Core i9-11980HK vs Core Ultra 5 135H
Core i9-11980HK
Core Ultra 5 135H
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 i9-11980HK
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 135H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-11980HK | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-HK (2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-11980HK | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i9-11980HK and Core Ultra 5 135H
Core i9-11980HK
The Core i9-11980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 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): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,244 points. Launch price was $583.
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 i9-11980HK 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 GHz on the Core i9-11980HK versus 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-11980HK (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11980HK scores 22,244 against the Core Ultra 5 135H's 22,116 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i9-11980HK. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11980HK vs 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 14 / 18+75% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+9% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total)+33% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+60% |
| Process | 10 nm SuperFin | 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake-HK (2021) | Meteor Lake-H (2023) |
| PassMark | 22,244 | 22,116 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 14,029 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,129 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,766 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-11980HK uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1787 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| 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 i9-11980HK) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H). The Core i9-11980HK includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EUs), while the Core Ultra 5 135H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-11980HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-11980HK rivals Ryzen 9 5900HX.
| Feature | Core i9-11980HK | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 32EUs | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Enthusiast Gaming Laptop | — |
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