Quick Verdict
Essentially a slightly tuned i7-11375H, offering excellent single-threaded performance but showing its age with only 4 cores.
Overview
Launch
Jun 21st, 2021
Status
ActiveGeneration
11th Generation
Market
Mobile
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.
Launched in mid-2021, the i7-11390H is a quiet refresh of the 11375H. Built on the 10nm SuperFin process, it features 4 cores, 8 threads, and 12MB of L3 cache. Its primary advantage is a higher all-core turbo (4.
6 GHz) and faster integrated graphics (1400 MHz). It retains 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes, making it highly capable for fast storage and discrete GPUs in thin chassis.
It is a niche chip aimed at keeping Intel competitive in the premium ultraportable space.
Specifications
Performance
The 4.6 GHz all-core boost makes it feel exceptionally snappy in daily tasks.
4 cores restrict heavy VM usage, but fine for light containerization.
High frame rates in CPU-bound esports titles, limited in modern AAA by 4 cores.
28W TDP is well-optimized, though sustaining 5.0 GHz requires good cooling.
- •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
- •Includes Intel DL Boost
- •4 cores limit local AI inference performance
Architecture
10nm
Process Node
Tiger Lake-H
Codename
4C / 8T
Core Config
12 MB
L3 Cache
28 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The i7-11390H shares the exact 146.1 mm² Tiger Lake-H35 die as the 11375H, utilizing Intel's 10nm SuperFin process and Willow Cove cores.
CPU Design
Features 4 cores and 8 threads. The key difference from the 11375H is a higher sustained all-core turbo of 4.6 GHz and a slightly lower 2.9 GHz base clock.
Memory Subsystem
Supports DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4x-4267, providing excellent bandwidth for the Iris Xe graphics and CPU.
PCIe & I/O
Includes 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes for high-speed NVMe and discrete GPU connectivity.
Overclocking
Locked multiplier, but features configurable TDP up to 35W.
- Higher all-core turbo (4.6 GHz vs 4.3 GHz)
- Higher integrated graphics max frequency (1400 MHz vs 1350 MHz)
Key Highlights
- 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
- Only 4 cores and 8 threads
- Locked multiplier
- Niche availability in laptops
- Base clock slightly lower than 11375H
History
The Core i7-11390H was launched in mid-2021 as a quiet refresh to the Tiger Lake-H35 lineup.</br>Released alongside the 8-core Tiger Lake-H45 series, this chip was a bit of an anomaly, pushing the 4-core design to its absolute limits.</br>Intel increased the all-core turbo to 4.
6 GHz and the integrated graphics to 1400 MHz to justify its existence.</br>It was likely introduced to clear out premium 4-core silicon bins before the transition to the 12th Gen Alder Lake P-series.</br>It found a home in a handful of high-end ultraportables aiming to maximize single-threaded performance.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Higher all-core turbo (4.6 GHz vs 4.3 GHz)
- Higher integrated graphics max frequency (1400 MHz vs 1350 MHz)
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Recommended for the right buyer
Finding a thin-and-light laptop with excellent single-core snappiness
Avoid if…
- You need 8-core multi-threading
- You plan on heavy video production
- You want the latest 12th Gen architecture
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i7-11390H was released nearly 6 months after the initial Tiger Lake-H35 launch.
It is essentially a slightly factory-overclocked version of the 11375H.
The integrated graphics hit 1400 MHz, the highest for the H35 series.
Shares the same 146.1 mm² die size as the 11370H and 11375H.
Launched at the same $426 price point as the 11370H.
Base clock is 2.9 GHz, 100 MHz lower than the 11375H.
All-core turbo is 4.6 GHz, 300 MHz higher than the 11375H.
Supports AVX-512 instructions.
Uses the BGA 1449 socket.
Was overshadowed by the 8-core Tiger Lake-H45 release that same month.
People Also Ask
Is the i7-11390H good for gaming?
Yes, its 5.0 GHz boost makes it excellent for esports and high-refresh 1080p gaming.
How many cores does the i7-11390H have?
It has 4 physical cores and 8 threads.
What is the TDP of the i7-11390H?
The base TDP is 28W, with a configurable TDP-up of 35W.
What is the difference between i7-11375H and i7-11390H?
The 11390H has a slightly lower base clock (2.9GHz vs 3.0GHz) but a higher all-core turbo (4.6GHz vs 4.3GHz) and faster integrated graphics (1400MHz vs 1350MHz).
What is the max turbo of the i7-11390H?
The maximum turbo frequency is 5.0 GHz.
Does the i7-11390H have integrated graphics?
Yes, it features Intel Iris Xe Graphics with 96 Execution Units.
Can you overclock the i7-11390H?
No, the multiplier is locked.
What socket does the i7-11390H use?
It uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket.
When was the i7-11390H released?
It was released on June 21st, 2021.
Does the i7-11390H support PCIe 4.0?
Yes, it supports 20 lanes of PCIe 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base clock of the i7-11390H?
The base clock is 2.9 GHz.
What is the all-core turbo of the i7-11390H?
The all-core turbo is up to 4.6 GHz.
How much L3 cache does the i7-11390H have?
It has 12MB of L3 cache.
What is the launch price of the i7-11390H?
The launch price was $426.
Does the i7-11390H support AVX-512?
Yes, it supports AVX-512 instructions.
What is the integrated graphics boost frequency?
The Iris Xe graphics can boost up to 1400 MHz.
Is the i7-11390H unlocked?
No, it has a locked multiplier.
What memory types does the i7-11390H support?
It supports DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4x-4267 memory.
What generation is the i7-11390H?
It is an 11th Generation Intel Core processor.
Can the i7-11390H handle video editing?
It can handle light video editing, but its 4 cores will struggle with heavy 4K timelines.