Intel Core i7-11800H

Intel Core i7-11800H sits in a peculiar spot: its average benchmark score of 20,024 places it at the 78th percentile of all CPUs, yet it trades blows with desktop parts and a server EPYC chip. The data shows a mobile processor that punches at desktop weight in multi-threaded tasks while maintaining a single-thread edge that keeps it relevant for latency-sensitive workloads. Its 8 cores and 16 threads on the Tiger Lake-H architecture deliver a balanced profile, but the real story is how its scaling behavior diverges between lightly and heavily threaded applications.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The 3DMark thread-scaling results reveal a clear pattern: performance climbs steeply from 908 points in single-thread to 6,518 at 16 threads, but the gains flatten noticeably beyond 8 threads. Specifically, 2-thread scores hit 1,757, 4-thread reaches 3,268, and 8-thread jumps to 5,384 — a 65% increase from 4 to 8 threads. However, moving from 8 to 16 threads only adds 1,164 points (6,518 vs 5,384), a 21% gain that suggests diminishing returns from the hyper-threading overhead. The max-thread score of 6,548 is just 30 points above the 16-thread result, implying that the extra logical cores contribute almost nothing in this synthetic workload.

Cinebench confirms this split. The R23 multi-core score of 17,006 is robust for a 35W-class mobile chip, but the single-core score of 2,400 shows the architecture's strength lies in bursty, low-thread scenarios. Geekbench paints a similar picture: single-core at 1,897 versus multi-core at 7,813, a 4.1x ratio that is far from linear scaling. PassMark's single-thread score of 3,043 is notably strong, while the multithread score of 20,012 indicates that the 8 physical cores carry most of the load. The data suggests that real-world workloads mixing light and heavy threads will see the i7-11800H excel at quick, responsive tasks (web browsing, office documents) while only modestly benefiting from fully saturating all 16 threads.

Who Should Consider It

Gamers should look at the single-thread and 4-thread results first. The 3DMark 4-thread score of 3,268 and single-thread score of 908 are competitive enough for esports and older AAA titles, where game engines rarely scale beyond 8 threads. The 8-thread score of 5,384 also positions it well for modern titles that do use more cores, but the plateau beyond that means heavy simulation or streaming workloads will not see major gains. The PassMark physics score of 938 (likely a low-thread test) reinforces that this CPU handles game logic and physics queries without bottlenecking.

For creators, the multi-thread numbers are the draw. Cinebench R23 multi-core at 17,006 and Geekbench multi-core at 7,813 show capable video encoding and 3D rendering performance for a laptop chip. PassMark integer math at 71,423 and floating-point math at 42,423 indicate solid number-crunching for spreadsheets, data analysis, and light rendering. Office workers will find the single-thread scores (R20: 1,008, Geekbench: 1,897) more than adequate for daily productivity, but the 35W TDP class suggests it is intended for thin-and-light workstations rather than pure office notebooks. The data does not support heavy server or database workloads — the 78th percentile overall ranking is solid but not top-tier.

Benchmark Performance

The average benchmark score of 20,024 is the anchor, and the nearest rivals show how finely balanced this field is. The AMD EPYC 7713P matches exactly at 20,024 with a 0% delta — an unexpected tie that highlights how synthetic averages can mask different architectural strengths. Intel Core i3-14100 comes in at 20,054, just 0.1% ahead, meaning the i7-11800H trades blows with a desktop quad-core in aggregate. AMD Ryzen 5 5600G scores 19,983 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i7-11600H trails at 19,949 (0.4% behind).

Digging into specific tests, the i7-11800H shows its best relative performance in PassMark multithread (20,012) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,006). The single-thread PassMark score of 3,043 is a strong point, likely outpacing the Ryzen 5 5600G in that specific metric given the overall parity. However, the data also shows that the i7-11800H's 16 threads do not translate to a dominant lead over the 8-thread Ryzen 5 5600G — the 0.2% delta means the AMD part matches it in aggregate, suggesting the Intel chip's hyper-threading is less efficient than AMD's SMT. The 3Dmark 16-thread score of 6,518 versus 8-thread 5,384 confirms this inefficiency, as the extra threads add only 21% performance.

