Core i5-11500B
VS
Core i9-10980HK

Core i5-11500B vs Core i9-10980HK

Intel

Core i5-11500B

6 Cores12 Thrd7.5 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2021
VS
Intel

Core i9-10980HK

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2020

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-11500B

#27
Core Ultra 7 265HX
MSRP: $450|Avg: N/A
118%
#31
Ryzen 5 230
MSRP: $200|Avg: $190
109%
#36
Core i5-11500B
MSRP: $185|Avg: $185
100%
#42
Ryzen 9 9955HX3D
MSRP: $749|Avg: N/A
95%
#49
Core i9-12900HX
MSRP: $606|Avg: N/A
89%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10980HK

#187
Core Ultra 9 288V
MSRP: $600|Avg: $600
128%
#188
Core i7-10870H
MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A
127%
#202
Core i9-10980HK
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i9-10980HK leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i5-11500B is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.2% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightCore i5-11500BCore i9-10980HK
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($185)
More affordable ($0)
Longevity
✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-H (2021) / 10 nm)
✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightCore i5-11500BCore i9-10980HK
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($185)
More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

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.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11500B and Core i9-10980HK

Intel

Core i5-11500B

The Core i5-11500B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 7.5 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,075 points. Launch price was $299.

Intel

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 i5-11500B 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 i5-11500B versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-11500B uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-10980HK uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500B scores 17,075 against the Core i9-10980HK's 17,037 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-11500B. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Core i5-11500B vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK.

FeatureCore i5-11500BCore i9-10980HK
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
5.1 GHz+11%
Base Clock
3.3 GHz+38%
2.4 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB
16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache
7.5 MB+2900%
256 kB (per core)
Process
10 nm-29%
14 nm
Architecture
Tiger Lake-H (2021)
Comet Lake-H (2020)
PassMark
17,075
17,037
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500B uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-10980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-11500BCore i9-10980HK
Socket
FCBGA1787
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 (Core i5-11500B) / not specified (Core i9-10980HK). The Core i5-11500B includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EU), while the Core i9-10980HK requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500B targets Desktop / Mini PC.

FeatureCore i5-11500BCore i9-10980HK
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 32EU
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Desktop / Mini PC