. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several clear differences between the two parts. Clock speeds are close but not identical: the i7-12700F has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the i9-11980HK has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i9-11980HK runs at a higher base and boost, yet still loses most benchmark comparisons, indicating that core count and architecture matter more than raw clocks in these tests.

The thermal design power differs substantially. The i7-12700F is rated at 65 watts, while the i9-11980HK is rated at 45 watts. This reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning. The market segments confirm this: the i7-12700F is listed as Desktop, and the i9-11980HK is listed as Mobile. Production status also differs, with the i7-12700F marked Active and the i9-11980HK marked End-of-life.

The i7-12700F has a locked multiplier, while the i9-11980HK has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates are about eight months apart, with the i7-12700F released on 2022-01-03 and the i9-11980HK on 2021-05-10. The launch MSRP for the i7-12700F is $324, and the launch MSRP for the i9-11980HK is $583. Part numbers are SRL4R for the i7-12700F and SRKSZ for the i9-11980HK.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700F has 12 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i9-11980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: In which benchmark does the i9-11980HK show its largest advantage?

A: The largest win for the i9-11980HK is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2628 versus 1898, a 27.8% lead over the i7-12700F.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the entire head-to-head record?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark floating point math, where the i7-12700F scores 81804 versus 46262, giving it a 76.8% advantage.

Q: Does the i9-11980HK have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i9-11980HK includes UHD Graphics 750. The i7-12700F lists no integrated graphics in the database.

Q: How do their memory support options differ?

A: The i7-12700F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The i9-11980HK supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i9-11980HK has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to 4.90 GHz for the i7-12700F. The i9-11980HK also has a higher base clock at 2.60 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.