Intel Core i9-11900H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

The Verdict

The data tells a clear split story. The Intel Core i9-11900H wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins 7. However, the nature of those wins matters more than the count. The i9-11900H dominates in heavily threaded workloads, most notably a 57.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and a 70.8% lead in PassMark integer math. The Ultra 7 268V counters with decisive wins in single-thread and efficiency-oriented tasks, including a 23.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and a 41.1% lead in PassMark physics.

The i9-11900H is the pick for users running sustained multi-core workloads like video rendering, code compilation, or heavy data compression. The Ultra 7 268V is the pick for users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness, encryption performance, and lower power draw in a thin-and-light chassis. The i9 also holds a slight overall edge in average benchmark score: 21367 versus 20897 for the Ultra 7. Both sit in similar percentile territory (75th versus 74th percentile among all CPUs), so neither is a runaway winner. Choose based on workload, not brand loyalty.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use fundamentally different designs. The i9-11900H is built on Tiger Lake-H, a 10 nm Intel process, while the Ultra 7 268V uses Lunar Lake, a 3 nm process manufactured by TSMC. The i9 is a conventional 8-core, 16-thread design with symmetric cores. The Ultra 7 also has 8 cores but only 8 threads, indicating it uses a different core topology that does not support simultaneous multithreading.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. The i9-11900H has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 268V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 has more per-core cache but less total shared cache. The i9's 24 MB L3 gives it an advantage in workloads with large shared working sets.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i9-11900H uses UHD Graphics 750, while the Ultra 7 268V features Arc 140V. The memory support also changes: the i9 uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ultra 7's memory type is listed as dependent on motherboard configuration. Both support dual-channel memory and neither supports ECC.

PCIe capabilities go in opposite directions. The i9-11900H provides Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 7 268V provides Gen 5 with only 4 CPU lanes. That gives the older chip more raw lane count for expansion, while the newer chip offers faster per-lane bandwidth but far fewer lanes. The Ultra 7 also has a much lower TDP: 17 watts versus 35 watts for the i9. The i9 is end-of-life production status, while the Ultra 7 is active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest performance gap in the entire comparison is in Cinebench R23 multicore. The i9-11900H scores 16772 against 10653 for the Ultra 7 268V, a 57.4% advantage. This is the clearest indicator that the i9 is the superior chip for heavily threaded rendering workloads. The gap narrows in older Cinebench versions: R20 multicore shows 7044 versus 6887 (a 2.3% win for the i9), and R15 multicore shows 1690 versus 1616 (a 4.6% win).

The single-core picture is mixed and surprising. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ultra 7 wins 293 to 238, an 18.8% margin. In R20 single-core, the i9 wins 994 to 972, a 2.3% margin. In R23 single-core, the i9 wins again 2367 to 1921, a 23.2% margin. This inconsistency suggests the two chips trade blows depending on the workload characteristics of each test version.

PassMark results reveal distinct strengths. The i9 dominates integer math with 72882 versus 42669, a 70.8% lead. It also wins data compression by 31.9% (239366 versus 181443) and random string sorting by 26.4% (28328 versus 22416). The Ultra 7 counters in floating-point math with 57628 versus 43094, a 25.2% win, and in find prime numbers with 192 versus 87, a 54.7% win. The Ultra 7 also leads in data encryption by 11.2% (13779 versus 12232) and in physics by 41.1% (1617 versus 953).

PassMark multithread shows a narrow i9 win: 20162 versus 19297, a 4.5% margin. PassMark single-thread shows a decisive Ultra 7 win: 4051 versus 3102, a 23.4% margin. Extended instructions favor the i9 by 5.2% (16123 versus 15323).

Specification Differences

The two chips differ on nearly every specification field. Core count is the same at 8, but thread count differs: 16 for the i9-11900H versus 8 for the Ultra 7 268V. Base clocks are close (2.10 GHz versus 2.20 GHz), but boost clocks differ slightly (4.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz). TDP is a major split: 35 watts for the i9, 17 watts for the Ultra 7.

Socket compatibility is entirely different: Intel BGA 1787 for the i9 versus Intel BGA 2833 for the Ultra 7. Process node changes from 10 nm Intel to 3 nm TSMC. The i9 has a die size of 190 mm², while the Ultra 7 has no recorded die size. Foundry moves from Intel to TSMC.

