CPU Comparison

Intel Core i7-11390H vs Core i7-1165G7

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-11390H is a refreshed 4-core, 8-thread mobile processor offering a 5.0 GHz turbo clock, designed for premium thin-and-light performance laptops.

Intel · Core i7
Intel Core i7-11390H
4C / 8T5 GHz28 W
8.2
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Core i7-1165G7
4C / 8T4.7 GHz28 W
8.8
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
High-Performance Mobile
Mobile
Generation
11th Generation
Core i7 (Willow Cove-U)
Launched
2021
2020
Status
Active
End-of-life
Codename
Tiger Lake-H
Tiger Lake-U
Series
Core i7
Core i7
Family
Tiger Lake-H
11th Generation Core i7
Predecessor
Intel Core i7-11375H
Intel Core i7-1065G7
Successor
Intel Core i7-1260P
Intel Core i7-1255U

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
4
Threads
8
8
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
2.8 GHz
Boost Clock
5 GHz
4.7 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
12 MB
12 MB
TDP
28 W
28 W
Architecture
Architecture
Tiger Lake-H
Tiger Lake-U (Willow Cove)
Process Node
10nm
10nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR4
DDR4, LPDDR4X
Memory Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR4-3200, LPDDR4X-4267
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
64 GB
64 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1449
Intel BGA 1449
PCIe Version
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
PCIe Lanes
20
4
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i7-11390H84

The 4.6 GHz all-core boost makes it feel exceptionally snappy in daily tasks.

Core i7-1165G7Best90

Snappy application launch and multitasking due to high single-core boost.

Gaming

Intel Core i7-11390HBest85

High frame rates in CPU-bound esports titles, limited in modern AAA by 4 cores.

Core i7-1165G778

Capable of playing modern titles at 1080p medium settings thanks to Iris Xe.

Virtualization

Intel Core i7-11390H60

4 cores restrict heavy VM usage, but fine for light containerization.

Core i7-1165G7Best70

Adequate for light VMs, but limited by 4 cores.

Efficiency

Intel Core i7-11390H85

28W TDP is well-optimized, though sustaining 5.0 GHz requires good cooling.

Core i7-1165G7Best88

Excellent idle power and load efficiency on the 10nm node.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i7-11390HLimited
  • Includes Intel DL Boost
  • 4 cores limit local AI inference performance
Core i7-1165G7Good
  • DL Boost for low-power AI inference
  • GNA for background noise cancellation

Content Creation

Intel Core i7-11390HModerate
Photo EditingLight 4K Video EditingGraphic Design
Core i7-1165G7Good
Adobe PhotoshopLightroomPremiere Pro (Light)OBS Streaming

Gaming

Intel Core i7-11390HVery Good
  • 5.0 GHz boost is excellent for CS:GO and Valorant
  • Higher all-core turbo helps maintain frame pacing
  • 4 cores will bottleneck in highly threaded games
Core i7-1165G7Very Good (Integrated)
  • Excellent for an iGPU
  • Requires dual-channel memory for best results
  • Can play CS:GO and Valorant easily

Industry Impact

Gaming
Low
Moderate
Workstations
Low
Low
Content Creation
Moderate
Moderate
Virtualization
Low
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Esports Gaming
Excellent
Everyday Productivity
Excellent
Photo Editing
Very Good
Very Good
3D Rendering
Fair
Fair
Office Productivity
Excellent
Casual 1080p Gaming
Very Good
Video Editing (4K)
Good

Target Audience

Gamers
Targeted
Targeted
Content Creators
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i7-11390H

Pros

  • 5.0 GHz single-core boost
  • 4.6 GHz all-core turbo is excellent for a 4-core chip
  • Iris Xe graphics with 1400 MHz boost
  • 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes

Cons

  • Only 4 cores and 8 threads
  • Locked multiplier
  • Niche availability in laptops
  • Base clock slightly lower than 11375H
Core i7-1165G7

Pros

  • Excellent single-core performance
  • Iris Xe graphics are class-leading for integrated
  • Great power efficiency
  • Supports fast PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
  • Built on Intel's 10nm process

Cons

  • Only 4 cores and 8 threads
  • Soldered to motherboard (BGA)
  • Multi-core performance lags behind AMD's 8-core mobile chips
  • Can throttle under sustained load if laptop cooling is poor

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i7-11390H

Core i7-1165G7

Our Verdict on Each

Essentially a slightly tuned i7-11375H, offering excellent single-threaded performance but showing its age with only 4 cores.

Best for: Finding a thin-and-light laptop with excellent single-core snappiness

Read the full review
Core i7-1165G7Recommended

A landmark mobile processor that brought massive single-core and integrated graphics improvements to the ultrabook segment.

Best for: Purchasing a used or refurbished premium ultrabook for productivity and light gaming.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i7-11390H or Core i7-1165G7?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-1165G7 comes out ahead with a score of 8.8/10. 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 i7-11390H or Core i7-1165G7?

For gaming, the Intel Core i7-11390H leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Intel Core i7-11390H and Core i7-1165G7.

Do Intel Core i7-11390H and Core i7-1165G7 use the same socket?

Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1449 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Core i7-11390H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-11390H (11,500), Core i7-1165G7 (4,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.