VIDEO Intel Core i5-11400H Review, The Ryzen 5 5600H Killer?

Intel Core i5-11400H Review, The Ryzen 5 5600H Killer? In an in-depth review by Hardware Unboxed, the Intel Core i5-11400H is presented as a strong competitor to AMD's Ryzen 5 5600H, particularly in the mobile CPU market aimed at mainstream laptops. This analysis rounds out the coverage of Intel’s H-series processors for the current generation, focusing on architecture, performance metrics, and comparisons with rival CPUs.

Key Features and Architecture​

The Intel Core i5-11400H is built on the Tiger Lake architecture, utilizing a 10nm SuperFin process. It features:

• 6 Cores and 12 Threads
• 12 MB L3 Cache
• Base Clock: 2.7 GHz
• Boost Clock: Up to 4.5 GHz single-core and 4.1 GHz all-core

While the integrated Xe graphics are significantly cut down to 16 execution units (compared to 32 in higher-tier models), users will find a discrete graphics card necessary for satisfactory gaming performances, as the integrated graphics mirror the performance of older generations.

Performance Benchmarks​

The review showcases various benchmark tests, demonstrating where the i5-11400H stands against its main rival, the Ryzen 5 5600H:

• Cinebench R20: The 11400H performs slightly below the 5600H, showing a 5% slower performance in multi-threaded workloads.
• Productivity Tasks: In video encoding and tasks like MATLAB, the performance is comparable, with minor advantages leaning toward the 11400H in specific use cases.
• Gaming Performance: In gaming scenarios using the RTX 3050, the difference in performance between the i5-11400H and higher-end models like the i7-11800H is negligible, confirming that the i5 can handle most titles effectively, although it does fall behind in CPU-heavy scenarios.

Power Scaling Comparison​

One of the interesting findings is that the i5-11400H scales effectively to match or outperform the Ryzen 5 5600H when power limits are increased to 65 watts or higher. However, at standard power specifications (45 watts), the Ryzen model takes the upper hand in multi-threaded tasks, emphasizing the need for proper cooling in laptop design to exploit Intel's advantages.

Conclusion​

The Intel Core i5-11400H demonstrates a notable improvement over previous generations and competes closely with AMD's Ryzen 5 5600H. While it excels in certain single-thread operations and burst workloads, its architecture means that the Ryzen processor still has the edge in multi-threaded performance at typical power levels. Considering a new laptop? It’s important to weigh these insights against your primary use cases, whether you're focusing on gaming, content creation, or everyday tasks. The i5-11400H balances performance and efficiency well for users seeking competitive pricing in the market. If you've experience with these processors, or have questions regarding specific workloads, feel free to share your thoughts!