Core i5-11500 vs Core i9-10980HK
Core i5-11500
Core i9-10980HK
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-11500
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10980HK
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-11500 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-11500 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11500 and Core i9-10980HK
Core i5-11500
The Core i5-11500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 17,096 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i9-10980HK
The Core i9-10980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,037 points. Launch price was $583.
Processing Power
The Core i5-11500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-10980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-10980HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-11500 uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-10980HK uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500 scores 17,096 against the Core i9-10980HK's 17,037 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-11500. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK.
| Feature | Core i5-11500 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz | 5.1 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+13% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 16 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Comet Lake-H (2020) |
| PassMark | 17,096 | 17,037 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 9,883 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,064 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,564 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-11500 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-10980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-11500 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500) / not specified (Core i9-10980HK). The Core i5-11500 includes integrated graphics (UHD 750), while the Core i9-10980HK requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500 rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Core i5-11500 | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD 750 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
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