Core i5-11260H vs Core i5-11400H

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-11260H

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11400H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-11400H

2021

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU, while Core i5-11260H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (15,262 vs 15,459).

Core i5-11260H

2021

Core i5-11400H

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU, while Core i5-11260H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11400H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (15,262 vs 15,459).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-11260H better than Core i5-11400H?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-11400H is ahead with 2.3% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11260H pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11260H is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-11260H still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i5-11260H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 1.3% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-11260H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-11260H Benchmark Check

Core i5-11400H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-11400H
1080p
low	187 FPS	187 FPS
medium	153 FPS	154 FPS
high	126 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	151 FPS
medium	120 FPS	120 FPS
high	98 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	85 FPS
medium	73 FPS	73 FPS
high	58 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-11400H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-11400H
1080p
low	362 FPS	382 FPS
medium	292 FPS	310 FPS
high	262 FPS	275 FPS
ultra	227 FPS	237 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	341 FPS
medium	268 FPS	279 FPS
high	246 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	218 FPS
4K
low	281 FPS	282 FPS
medium	235 FPS	236 FPS
high	214 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	182 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-11400H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-11400H
1080p
low	386 FPS	382 FPS
medium	386 FPS	382 FPS
high	386 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	382 FPS
1440p
low	386 FPS	382 FPS
medium	386 FPS	382 FPS
high	386 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	386 FPS	382 FPS
medium	373 FPS	378 FPS
high	312 FPS	325 FPS
ultra	246 FPS	256 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-11400H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-11400H
1080p
low	386 FPS	382 FPS
medium	386 FPS	382 FPS
high	386 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	382 FPS
1440p
low	386 FPS	382 FPS
medium	386 FPS	382 FPS
high	386 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	386 FPS	382 FPS
medium	386 FPS	382 FPS
high	386 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	382 FPS

Open Core i5-11260H Open Core i5-11400H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11260H and Core i5-11400H

Core i5-11260H

The Core i5-11260H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,459 points. Launch price was $299.

Core i5-11400H

The Core i5-11400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,262 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-11260H and Core i5-11400H share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-11260H versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-11400H — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-11400H (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). Both are built on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture using a 10 nm SuperFin process. In PassMark, the Core i5-11260H scores 15,459 against the Core i5-11400H's 15,262 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i5-11260H. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-11400H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	2.7 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin	10 nm SuperFin
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Tiger Lake-H (2021)
PassMark	15,459+1%	15,262
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	8,150
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	6,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA1787 socket with PCIe 4.0.

Feature	Core i5-11260H	Core i5-11400H
Socket	FCBGA1787	FCBGA1787
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-11260H) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11400H). The Core i5-11400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU), while the Core i5-11260H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11400H targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-11400H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H.