Intel Core i7-9700 vs Intel Core i5-11400H

Intel Core i7-9700

The Intel Core i7-9700 is a high end desktop processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. It integrates 8 cores (no Hyperthreading therefore also 8 threads) clocked at 3 - 4.7 GHz. Compared to the similar named Core i7-9700K, the 9700 has no open multiplicator for easy overclocking, offers lower clock speeds and offers a reduced TDP.

Compared to the old Core i7-8700, the 9700 offers two more real cores but no Hyperthreading. Therefore, the performance gain is not that big - depending on the app. The single core performance was slightly improved thanks to the higher Turbo clocks. As a high end desktop CPU, the i7-9700 is well suited for demanding tasks and gaming.

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics card is clocked at up to 1.2 GHz and offers no advantage compared to previous generations. As it is a very low end GPU, only some low demanding games like Hearthstone can be played with it (see GPU page for benchmarks).

Intel specifies the TDP at 65 Watt (instead of the 95W of the faster models) and therefore the CPU wont need a high end desktop cooling system.

Intel Core i5-11400H

The Intel Core i5-11400H is a high-end hexa-core SoC for gaming 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 2.7 GHz. The single core boost speed can reach up to 4.5 GHz, all cores can reach up to 4.1 GHz. The CPU geatures 12 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4-3200 memory.

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 SoC features an improved Gen 12 graphics adapter called UHD Graphics with 16 EUs.

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

Performance

The average 11400H in our database matches the Ryzen 5 5600U and the Core i7-10750H in multi-thread performance, rendering the Core i5 a decent mid-range option as of mid 2022. It isn't as fast as the mighty Ryzen 9 5900HS, yet it will let you run most games in High or even Ultra settings at 1080p if mated to a fast graphics card.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 45 W, the Gigabyte G5 GD (2021) is among the fastest laptops built around the 11400H that we know of. It can be around 20% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Power consumption

This Core i5 series chip has a default TDP of 35 W to 45 W, the expectation being that laptop makers will go for a higher value in exchange for higher performance. Either way, an active cooling solution is a must for a CPU like this.

The i5-11400H is manufactured on Intel's 3rd generation 10 nm process marketed as SuperFin for below average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.