Intel Core i5-11400H

The Intel Core i5-11400H is a 6-core, 12-thread mobile processor from the Tiger Lake-H series, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a 35 W TDP. In the benchmark database, it holds a 74th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 15773. That score places it within 0.5% of four rival processors, including three AMD EPYC server parts and a Ryzen 3 desktop chip, making its standing surprisingly competitive given its mobile focus.

How It Compares

The AMD EPYC 9254, with an average score of 15756, trails the i5-11400H by 0.1%. This effectively puts the two at parity in aggregate performance, despite the EPYC being a server-class part. The i5-11400H's 15773 average score is essentially identical to the EPYC 9254's 15756.

The AMD Ryzen 3 4100 scores 15815, which is 0.3% higher than the i5-11400H. The difference is negligible in practical terms, and the two chips would likely deliver similar frame rates and render times in most workloads.

The AMD EPYC 9354P scores 15826, also 0.3% ahead of the i5-11400H. Like the Ryzen 3 4100, the gap is within the margin of benchmark noise, meaning the i5-11400H competes directly with this EPYC part in the aggregate.

The AMD EPYC 75F3 scores 15859, which is 0.5% higher than the i5-11400H. Even the largest delta among the nearest rivals is 0.5%, so the i5-11400H holds its own against a broad range of processors, from mobile to server.

Who Should Consider It

For gaming, the i5-11400H's single-thread scores are strong. The 3DMark single-thread score of 884, Cinebench R23 single-core of 1841, Geekbench single-core of 1822, and PassMark single-thread of 2975 all indicate that the chip can drive modern game engines that rely on a few fast cores. The 3DMark 2-thread score of 1688 also suggests solid dual-core performance for older titles or games with limited threading.

For content creation, the multi-thread scores are respectable for a 35 W mobile part. Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 13044, Geekbench multi-core 6409, and PassMark multi-thread 15346. These numbers are sufficient for photo editing, light video rendering, and software compilation, though heavier multi-threaded workloads will benefit from higher-core-count parts. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5205 and max-threads score of 5172 confirm that the chip can use its 12 threads effectively.

For office and general productivity, the i5-11400H is more than adequate. The integrated UHD Graphics handles display output and basic graphics acceleration, and the 12 threads handle multitasking across spreadsheets, browsers, and document editors without strain. The 74th percentile ranking places it above the majority of all CPUs, so it will not be a bottleneck in typical business use.

Benchmark Performance

The average benchmark score of 15773 is 0.1% higher than the EPYC 9254's 15756, 0.3% lower than the Ryzen 3 4100's 15815, 0.3% lower than the EPYC 9354P's 15826, and 0.5% lower than the EPYC 75F3's 15859. These deltas, ranging from 0.1% to 0.5%, mean that the i5-11400H is statistically indistinguishable from these rivals in the aggregate benchmark, despite being a mobile processor. The percentile rank of 74 indicates that it outperforms 74% of all CPUs in the database.

In Cinebench R23, the i5-11400H scores 13044 multi-core and 1841 single-core. The multi-core result is substantially higher, reflecting the benefit of 6 cores and 12 threads. The Geekbench scores follow a similar pattern: multi-core 6409 versus single-core 1822. PassMark multi-thread scores 15346, while single-thread scores 2975. These numbers show that the chip scales well when more threads are used.

The 3DMark results provide a detailed view of thread scaling. The single-thread score is 884, 2-thread 1688, 4-thread 3062, 8-thread 4423, 16-thread 5205, and max-threads 5172. Performance climbs steadily from 2 to 8 threads, then levels off between 8 and 16 threads. This behavior is consistent with a 6-core/12-thread design where the first 6 physical cores deliver most of the scaling, and the additional threads provide a smaller incremental gain.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-11400H uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket, a ball-grid array package designed for mobile systems. The processor is part of the mobile market segment, so it is intended for laptops and compact computers rather than desktop builds. The production status is Active, and the release date is 2021-05-10.

Memory support is DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. For expansion, the CPU provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, which is sufficient for a discrete GPU and NVMe storage in a laptop. The integrated UHD Graphics provides display output and basic 2D acceleration, though it is not designed for heavy gaming.

The TDP is 35 W, typical for a mobile processor that balances performance and thermals. The multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not possible. The die size is 190 mm², and the process node is 10 nm, produced by Intel. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and a 12 MB shared L3 cache.

FAQ

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i5-11400H?

A: The launch MSRP is $250.

Q: Does the i5-11400H support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What memory type and bandwidth does it support?

A: It supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: What integrated graphics does it include?

A: It includes Intel UHD Graphics.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked.

Q: What is the release date of the i5-11400H?

A: The release date is 2021-05-10.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The single-thread scores across all benchmarks are strong. 3DMark single-thread 884, Cinebench R23 single-core 1841, Geekbench single-core 1822, and PassMark single-thread 2975 all indicate that the i5-11400H excels at lightly threaded tasks such as web browsing, office work, and many games. The 2-thread 3DMark score of 1688 shows that dual-core performance is also solid.

Multi-thread performance is respectable but not class-leading. Cinebench R23 multi-core 13044, Geekbench multi-core 6409, PassMark multi-thread 15346, and 3DMark max-threads 5172 demonstrate that the chip can handle parallel workloads. The 3DMark thread scaling from 2 (1688) to 4 (3062) to 8 (4423) shows a steady increase, but the jump to 16 threads (5205) is modest. This reflects the 6-core/12-thread architecture, where the first 6 physical cores provide the bulk of multi-threaded performance, and the additional threads contribute a smaller gain. For workloads that scale with physical cores, the i5-11400H is best utilized when the thread count stays at or below 8. For tasks that can use all 12 threads, the chip still delivers a meaningful boost, as seen in the Cinebench R23 multi-core score.

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance means that the i5-11400H is a balanced mobile processor. It can handle everyday responsive tasks with its high single-thread speed, while also tackling occasional multi-threaded jobs like video encoding or 3D rendering. The data shows that it is neither a single-thread specialist nor a multi-thread monster, but rather a well-rounded option for a 35 W mobile chip.