Core i5-11400H vs Core i7-11600H

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.

Core i5-11400H vs Core i7-11600H FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-11400H vs Core i7-11600H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-11400H

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (15,262 vs 15,441).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).

Core i7-11600H

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-11400H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-11600H better than Core i5-11400H?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-11400H is ahead with a 4.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-11600H pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Core i7-11600H also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-11600H is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-11600H still makes the most sense overall. Core i7-11600H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.2% better PassMark.

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

Core i7-11600H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-11400H vs Core i7-11600H Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Core i7-11600H

The Core i7-11600H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake H45 (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 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: 15,441 points. Launch price was $395.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-11400H and Core i7-11600H share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-11400H versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-11600H — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-11600H (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-11400H uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i7-11600H uses Tiger Lake H45 (2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i5-11400H scores 15,262 against the Core i7-11600H's 15,441 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i7-11600H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,900 vs 1,903, a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-11600H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11400H vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i7-11600H.

Feature	Core i5-11400H	Core i7-11600H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.6 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+8%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+50%
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 H45 (2021)
PassMark	15,262	15,441+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,150	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,900	1,903
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,500	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA1787 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i5-11400H) and HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i7-11600H).

Feature	Core i5-11400H	Core i7-11600H
Socket	FCBGA1787	FCBGA1787
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU (Core i5-11400H) and UHD Graphics (Core i7-11600H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11400H targets Gaming Laptop, Core i7-11600H targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-11400H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H; Core i7-11600H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H.

Feature	Core i5-11400H	Core i7-11600H
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 11th Gen 16EU	UHD Graphics
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming Laptop	Gaming Laptop