CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-11500T vs Core i5-11400T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-11500T is a low-power variant of the 11th Gen Rocket Lake lineup, designed for small form factor PCs and compact systems where thermal limits are strict. Operating at a mere 35W TDP, it drops the base clock to 1.5 GHz while maintaining a respectable 3.9 GHz turbo boost.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy for daily tasks and office applications, though burst performance drops quickly under sustained load.
Handles office tasks well, but slower for heavy processing.
Gaming
Not intended for serious gaming; iGPU can handle older or 2D titles at low settings only.
Not suitable for modern gaming due to low base clock.
Virtualization
Can run basic VMs, but limited power budget restricts multi-VM workloads.
Adequate for light VMs, but limited by clocks.
Efficiency
Exceptional efficiency, drawing minimal power at idle and under load compared to 65W+ CPUs.
Exceptional power efficiency with a 35W TDP.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Low base clock restricts CPU inference
- AVX-512 support included
- Low clocks limit AI inference performance
- Not recommended for machine learning
Content Creation
Gaming
- UHD 750 suitable only for very light gaming
- Sustained CPU loads limited by 35W TDP
- Not designed for use with discrete GPUs
- Low base clock heavily bottlenecks modern GPUs
- Suitable only for older or 2D games
- Best paired with low-end discrete graphics or iGPU
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- UHD 750 integrated graphics
- Supports Quick Sync Video for media transcoding
- Runs very cool and quiet
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- Low base clock of 1.5 GHz
- Sustained multi-core performance is heavily limited
- Locked multiplier
- Hard to find at retail (mostly OEM)
- 14nm process is less efficient than modern nodes
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- Supports PCIe 4.0
- 6 cores for solid multitasking
- Quiet operation potential
Cons
- Very low base clock (1.3 GHz)
- Not suitable for gaming
- Locked multiplier
- Uses older 14nm process
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-11500T
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GERival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650GERival
Low Power Desktop
- Intel Core i5-10500TRival
Low Power Desktop
- Intel Core i3-11200TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700GERival
Low Power Desktop
Much faster sustained performance if you can accommodate 65W.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-12500TAlt
Better IPC and efficiency on the newer platform.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Significantly faster integrated graphics for light gaming.
- Intel N100Alt
Much lower power for basic tasks, modern efficiency.
More cores for multi-tasking in SFF builds.
Compare head-to-head
Core i5-11400T
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GERival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600GERival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-10400TRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-10100TRival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 3 4300GERival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-11400Alt
Offers higher base clocks and 65W TDP for better performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Much better integrated graphics and similar power efficiency.
Newer Alder Lake alternative with better single-core speed.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-12400TAlt
A newer 12th gen alternative with improved IPC and efficiency.
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600GAlt
A reliable budget APU with strong integrated graphics.
Our Verdict on Each
An excellent low-power choice for SFF and media builds, offering strong efficiency and UHD 750 graphics, though not suited for heavy workloads.
Best for: Building a silent mini-ITX PC or NAS with Plex
Read the full reviewAn excellent low-TDP processor for SFF builds, offering 6 cores and PCIe 4.0 with minimal heat output.
Best for: The Intel Core i5-11400T is highly recommended for builders constructing a small form factor PC, home theater PC, or a silent office workstation. Its 35W TDP means it can be cooled passively or with a low-RPM fan, ensuring a completely silent computing experience. It is perfect for 1080p media playback, light office work, and web browsing. However, it is not advisable for gaming or heavy content creation, as its low base clock of 1.3 GHz will bottleneck modern GPUs and slow down rendering tasks significantly. If your primary goal is a compact, energy-efficient system that runs 24/7 without generating excess heat, the 11400T is an excellent choice. Just ensure you pair it with fast NVMe storage to leverage the PCIe 4.0 lanes, maximizing system responsiveness for everyday tasks.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Do Intel Core i5-11500T and Core i5-11400T use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel Socket 1200 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-11500T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-11500T (7,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.