CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-11500T vs Intel Core i7-11700T
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 and moderate compilation well, but slows down in sustained all-core workloads.
Gaming
Not intended for serious gaming; iGPU can handle older or 2D titles at low settings only.
The low base clock can cause stuttering in CPU-heavy games unless the turbo is aggressively sustained.
Virtualization
Can run basic VMs, but limited power budget restricts multi-VM workloads.
8 cores are nice, but power limits throttle heavy VM deployments.
Efficiency
Exceptional efficiency, drawing minimal power at idle and under load compared to 65W+ CPUs.
Outstanding efficiency, drawing minimal power at idle and under load.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Low base clock restricts CPU inference
- Not suitable for heavy AI workloads due to power throttling
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 affects minimum FPS
- Fine for casual or older games
- Pair with a low-power GPU for best results
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
- Includes 8 cores and 16 threads
- Built-in UHD 750 graphics
- Supports PCIe 4.0
Cons
- Very low base clock of 1.4 GHz
- End-of-life platform
- Overpriced compared to 65W variants
- Throttles quickly under sustained load
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
Intel Core i7-11700T
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700GRival
Desktop APU
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GERival
Low-Power Desktop
- Intel Core i5-11400TRival
Low-Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11700Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-11900TRival
Low-Power Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12400TAlt
Newer architecture with better efficiency and performance.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Better gaming performance and upgrade path.
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 reviewGreat for specialized SFF builds needing 8 cores at 35W, but the low base clock heavily limits out-of-the-box performance compared to 65W parts.
Best for: Building a PC inside a severely thermally constrained Mini-ITX case.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-11500T or Intel Core i7-11700T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-11500T comes out ahead with a score of 7.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-11500T or Intel Core i7-11700T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-11700T leads with a gaming performance score of 60/100 among Intel Core i5-11500T and Intel Core i7-11700T.
Do Intel Core i5-11500T and Intel Core i7-11700T use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-11500T: Intel Socket 1200, Intel Core i7-11700T: LGA 1200), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-11700T has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-11500T (6 cores), Intel Core i7-11700T (8 cores).
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.