Intel Core i9-11900H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900H and Intel Core Ultra 7 155U are both mobile processors, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. The data shows a clear split: the i9-11900H wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Ultra 7 155U takes only 4. However, the Ultra 7's victories are concentrated in specific workloads that reveal its design intent. The i9-11900H is a high-power performance part, evidenced by its 35W TDP and 8 cores, while the Ultra 7 155U is a low-power efficiency part with a 15W TDP and 12 cores. The benchmark results confirm this: the i9-11900H dominates multi-threaded and compute-heavy tasks, while the Ultra 7 155U excels in specific single-threaded and physics-based scenarios.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-11900H is the clear winner for sustained, heavily threaded workloads. Its advantage is most pronounced in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16772 against the Ultra 7 155U's 9674.5, a massive 73.4% lead. This pattern repeats across almost every multi-threaded test: the i9-11900H leads by 22.2% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (7044 vs 5765) and by 23.1% in PassMark multi-thread (20162 vs 16382). For tasks like video rendering, 3D modeling, or software compilation that use all available threads, the i9-11900H is overwhelmingly faster.

The Ultra 7 155U wins in two specific areas. First, it has a small but real advantage in raw single-thread performance: PassMark single-thread shows 3372 vs 3102, an 8% lead for the Ultra 7. Second, it wins the PassMark physics test by a significant margin, scoring 1084 against the i9-11900H's 953, a 12.1% advantage. This suggests the Ultra 7 155U is better suited for physics simulations or gaming scenarios that rely on a single core's efficiency. The Ultra 7 also edges out the i9-11900H in Cinebench R15 single-core (238.5 vs 238), though this 0.2% difference is negligible.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design generations. The i9-11900H is built on Intel's Tiger Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node, and was released in 2021. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, a 2.10 GHz base clock and 4.90 GHz boost clock. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses a 35W TDP and is designed for the Intel BGA 1787 socket.

The Ultra 7 155U is based on the newer Meteor Lake architecture, using a more advanced 7 nm process node, and was released in 2023. Despite having more cores (12) and a higher base clock (1700.00 MHz), it has fewer threads (14) because it uses a hybrid core design. Its cache is larger per core (112 KB L1, 2 MB L2) but has less total L3 cache at 12 MB shared. The Ultra 7 has a much lower 15W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket. Memory support also differs significantly: the i9-11900H uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ultra 7 155U supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 7 also features a more capable integrated GPU, the Arc Xe-LPG 64EU, compared to the i9-11900H's UHD Graphics 750. PCIe support differs too, with the i9-11900H offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes versus the Ultra 7's Gen 4 with 12 lanes.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H is significantly faster. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 16772 versus the Ultra 7 155U's 9674.5, a 73.4% advantage. It also leads by 22.2% in Cinebench R20 multi-core and by 23.1% in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: Does the Ultra 7 155U have any advantages over the i9-11900H?

A: Yes, the Ultra 7 155U wins in single-threaded performance with a PassMark single-thread score of 3372 versus 3102 (8% lead) and in the PassMark physics test with 1084 versus 953 (12.1% lead). It also has a higher base clock of 1700.00 MHz compared to 2.10 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Ultra 7 155U has more cores (12) but fewer threads (14) compared to the i9-11900H's 8 cores and 16 threads. This is due to the Ultra 7's hybrid architecture.

Q: How do their memory bandwidths compare?

A: The Ultra 7 155U supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the i9-11900H's DDR4 support at 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor uses a newer manufacturing process?

A: The Ultra 7 155U uses a 7 nm process node, which is more advanced than the i9-11900H's 10 nm process node.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i9-11900H is end-of-life, while the Ultra 7 155U is still an active product. The i9-11900H was released in 2021, and the Ultra 7 155U was released in 2023.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i9-11900H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ultra 7 155U has 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the i9-11900H and 1700.00 MHz for the Ultra 7. Boost clocks are close, with the i9-11900H at 4.90 GHz and the Ultra 7 at 4.80 GHz. The TDP is drastically different: 35W for the i9-11900H versus 15W for the Ultra 7.

Cache configurations are also distinct. The i9-11900H has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Ultra 7 155U has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, but only 12 MB shared L3. Memory support differs, with the i9-11900H using DDR4 and the Ultra 7 using DDR5. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s in favor of the Ultra 7. The sockets are different (BGA 1787 vs BGA 2049), as are the integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750 vs Arc Xe-LPG 64EU). PCIe lanes differ, with the i9-11900H offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes and the Ultra 7 offering Gen 4 with 12 lanes. The die size is 190 mm² for the i9-11900H, while the Ultra 7's die size is not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the i9-11900H is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16772 against the Ultra 7's 9674.5, a 73.4% advantage. This is the largest delta in any test. The i9-11900H also shows massive leads in PassMark extended instructions (16123 vs 9903, a 62.8% win) and PassMark random string sorting (28328 vs 19767, a 43.3% win). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-11900H leads by 42.1% (2367 vs 1666), showing its strength in both multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering.

The i9-11900H also dominates data compression (239366 vs 177122, a 35.1% win) and prime number finding (87 vs 65, a 33.8% win). Integer math shows a 26.6% lead (72882 vs 57564), and multi-thread performance is 23.1% higher (20162 vs 16382). The i9-11900H wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 22.2% (7044 vs 5765) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 22.3% (994 vs 813). Smaller but still solid wins come in data encryption (12232 vs 11333, a 7.9% lead) and floating point math (43094 vs 40256, a 7% lead).

The Ultra 7 155U's wins are fewer but notable. Its biggest win is in PassMark physics, scoring 1084 versus 953, a 12.1% lead. It also wins PassMark single-thread by 8% (3372 vs 3102). In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 7 edges out a 0.2% win (238.5 vs 238), which is essentially a tie. These results show that the Ultra 7 155U is better at specific single-thread tasks and physics calculations, but the i9-11900H is superior in almost every other measurable category.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-11900H is the superior processor for raw compute performance. It wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench R20 and R23 test, and all major PassMark workhorse tests like integer math, data compression, and multi-thread. The 73.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a decisive indicator that users doing video editing, 3D rendering, or other heavily threaded work should choose the i9-11900H without hesitation.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, however, is not without its merits. Its 12.1% win in PassMark physics and 8% win in PassMark single-thread suggest it is the better choice for workloads that depend on a single high-efficiency core, such as certain physics simulations or older games. Its higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s) and more advanced 7 nm process node also indicate it is a more modern, power-efficient part, with a 15W TDP versus the i9-11900H's 35W. For users prioritizing battery life and efficiency over peak multi-core performance, the Ultra 7 155U is the logical pick. The verdict is simple: pick the i9-11900H for maximum performance in demanding applications, and pick the Ultra 7 155U for efficiency-driven single-thread tasks.