Quick Verdict
An excellent low-power choice for SFF and media builds, offering strong efficiency and UHD 750 graphics, though not suited for heavy workloads.
Overview
Launch
2021
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
11th Generation
Market
Desktop
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 Core i5-11500T sacrifices sustained multi-core clock speeds to achieve a 35W TDP, making it incredibly efficient. With UHD 750 graphics and Quick Sync, it excels in media playback and office tasks within tiny form factors.
Specifications
Performance
Snappy for daily tasks and office applications, though burst performance drops quickly under sustained load.
Can run basic VMs, but limited power budget restricts multi-VM workloads.
Not intended for serious gaming; iGPU can handle older or 2D titles at low settings only.
Exceptional efficiency, drawing minimal power at idle and under load compared to 65W+ CPUs.
- •UHD 750 suitable only for very light gaming
- •Sustained CPU loads limited by 35W TDP
- •Not designed for use with discrete GPUs
- •No AI acceleration hardware
- •Low base clock restricts CPU inference
Architecture
14 nm
Process Node
Rocket Lake
Codename
6C / 12T
Core Config
12 MB
L3 Cache
35 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
Built on the Cypress Cove microarchitecture, the i5-11500T inherits the same 19% IPC uplift as the rest of the Rocket Lake family, backported to Intel's 14nm node. The 35W TDP constraint forces aggressive clock scaling, relying heavily on Turbo Boost for short bursts.
CPU Design
6 physical cores with Hyper-Threading yield 12 logical threads, restricted by a low base multiplier of 15x to save power.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory controller provides standard bandwidth for the platform.
PCIe & I/O
20 PCIe 4.0 lanes ensure modern storage and expansion capabilities are not compromised by the low TDP.
Overclocking
Fully locked multiplier and power limits; tuning is limited to memory XMP profiles on compatible motherboards.
- UHD 750 graphics over UHD 630
- 19% IPC increase
- PCIe 4.0 support
Key Highlights
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- UHD 750 integrated graphics
- Supports Quick Sync Video for media transcoding
- Runs very cool and quiet
- PCIe 4.0 support
- 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
History
The 'T' series processors have always catered to a niche market of OEMs and SFF builders. The i5-11500T continued this tradition in the Rocket Lake generation, offering a power-sipping alternative for the LGA 1200 socket. Its release in March 2021 coincided with a global chip shortage, making low-power chips attractive for corporate refreshes and thin-client deployments.
While largely ignored by the enthusiast DIY market, the 11500T played a vital role in keeping desktop computing viable in thermally constrained environments. Its inclusion of UHD 750 graphics also meant it could handle modern video codecs effortlessly, a key requirement for digital signage and media centers.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- UHD 750 graphics over UHD 630
- 19% IPC increase
- PCIe 4.0 support
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Recommended for the right buyer
Building a silent mini-ITX PC or NAS with Plex
Avoid if…
- You are building a gaming PC
- You need sustained multi-core performance for rendering
- You plan to use a high-end discrete GPU
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The 35W TDP makes it ideal for passively cooled cases.
Features the UHD 750 iGPU with 32 Execution Units.
Has a very low base multiplier of 15x.
Retains full AVX-512 support despite low power budget.
Capable of hardware-accelerated 8K video decode.
Often sold as an OEM/tray part rather than in a retail box.
Peak turbo consumes roughly double its rated TDP.
Uses the same 276mm² die as the 65W variants.
Quick Sync Video is highly prized by home server builders.
Launched at a higher MSRP ($192) than the faster 11400F.
People Also Ask
Is the i5-11500T passively cooled?
It can be, with the right chassis and heatsink, due to its low 35W TDP.
What is the turbo speed of i5-11500T?
The max turbo boost is up to 3.9 GHz.
Does i5-11500T support 4K video?
Yes, the UHD 750 graphics flawlessly handles 4K media playback.
Is i5-11500T good for Plex?
Yes, Intel Quick Sync makes it excellent for hardware-transcoding on Plex.
Can I use a dedicated GPU with i5-11500T?
Yes, but the low base clock will bottleneck high-end GPUs.
What motherboards work with i5-11500T?
Any LGA 1200 motherboard (400 or 500 series).
Does it run cool?
Yes, the 35W TDP ensures very low heat output.
Is i5-11500T better than i5-10500T?
Yes, it offers better IPC and much stronger UHD 750 graphics.
How many threads does i5-11500T have?
It has 12 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.
Does i5-11500T support DDR5?
No, it is restricted to DDR4 memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the T mean in i5-11500T?
It signifies a low-power variant with a base TDP of 35W.
Does i5-11500T have integrated graphics?
Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 750.
Can I game on the i5-11500T?
Only very light or older games; it is not meant for serious gaming.
Is the i5-11500T good for a home server?
Yes, excellent due to low power consumption and Quick Sync Video.
What is the base clock of the i5-11500T?
The base clock is 1.5 GHz.
Can I overclock the i5-11500T?
No, it is fully locked.
Does it support PCIe 4.0?
Yes, it provides 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes.
What socket is i5-11500T?
Intel Socket 1200 (LGA 1200).
How much L3 cache does it have?
It has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.
Is it better than i5-11500?
In efficiency, yes; in raw performance, no.