11500 vs 10500
In this article, we investigate some of the rumors regarding the Intel Core i5 11500 and we compare it against the i5 10500 which came before it
Intel Core i5-10500
Intel Core i5-10500
Gamers who are shopping around for a CPU in the mid-range market can vary from entry-level to experienced. There’s enough of an audience in this market that it warrants such a wide variety of CPUs to choose from, but it also makes finding the right one trickier.
Here at WePC, we’ve been through every stage of a typical gamer’s life, from starting out as total beginners to where we are now. It’s because of this that we know exactly what gamers are looking for and we’ll be able to point you in the right direction based on those needs.
Intel has got us all excited about the release of their 11th Generation CPUs and the new Rocket architecture they’ll be debuting, but so far we’ve been left to wonder how these will stack up to the 10th Generation processors they’re theoretically replacing?
Comparing the Intel Core i5 10500 and what we’ve learned so far about the Intel Core i5 11500, this article is going to take a look at factors such as cores, threads, clock speeds, architecture, and multitasking in an attempt to answer this question for you.
AMD Versus Intel
Usually, when you’re looking to purchase a new CPU for your gaming computer, it would be a case of AMD versus Intel. Today, however, we’re going to compare two of Intel’s mid-range processors to see what their new release brings in terms of upgrades and developments.
Built with the eagerly anticipated Rocket Lake architecture, this CPU series is nipping at AMD’s heels, and we could be about to witness a market takeover from Intel in the first quarter that pushes AMD out of its comfortable ‘top spot’ role. The rumors that have been leaked about the Intel Core i5 11500 thus far show that it’s coming to the battle prepared.
We’re hoping to see some pretty notable improvements in the performance of the Core i5 11500 as Intel has hiked up the cost of it by such a high amount, and the new chip is set to enter the market at a price that’s over $100 more expensive than the one it’s replacing.
Our aim in this article is to help you decide whether the Intel Core i5 10500 CPU is the basket you should put all of your easter eggs in, or if you should hold out for its replacement (giving you time to save up to cover the more expensive cost), and which one is worth it.
Cores And Threads
Anyone who’s spent a reasonable amount of time gaming or working on their gaming PC will understand the importance of cores and threads. These are what the CPU’s operating system essentially runs on, therefore they should be a serious consideration in any discussion about a computer processor’s performance ability.
All reports point towards the Intel Core i5 11500 coming to market equipped with the same 6-core design as the preceding i5 10500 6-core processor. They also share the same multithreaded design with 12 threads each, yet as you’ll see the 11500 is set to perform at much faster speeds to rival the Comet Lake-S-based i5 10400 with a 35% improvement.
Both CPUs are able to utilize their hyperthreading ability to optimize your PC’s performance when multiple applications are running at the same time as your gaming session, and they both deliver pretty decent clock speeds for the enthusiastic gamer.
Clock Speeds
We can’t say for sure what the exact clock speeds for the Intel Core i5 11500 are yet as the official data and benchmarking results have not been released, but initial reports are claiming that this new Intel Core i5 computer processor could fail to live up to 10500 speeds.
Neither of these new CPU’s predicted clock speeds takes the lead over the older chip when you compare them to what we know the Core i5 10500 is capable of achieving.
The Intel Core i5 10500 exceeds the lowest base clock speed recommended for gaming, which is considered to be 3 GHz and hits a steady 3.10 GHz to provide faster speeds than the Core i5 10400, which can’t quite get over the 3 GHz line and instead hovers at 2.90 GHz.
According to leaks, the Core i5 11500 suffers the same struggle and also sits below 3 GHz at a base speed of just 2.7 GHz, narrowly missing the sweet spot for gaming. Even its Turbo Frequency clock speed is slower than the i5 10500, supposedly only reaching 4.2 GHz.
Remember, however, that these specs are likely subject to change as Intel continues to tweak the i5 11500 before its release. Besides, when it comes to gaming, is it clock speed that you should primarily concern yourself with, or should you focus your attention on the architecture of your computer processor? This is what we delve into in the next section.
Architecture
Architecture is really the mark of a CPU because it indicates the level of performance quality you’ll be able to squeeze out of your computer processor. Intel is hardly known for its regular upgrades to architecture, or even semi-regular, for that matter, but according to reports, the 11500 is about to change that.
The debut of the new Rocket Lake architecture signifies the end of a 5-year period in which we saw little architectural advancements from Intel, and it’s poised to provide gamers with a whole new family of CPUs to choose from so that you can find the perfect processor to achieve the exact gaming results you’re looking for.
When we get our hands on one of the Core i5 11500 processors and run it for benchmarks against the most popular titles, we’re hoping to see a noticeable improvement thanks to Intel’s new Rocket Lake architecture.
It’s built using Intel’s Cypress Cove CPU architecture which is an extension of the 14nm manufacturing process that has served them well, but with a 1.9 x increase in IPCs compared to the earlier Comet Lake version.
At the foundation of the Intel Core 10500 is the 10th Generation Comet Lake microarchitecture, which is designed to optimize the former ‘Skylake’ core design that was favored in the previous four families of CPUs.
Multi-Tasking
Both of these CPUs feature Intel’s hyperthreading, which is the clearest indication of a processor’s multitasking capabilities. Intel excels when it comes to single-core functionality and the Core i5 10500 and 11500 both perform to a high standard.
The updated architecture of the Intel Core i5 11500 will likely mean that of the two, it’s the better-equipped processor to deal with a heavier workload and can handle the demands of dedicated tasks like gaming.
You can stream your favorite Twitch videos or use other streaming services without issue, but for things like video editing and content creating you may fare better with a processor that favors multi-threading, which still remains AMD territory. Watch this space.
Comparison
Overall, there are a lot of similarities between the Intel Core i5 11500 and the i5 10500, but there are also some key differences that set them apart. Just to reiterate, these are obviously our preliminary findings and we’ll only know for sure what this new chip on the block will bring to the market when the Intel Core i5 11500 is actually released.
It’s set to offer a step up from the Intel Core 10500 when it comes down to it due to the more advanced Rocket Lake architecture, but the advantage of the Intel Core 10500 is that it has an 18% higher Turbo Boost frequency compared to the awaited Intel Core i5 11500.
The other improvements offered by the Core i5 11500 also mean you’re less likely to experience bottlenecking when used in conjunction with a powerful graphics card, so you can enjoy the full potential of this CPU without it hindering the performance of your GPU.
It’s hard to say whether it’s worth waiting for the release of the 11500 and if you’ll be jumping the gun by going for the 10500 just because it’s available now. Ultimately, if you’re unsure about the decision, wait it out for the 11th Gen processor line-up to come out and research the reviews of what other people are saying to help you make up your mind.