Intel Core i5-11500

The Intel Core i5-11500 is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor in Intel's Core 11th Gen family, built on the Rocket Lake architecture with a 14 nm process. It uses Intel Socket 1200 and was released on March 15, 2021, with a launch MSRP of $192. The chip includes UHD Graphics 750 and a 65 W TDP, and it supports DDR4 dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

Platform and Compatibility

The compatibility picture is defined by the Intel Socket 1200 interface. The processor belongs to the Rocket Lake-S generation, and its part number is SRKNY. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, rated at 51.2 GB/s, and ECC memory is not supported. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU only, so connected storage and expansion devices can use the CPU's direct lanes rather than relying on chipset-provided connectivity.

Integrated graphics come from UHD Graphics 750, which provides display output from the processor itself. The cache hierarchy consists of 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The base clock is 2.70 GHz, and the boost clock is 4.60 GHz. The multiplier is locked, so the part is not oriented toward multiplier-based overclocking.

The production status is end-of-life, which places the processor at the tail end of its availability. For upgrade planning, the socket defines the motherboard boundary, and the end-of-life status means this CPU is a fixed point in a Socket 1200 system rather than a future expansion path. Users considering this processor should verify motherboard compatibility with Rocket Lake-S and account for the fact that the platform is no longer being supplied as a new ongoing product line.

Power and Thermals

The official TDP for the Core i5-11500 is 65 W. That TDP places the processor in a conventional desktop cooling class, implying a standard air-cooling solution rather than an exotic high-end liquid setup. The processor is built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 276 mm², which provides context for the thermal density of this 6-core design. Intel is the foundry.

No measured power draw appears in the data, so the 65 W TDP is the only thermal envelope figure available. The 2.70 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock operate within that envelope. Because the multiplier is not unlocked, the thermal solution only needs to manage the 65 W specification rather than additional overclocking headroom.

Benchmark Performance

The aggregate benchmark score for the Core i5-11500 is 23721, which corresponds to a percentile of 81 among all CPUs in the database. That percentile indicates the processor sits above the median in the broader CPU pool.

In Cinebench R15, the multicore score is 1465 and the single-core score is 206. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 6106 and the single-core score is 861. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 14540 and the single-core score is 2052. These results show a 6-core, 12-thread processor with meaningful multicore output and competitive single-thread behavior across multiple Cinebench versions.

Passmark results include a multithread score of 17107 and a single-thread score of 3131. The Passmark sub-scores cover data compression at 210796, data encryption at 10592, extended instructions at 15111, floating point math at 34422, integer math at 58352, physics at 823, and random string sorting at 24505. A find-prime-numbers score of 51 completes the suite.

Against the nearest rivals, the Core i5-11500 sits in a tight performance cluster. Its average benchmark score of 23721 compares with 23722 for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U, a delta of 0%. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V posts 23801, a delta of -0.3%. The Intel Xeon 6333P posts 23835, a delta of -0.5%. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H posts 23606, a delta of 0.5%. All four delta values are 0, -0.3, -0.5, or 0.5, meaning the Core i5-11500 and its nearest rivals are separated by tenths of a percent in aggregate score.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Core i5-11500 use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1200. It is part of the Rocket Lake-S generation, and the part number is SRKNY.

Q: What memory and PCIe support does it provide?

A: It supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU only.

Q: Does it have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 750.

Q: Is ECC memory supported?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Can the CPU be overclocked through an unlocked multiplier?

A: No, the multiplier is locked. The base clock is 2.70 GHz and the boost clock is 4.60 GHz.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: Production status is end-of-life. The release date is March 15, 2021.

How It Compares

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U: This is the closest measured rival. Its average benchmark score is 23722, against 23721 for the Core i5-11500, and the delta is 0%. The two processors are effectively tied in aggregate database score.

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V: The Core Ultra 7 256V posts an average score of 23801. The delta of -0.3% places the Core i5-11500 slightly behind in aggregate performance. The gap is small and measured in tenths of a percent.

Intel Xeon 6333P: The Xeon 6333P reaches an average score of 23835. The delta of -0.5% means the Core i5-11500 trails this rival by a narrow margin. This is not a tier-level gap; it is a marginal aggregate difference.

AMD Ryzen 5 6600H: The Ryzen 5 6600H averages 23606. The delta of 0.5% means the Core i5-11500 leads this rival in aggregate score. It is the only nearest rival that the Core i5-11500 sits ahead of in the database's average benchmark metric.

Who Should Consider It

Users with lightly threaded workloads can draw on the single-core results: Cinebench R23 single-core 2052, Cinebench R20 single-core 861, Cinebench R15 single-core 206, and Passmark single-thread 3131. These scores indicate solid responsiveness for office applications, general desktop use, and single-thread-dominated tasks.

For creation and multithreaded workloads, the 6-core, 12-thread configuration produces Cinebench R23 multicore 14540, Cinebench R20 multicore 6106, Cinebench R15 multicore 1465, and Passmark multithread 17107. The extended instructions score of 15111 and data compression score of 210796 add context for content-creation and data-processing tasks.

For office systems, the integrated UHD Graphics 750 provides display output without requiring a separate graphics card, and the dual-channel DDR4 bus supplies 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. For gaming, no gaming benchmark is present in the data, but PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes gives modern graphics and storage expansion room to operate, while the single-thread scores indicate responsiveness.

This processor is not for users who want an unlocked multiplier, since the multiplier is locked. Its end-of-life production status means it is an option for existing Socket 1200 systems or new builds where a 65 W desktop processor with this aggregate performance profile is sufficient.