Cache per core increases substantially: L1 goes from 80 KB to 192 KB per core, L2 from 1.25 MB to 2.5 MB per core. Shared L3 drops from 24 MB to 12 MB. Memory support changes from DDR4 to motherboard-dependent. Memory bandwidth is recorded at 51.2 GB/s for the i9, with no figure for the Ultra 7. PCIe changes from Gen 4 with 20 lanes to Gen 5 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics change from UHD Graphics 750 to Arc 140V.

Release dates are far apart: May 10, 2021 for the i9, September 23, 2024 for the Ultra 7. The i9 has a launch MSRP of $546, and the Ultra 7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Production status moves from end-of-life to active. Part numbers differ: SRKT7 for the i9, SRPMLSRPMX for the Ultra 7. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900H. It wins all four multi-core Cinebench tests: R15 multicore by 4.6%, R20 multicore by 2.3%, R23 multicore by 57.4%, and PassMark multithread by 4.5%. The R23 gap is the largest single margin in the entire comparison.

Q: Is the Core Ultra 7 268V faster in single-threaded work?

A: Mostly yes, but not consistently. The Ultra 7 wins PassMark single-thread by 23.4% and Cinebench R15 single-core by 18.8%. However, the i9-11900H wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 2.3% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 23.2%. The PassMark results are the strongest evidence for the Ultra 7's single-thread advantage.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Ultra 7 268V has a 17 watt TDP, which is less than half of the i9-11900H's 35 watt TDP. This makes the Ultra 7 substantially more power-efficient on paper, which matters for battery life and thermal management in mobile chassis.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The i9-11900H has 20 CPU lanes on Gen 4, while the Ultra 7 268V has only 4 CPU lanes on Gen 5. The i9 supports more simultaneous devices, while the Ultra 7 offers faster per-lane bandwidth but far less expansion capacity.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core count?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores. The difference is in threads: the i9-11900H supports 16 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Ultra 7 268V runs 8 threads. This explains the i9's strong multi-core wins despite similar core counts.

Q: Which chip is newer and still in production?

A: The Ultra 7 268V was released on September 23, 2024 and is listed as active production. The i9-11900H was released on May 10, 2021 and is end-of-life. The Ultra 7 also uses the newer 3 nm process from TSMC, while the i9 uses Intel's 10 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-11900H wins in heavy multi-threaded compute. The 57.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore makes it the clear choice for video rendering, 3D animation, or any workload that scales across all threads. The 70.8% lead in PassMark integer math points to strengths in general computation, database operations, and code execution. The 31.9% lead in data compression and 26.4% lead in random string sorting make it better for file archiving, data processing pipelines, and text-heavy analytics.

The i9 also wins the Cinebench single-core R20 and R23 tests, so it is not purely a multi-thread specialist. Its 24 MB shared L3 cache likely helps in workloads with large shared data sets. The i9's 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes also make it more suitable for systems with multiple high-bandwidth peripherals.

The Ultra 7 268V wins in efficiency-sensitive scenarios. Its 17 watt TDP versus 35 watts means it can sustain performance in thinner laptops with smaller cooling solutions. The 23.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and 41.1% lead in PassMark physics suggest excellent responsiveness in everyday tasks, user interface interactions, and light simulation work. The 54.7% lead in find prime numbers indicates strength in integer-heavy single-threaded algorithms.

The Ultra 7 also wins in floating-point math by 25.2%, making it better suited for scientific calculations, financial modeling, and certain machine learning inference tasks that rely on FP arithmetic. The 11.2% lead in data encryption is relevant for VPN workloads, secure file transfers, and disk encryption. Its Arc 140V integrated graphics are a generational upgrade over the UHD Graphics 750, which matters for light gaming and media workloads without a discrete GPU.

For a user who runs Cinebench-style rendering jobs or heavy data processing, the i9-11900H is the obvious pick. For a user who wants a responsive ultraportable with strong single-thread performance and better power efficiency, the Ultra 7 268V is the better choice. The average benchmark scores are close (21367 versus 20897, a 2.2% gap), so the decision should hinge on your specific workload mix rather than overall aggregate performance.