FAQ

Q: How does the i7-11800H compare to the Intel Core i3-14100?

A: The i3-14100 has an average score of 20,054, which is 0.1% higher than the i7-11800H's 20,024. This is a statistical tie, but the i7-11800H uses 8 cores and 16 threads versus the i3's fewer cores — the data does not list the i3's core count, so the comparison is purely score-based.

Q: Is the i7-11800H better for multi-threaded or single-threaded workloads?

A: The data shows a clear split. Multi-threaded scores are strong (Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,006, PassMark multithread: 20,012), but single-thread performance is also competitive (Cinebench R23 single-core: 2,400, PassMark single-thread: 3,043). The 3Dmark scaling from 8 to 16 threads (5,384 to 6,518) shows diminishing returns, so multi-thread gains are limited beyond 8 cores.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the i7-11800H?

A: The launch MSRP is $395.

Q: Does the i7-11800H support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: How does the i7-11800H compare to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600G has an average score of 19,983, which is 0.2% lower than the i7-11800H's 20,024. This means the Intel part is marginally ahead in aggregate, but the difference is negligible in real-world terms.

Q: What is the i7-11800H's percentile ranking?

A: It ranks at the 78th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms 78% of processors in the benchmark database based on its average score.

How It Compares

AMD EPYC 7713P: The server-class EPYC matches the i7-11800H exactly at 20,024 average score with a 0% delta. This is a synthetic tie — the EPYC is designed for enterprise workloads while the i7 is a mobile chip, but the aggregate benchmark average masks the EPYC's likely advantages in memory bandwidth and core count. In practice, the i7-11800H would be far more suitable for portable tasks.

Intel Core i3-14100: The desktop i3 scores 20,054, just 0.1% higher. This means the i7-11800H delivers nearly identical aggregate performance despite being a mobile part with a 35W TDP class. The i3 likely wins in single-threaded tasks given its desktop design, but the i7's extra threads (16 vs the i3's unspecified count) keep the averages close.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G: The Ryzen 5 5600G scores 19,983, trailing by 0.2%. This is a near-dead heat, suggesting that the i7-11800H's 8 cores and 16 threads do not provide a meaningful advantage over the Ryzen's architecture in these benchmarks. The i7's single-thread scores (PassMark: 3,043) may give it a slight edge in latency-sensitive tasks, but the aggregate data shows neither part dominates.

Intel Core i7-11600H: The previous-generation i7 scores 19,949, which is 0.4% lower. This indicates the 11800H is a modest improvement over its predecessor, with the delta likely coming from better boost clocks (4.60 GHz) and the Tiger Lake-H architecture refinements. The difference is small enough that most users would not notice without direct comparison.

Platform and Compatibility

The i7-11800H uses the Intel BGA 1787 socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable. It is part of the Tiger Lake-H architecture on Intel's 10 nm process node, with a die size of 190 mm². Memory support is limited to DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; ECC memory is not available. PCIe connectivity includes Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, which is sufficient for a modern discrete GPU and one or two NVMe drives. The integrated graphics is UHD Graphics 750, providing basic display output without a dedicated GPU. The production status is active, with a release date of May 10, 2021, and the part number is SRKT3. The multiplier is not unlocked, so overclocking is not supported.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is rated at 35W, which classifies it as a low-power mobile processor. This TDP class implies that a capable air cooler or a modest heatpipe solution in a laptop chassis will suffice — the data does not specify cooling requirements, but the 35W rating is typical for thin-and-light gaming or creator notebooks. The 10 nm process node helps with efficiency, but the 8 cores and 4.60 GHz boost clock mean sustained multi-threaded loads will generate heat. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17,006 at this TDP suggests the chip can sustain high clocks under load, but users should expect thermal throttling in poorly ventilated chassis. The lack of an unlocked multiplier means no manual voltage tuning, so thermal management relies on the laptop's factory design. For a 35W part, the performance per watt is strong, but the data does not provide direct power consumption figures beyond the TDP rating.