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Intel Core i5-11260H

Intel Core i5-11260H: A Balance Between Performance and Mobility in 2025

Introduction

Four years after its release, the Intel Core i5-11260H processor remains a popular choice for budget and mid-range laptops. Despite the emergence of new CPU generations, this model remains relevant due to its successful combination of core architecture, energy efficiency, and affordability. Let's explore who this chip is suitable for in 2025 and what tasks it can handle.

Architecture and Technology: Tiger Lake on 10 nm SuperFin

The Core i5-11260H processor belongs to the Tiger Lake-H series, released by Intel in 2021. It is the company's first chip built on the 10nm SuperFin manufacturing process, which provided a 20% performance increase compared to the previous Ice Lake generation.

Key Specifications:

- Cores and Threads: 6 cores (6 physical, 12 logical thanks to Hyper-Threading).

- Clock Frequencies: Base clock — 2.6 GHz, maximum in turbo mode — 4.4 GHz.

- Cache Memory: 12 MB of L3 cache.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics for the 11th generation (32 EUs, frequency up to 1.45 GHz).

Architecture Features:

- Willow Cove: The new core microarchitecture provides a 15-20% improvement in IPC (instructions per cycle).

- PCIe 4.0: Support for 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes for fast SSDs and external devices.

- Thunderbolt 4: Integrated controller for connecting 4K monitors, external drives, and docking stations.

iGPU: The integrated UHD graphics are suitable for basic tasks (office work, 4K video), but a discrete graphics card is required for gaming. For example, in CS:GO at low settings one can expect 40–50 FPS.

Power Consumption and TDP: 35 Watts with Dynamic Management

The nominal TDP of the processor is 35 watts, but in reality, it operates in the range of 35-45 watts depending on the load and cooling system settings.

Key Points:

- Dynamic Power Consumption: The Intel Dynamic Tuning 2.0 technology automatically adjusts power based on tasks. For example, when working in Word, the processor reduces the frequency to 1.2 GHz, consuming 10-15 watts.

- Thermal Emission: An effective cooling system is required for stable operation in turbo mode. In thin laptops (e.g., Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro), the chip can throttle under sustained loads.

Performance: From Office Tasks to Casual Gaming

Office Tasks and Multitasking:

- In PCMark 10 tests, the processor scores 4800-5000 points. This is sufficient for simultaneously working with 20+ tabs in Chrome, Excel spreadsheets, and Zoom.

- Rendering a 10-minute video in Premiere Pro (1080p) takes about 8-9 minutes.

Multimedia:

- Streaming 4K video on YouTube consumes no more than 10-12% of CPU resources.

- Converting FLAC to MP3 (an album of 12 tracks) in iTunes takes 2-3 minutes.

Gaming:

- In combination with a discrete graphics card level with NVIDIA GTX 1650 (commonly found in laptops priced at $800-$1000), the processor achieves:

- Fortnite (1080p, medium settings) — 60-70 FPS.

- Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, low settings) — 35-40 FPS.

- Turbo Mode: In games, the frequency holds at 4.0-4.2 GHz for 15-20 minutes before dropping to 3.6 GHz due to heat.

Use Cases: Who Is the i5-11260H Designed For?

1. Students and Office Workers: Light rendering of presentations, document handling, video conferences.

2. Freelancers: Photo editing in Lightroom, editing short videos.

3. Casual Gamers: Games like Dota 2 or Genshin Impact when paired with a discrete GPU.

4. Users Replacing Desktops: For those who need mobility without significant compromises.

Examples of 2025 Laptops:

- Acer Swift X (Price: $850) — An ultrabook with RTX 3050.

- HP Victus 15 (Price: $750) — A budget gaming option.

Battery Life: Up to 8 Hours in Mixed Mode

With a 60Wh battery (standard for 15-inch models), the working time is:

- Web Surfing: 6-7 hours.

- Video Playback (1080p): 8-9 hours.

- Gaming: 1.5-2 hours.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Intel Speed Shift: Minimizes delays when switching frequencies.

- Adaptix Dynamic Tuning: Machine learning for load optimization.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (Zen 3):

- Pros: Better multi-threaded performance (+10-15% in Cinebench R23).

- Cons: Weaker in single-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6 Single Core: 1600 vs 1750).

2. Apple M1 (in MacBook Air):

- Pros: Battery life up to 18 hours, cool operation.

- Cons: Limited compatibility with Windows applications.

3. Intel Core i5-10300H (previous generation):

- Outdated Comet Lake architecture (14nm), 25% slower in multitasking.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- High single-threaded performance.

- Support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6.

- Affordable laptop prices (starting from $700).

Weaknesses:

- Heating in turbo mode.

- Integrated graphics are weaker than those of Ryzen 5 6600H.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Type of Device:

- Ultrabooks (e.g., ASUS ZenBook 14) — for mobility.

- Gaming laptops (MSI Katana GF66) — with cooling featuring 3+ heat pipes.

2. What to Pay Attention To:

- Cooling: Check reviews for throttling issues.

- RAM: Minimum 16GB DDR4-3200.

- Screen: For color work — IPS matrix with 100% sRGB coverage.

Final Conclusion

In 2025, the Intel Core i5-11260H is an optimal choice for those seeking an inexpensive yet powerful laptop for everyday tasks, study, and casual gaming. Its key advantages include support for modern interfaces (Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0), energy efficiency, and stable multitasking performance. If maximum battery life like that of a MacBook or RAW rendering in 8K is not necessary, this processor will serve as a reliable companion for 3-4 years.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

May 2021

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-11260H

Code Name

Tiger Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.40 GHz

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

12 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1787

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

10 nm SuperFin

TDP

35 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16+1x4 | 2x8+1x4 | 1x8+3x4

Microprocessor PCIe Revision

Gen 4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to 3200 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

51.2 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel® Processors

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.40 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

12.1

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680x4320@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4 | HDMI 2.0b

Miscellaneous

Intel Image Processing Unit

6.0

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2 | Intel® AVX-512

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

12 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel High Definition Audio

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost)

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.6

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1750

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

6215

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1335

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

5941

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2932

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

15790

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-11390H

1986 +13.5%

Ryzen 5 240

1878 +7.3%

Core i5-11260H

1750

Core i9-10900F

1676 -4.2%

EPYC 7713

1625 -7.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon Silver 4309Y

6988 +12.4%

Xeon Gold 5118

6559 +5.5%

Core i5-11260H

6215

EPYC 7301

5757 -7.4%

Ryzen 5 4600HS

5454 -12.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen 7 7735HS

1457 +9.1%

Pentium Gold 8505

1396 +4.6%

Core i5-11260H

1335

Ryzen 5 7530U

1293 -3.1%

Xeon E-2246G

1254 -6.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Ryzen 9 5900HS

6597 +11%

Xeon Gold 6246R

6217 +4.6%

Core i5-11260H

5941

Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE

5736 -3.5%

Core i5-10500

5387 -9.3%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-1240U

3086 +5.3%

Ryzen 3 7330U

3005 +2.5%

Core i5-11260H

2932

Core i7-8086K

2862 -2.4%

Ryzen Embedded V3C48

2783 -5.1%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-1260P

17244 +9.2%

Ryzen 5 7535U

16439 +4.1%

Core i5-11260H

15790

Core i7-1365U

15169 -3.9%

Core i7-9700K

14501 -8.2%