Core i7-11850H vs Core i5-12500
Core i7-11850H
Core i5-12500
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 i7-11850H
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-11850H | Core i5-12500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-H (2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-11850H | Core i5-12500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 i7-11850H and Core i5-12500
Core i7-11850H
The Core i7-11850H 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 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: 19,873 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i5-12500
The Core i5-12500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,739 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i7-11850H packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-12500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-11850H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-11850H versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12500 — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-11850H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-11850H uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i5-12500 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11850H scores 19,873 against the Core i5-12500's 19,739 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-11850H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,911 vs 2,319, a 19.3% lead for the Core i5-12500 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11850H vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500.
| Feature | Core i7-11850H | Core i5-12500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+4% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+33% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm SuperFin | Intel 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake-H (2021) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 19,873 | 19,739 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,978 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,911 | 2,319+21% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 9,003 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-11850H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-12500 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-11850H versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12500 — the Core i5-12500 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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 i7-11850H) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12500).
| Feature | Core i7-11850H | Core i5-12500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1787 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i7-11850H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11850H) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics (Core i7-11850H) and UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-12500) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11850H targets Workstation Laptop, Core i5-12500 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-11850H rivals Ryzen 7 5800H; Core i5-12500 rivals Ryzen 5 5500.
| Feature | Core i7-11850H | Core i5-12500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Workstation Laptop | Productivity |
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