Core i9-11900F vs Core Ultra 5 135H

Intel

Core i9-11900F

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2021
VS
Intel

Core Ultra 5 135H

14 Cores18 Thrd0 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

Core i9-11900F vs Core Ultra 5 135H Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i9-11900F vs Core Ultra 5 135H 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 i9-11900F vs Core Ultra 5 135H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i9-11900F

2021

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (22,052 vs 22,116).
    • Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 135H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

    Core Ultra 5 135H

    2023

    Why buy it

    • +0.3% higher PassMark.
    • Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

    Trade-offs

    • Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core Ultra 5 135H better than Core i9-11900F?
    It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i9-11900F is ahead with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 135H pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 135H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 18 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Core Ultra 5 135H still makes the most sense overall. Core Ultra 5 135H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Core Ultra 5 135H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 18 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

    Core i9-11900F vs Core Ultra 5 135H Technical Specifications

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

    Intel

    Core i9-11900F

    The Core i9-11900F 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 22,052 points. Launch price was $299.

    Intel

    Core Ultra 5 135H

    The Core Ultra 5 135H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 18 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,116 points. Launch price was $342.

    Processing Power

    The Core i9-11900F packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135H offers 14 cores / 18 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-11900F versus 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-11900F uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900F scores 22,052 against the Core Ultra 5 135H's 22,116 — a 0.3% lead for the Core Ultra 5 135H. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900F vs 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H.

    FeatureCore i9-11900FCore Ultra 5 135H
    Cores / Threads
    8 / 16
    14 / 18+75%
    Boost Clock
    5.1 GHz+11%
    4.6 GHz
    Base Clock
    2.5 GHz
    3.6 GHz+44%
    L3 Cache
    16 MB (total)
    18 MB (total)+13%
    L2 Cache
    256K (per core)+12700%
    2 MB (per core)
    Process
    14 nm
    7 nm-50%
    Architecture
    Rocket Lake (2021)
    Meteor Lake-H (2023)
    PassMark
    22,052
    22,116
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Core i9-11900F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureCore i9-11900FCore Ultra 5 135H
    Socket
    LGA1200
    FCBGA2049
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 4.0
    PCIe 5.0+25%