CPU
GPU
Core i9-10980HK
Core i5-11500
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 i9-10980HK
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-11500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10980HK | Core i5-11500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10980HK | Core i5-11500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 i9-10980HK and Core i5-11500
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10980HK packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-11500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-10980HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500 — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i9-10980HK uses the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-11500 uses Rocket Lake (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10980HK scores 17,037 against the Core i5-11500's 17,096 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-11500. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500.
| Feature | Core i9-10980HK | Core i5-11500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+11% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.7 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total)+33% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake-H (2020) | Rocket Lake (2021) |
| PassMark | 17,037 | 17,096 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,883 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,064 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,564 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-10980HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-11500 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-10980HK | Core i5-11500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-10980HK) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500). 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 i9-10980HK | Core i5-11500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD 750 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i9-10980HK and Core i5-11500
