PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-11980HK

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 32EUs, while Core Ultra 5 135H needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core Ultra 5 135H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 135H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 135H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 135H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,116 vs 22,244).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-11980HK can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-11980HK.

Core i9-11980HK

2021

Core Ultra 5 135H

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 32EUs, while Core Ultra 5 135H needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core Ultra 5 135H.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 135H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 135H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,116 vs 22,244).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-11980HK can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-11980HK.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11980HK better than Core Ultra 5 135H?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 5 135H is ahead with a 8.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11980HK pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark. Core i9-11980HK also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11980HK is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-11980HK still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i9-11980HK is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 135H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i9-11980HK Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 135H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-11980HK	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	247 FPS	193 FPS
medium	230 FPS	154 FPS
high	193 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	220 FPS	156 FPS
medium	185 FPS	122 FPS
high	150 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	86 FPS
medium	131 FPS	73 FPS
high	101 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i9-11980HK Open Core Ultra 5 135H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-11980HK	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	556 FPS	553 FPS
medium	533 FPS	521 FPS
high	450 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	544 FPS	549 FPS
medium	484 FPS	457 FPS
high	411 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	324 FPS
4K
low	322 FPS	337 FPS
medium	291 FPS	283 FPS
high	277 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	226 FPS

Open Core i9-11980HK Open Core Ultra 5 135H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-11980HK	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	556 FPS	553 FPS
medium	556 FPS	553 FPS
high	488 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	388 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	556 FPS	553 FPS
medium	501 FPS	553 FPS
high	426 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	494 FPS
4K
low	430 FPS	548 FPS
medium	369 FPS	441 FPS
high	325 FPS	400 FPS
ultra	260 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i9-11980HK Open Core Ultra 5 135H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-11980HK	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	556 FPS	553 FPS
medium	556 FPS	553 FPS
high	556 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	556 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	556 FPS	553 FPS
medium	556 FPS	553 FPS
high	556 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	484 FPS	553 FPS
4K
low	515 FPS	553 FPS
medium	462 FPS	524 FPS
high	410 FPS	473 FPS
ultra	352 FPS	413 FPS

Open Core i9-11980HK Open Core Ultra 5 135H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-11980HK and Core Ultra 5 135H

Core i9-11980HK

The Core i9-11980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,244 points. Launch price was $583.

Core Ultra 5 135H

The Core Ultra 5 135H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 18 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,116 points. Launch price was $342.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-11980HK packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135H offers 14 cores / 18 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-11980HK versus 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-11980HK (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-11980HK uses the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11980HK scores 22,244 against the Core Ultra 5 135H's 22,116 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i9-11980HK. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11980HK vs 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H.

Feature	Core i9-11980HK	Core Ultra 5 135H
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	14 / 18+75%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+9%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.6 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+33%	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm SuperFin	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-HK (2021)	Meteor Lake-H (2023)
PassMark	22,244	22,116
Cinebench R23 Multi	14,029	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,129	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,766	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-11980HK uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-11980HK	Core Ultra 5 135H
Socket	FCBGA1787	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-11980HK) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H). The Core i9-11980HK includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EUs), while the Core Ultra 5 135H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-11980HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-11980HK rivals Ryzen 9 5900HX.