Intel Core i5-11500B vs Intel Core i9-10980HK vs Intel Xeon W-11855M

Intel Core i5-11500B

Der Intel Core i5-11500B ist ein Hexa-Core-Prozessor für Gaming-Notebooks, kleine Workstations oder auch Mini-PCs. Er basiert auf die Tiger-Lake-Architektur (H45) und wurde im 2. Quartal 2021 präsentiert. Der Chip bietet einen TDP von 65 Watt (konfigurierbar). Die sechs Prozessorkerne können von 3,3 bis 4,6 GHz (Einzelkern-Turbo) takten. Der Prozessor bietet 12 MB Level 3 Cache und unterstützt DDR4-RAM mit bis zu 3.200 MT/s. Die integrierte Grafik basiert auf der Xe-Architektur und ist UHD Graphics benannt (32 EUs). Im 11500B taktet sie von 350 bis 1.450 MHz. Der Chip wird im 10 nm SuperFin Prozess gefertigt.

Performance

Die Leistung des Intel Core i5-11500B hängt primär von der Leistungsfähigkeit der verbauten Kühleinheit ab. Zudem lässt sich die TDP des SoC auch absenken. Grundsätzlich sollte der Intel Core i5-11500B aber etwas mehr Leistung als ein Intel Core i5-11400H bieten.

Features

Wie bei den kleineren Tiger-Lake-Chips wird auch hier WLAN (Wi-Fi 6E) und Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4  im Chip (teil-)integriert für schnellere, günstige und platzsparende Implementierungen in Notebooks. Des Weiteren bietet der i5-11500B 20 PCIe 4.0 Lanes.

Intel Core i9-10980HK

The Intel Core i9-10980HK is a high-end processor for laptops with eight cores based on the Comet Lake architecture (CML-H, 4th generation of Skylake). The processor clocks at between 2.4 and 5.3 GHz (all 8 cores up to 4.4 GHz) and can execute up to sixteen threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. The 5.3 GHz can be only achieved below 65°C core temperature (Thermal Velocity Boost), between 65 and 85°C, 5.2 GHz are the maximum and above that 5.1 with restrictions (Turbo Boost 3.0).

The processor is still manufactured in the old 14nm (14nm++) process. Compared to the predecessor, the Core i9-9980HK, the 10980HK probably offers only increased base clock rates (and maybe multi core turbo clocks). Thanks to the free multiplicator, the CPU can also be easily overclocked (but may not have much headroom).

The Comet Lake architecture is similar to Coffee Lake and offers the same features and is produced in the same 14nm process. Other than the improved clock rates, the memory controller now also supports faster DDR4-2933 RAM. More information on Comet Lake and all the models and articles on it can be found here.

The Core i7-10750H supports no vPro, TXT or SIPP. These business features are available in the similar (and later released) Core i9-10885H (2.4 - 5.3 GHz).

Performance

The performance of the Core i9-10980HK should be higher than the old Core i9-9980HK (2.4 - 5 GHz) thanks to the increased turbo clock speeds. Thanks to the 8 cores and high Turbo speeds, even demanding applications should run very good on the CPU. However, long term performance is always depending on the laptop cooling system and system configuration. At the time of announcement, the i9-10980HK is the fastest Comet Lake-H CPU and fastest laptop CPU on the market. 

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer a similar performance as the UHD630 in the Core i7-9980HK. As a  low-end solution it will only run current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 45 watts and therefore the i9 is only suited for big laptops with good cooling solutions. Using cTDP-down, the CPU can also be configured to 35 Watt resulting in a reduced performance.

Beware, the CPU was not yet released at the time of writing and the information is based on leaks and early information.

Intel Xeon W-11855M

The Intel Xeon W-11855M is a high end hexa core SoC for laptops and mobile workstations. It is based on the Tiger Lake H45 generation and was announced in mid 2021. It integrates six Willow Cove processor cores (12 threads thanks to HyperThreading). The base clock speed depends on the TDP setting and at 45 Watt is at 3.2 GHz. The single and dual core boost speed can reach up to 4.9 GHz (using ITBM 3.0), all cores can reach up to 4.4 GHz. The CPU offers 18 MB level 3 cache and supports DDR4-3200 memory.

The Xeon W-11855M is the fastest 6-core CPU of the Tiger Lake line-up at launch and should easily best the older 6 core CPUs thanks to the high clock speeds and the new architecture. Therefore, the Xeon is well suited for even very demanding tasks and is only bested by the 8-core CPUs like the W-11955M.

The SoC also included the improved Xe graphics card called UHD graphics with all 32 EUs.

Furthermore, Tiger Lake SoCs add PCIe 4 support (20 lanes in the H45 series), AI hardware acceleration, and the partial integration of Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 and Wi-Fi 6E in the chip.

The chip is produced on the improved 10nm process (called 10nm SuperFin) at Intel, which should be comparable to the 7nm process at TSMC (e.g. Ryzen 4000 series). The default TDP is rated at 45 W at 3.2 GHz base speed, at 35 Watt the base clock speed decreases to 2.6 GHz (cTDP down).

All articles on Tiger Lake can be found on our Tiger Lake architecture hub.