CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-11390H vs Intel Core i7-11800H
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.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The 4.6 GHz all-core boost makes it feel exceptionally snappy in daily tasks.
Blazes through heavy multi-threaded applications like Premiere Pro and Blender.
Gaming
High frame rates in CPU-bound esports titles, limited in modern AAA by 4 cores.
Consistently high frame rates in modern titles, limited only by the discrete GPU.
Virtualization
4 cores restrict heavy VM usage, but fine for light containerization.
16 threads make it highly capable for local VMs and containerized development.
Efficiency
28W TDP is well-optimized, though sustaining 5.0 GHz requires good cooling.
Consumes more power than newer 12th Gen Alder Lake parts under load.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Includes Intel DL Boost
- 4 cores limit local AI inference performance
- Capable of running medium-sized local AI models
- AVX-512 and DL Boost accelerate CPU-based inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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
- Massive 24MB L3 cache boosts game performance significantly
- Handles CPU-bound titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator well
- Pairs perfectly with RTX 3060 and 3070 mobile GPUs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Excellent 8-core, 16-thread performance
- Massive 24MB L3 cache significantly boosts gaming
- 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes for fast storage and GPUs
- Competitive single-core clock speeds
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- 35W base TDP can run hot in poorly cooled laptops
- Does not support DDR5 or LPDDR5
- Surpassed by 12th Gen Alder Lake in hybrid efficiency
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-11390H
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11375HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
ARM Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11800HRival
High-Performance Mobile
Newer 12th Gen architecture with better multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-11320HAlt
A budget-friendly 4-core alternative with very close single-core performance.
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Better power efficiency for purely ultraportable use.
Intel Core i7-11800H
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HXRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-11900HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1 ProRival
ARM Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
Better for thin-and-light laptops if 8 cores are not needed.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-11400HAlt
A budget-friendly alternative with 6 cores that performs well in gaming.
A newer generation with significantly better multi-core performance via a hybrid architecture.
Compare head-to-head
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 reviewA massive leap for Intel's mobile lineup, offering excellent 8-core multi-threaded performance and strong single-core speeds for gaming.
Best for: Buying a discounted 11th Gen gaming laptop for high-end 1080p/1440p gaming
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-11390H or Intel Core i7-11800H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-11800H comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. 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 Intel Core i7-11800H?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-11800H leads with a gaming performance score of 95/100 among Intel Core i7-11390H and Intel Core i7-11800H.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i7-11390H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i7-11390H (28 W), Intel Core i7-11800H (35 W).
Do Intel Core i7-11390H and Intel Core i7-11800H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i7-11390H: Intel BGA 1449, Intel Core i7-11800H: Intel BGA 1787), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-11800H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i7-11390H (4 cores), Intel Core i7-11800H (8 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-11800H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-11390H (11,500), Intel Core i7-11800H (18,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.