AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS vs Intel Core i7-8850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8850H and AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS are both 45-watt mobile processors, yet the benchmark data reveals a stark generational divide. The Ryzen 7 4800HS, built on a newer 7 nm process, dominates the Intel part in every single head-to-head test recorded, with the most extreme margin appearing in multi-threaded workloads. While the Intel chip edges out its direct rivals in average score, the AMD processor's performance profile is defined by its superior core count and newer architecture, making the comparison less about close competition and more about a clear shift in performance leadership.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data from the head-to-head comparisons is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS wins all four recorded benchmarks against the Intel Core i7-8850H. The most significant victory for AMD comes in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the Ryzen 7 4800HS scores 1700.5 against the Intel's 857. This represents a deltaPct of -49.6% from the Intel's perspective, meaning the AMD processor is roughly 98% faster in this specific test. This massive lead is a direct consequence of the AMD chip's 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Intel's 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with its higher base clock of 2.90 GHz compared to the Intel's 2.70 GHz.

The single-core Cinebench R15 test shows a narrower but still decisive gap. Here, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS scores 186.5, while the Intel Core i7-8850H manages 120, resulting in a deltaPct of -35.7%. This is notable because single-core performance is often less dependent on core count and more on architectural efficiency and clock speed. The AMD part's boost clock of 4.20 GHz is slightly lower than the Intel's 4.30 GHz, yet it still outperforms it by a substantial margin, indicating a significant per-core efficiency advantage for the Zen 2 architecture.

Geekbench results follow a similar pattern. In the multi-core test, the Ryzen 7 4800HS achieves 7019 points, compared to the Intel's 4765, a deltaPct of -32.1%. This 47% performance advantage reinforces the multi-threaded dominance seen in Cinebench. The single-core Geekbench test is the closest contest in the entire dataset, with the AMD part scoring 1320 and the Intel part scoring 1300, a deltaPct of just -1.5%. While still a win for AMD, this margin is negligible and suggests that for lightly-threaded, clock-sensitive tasks, the two processors are nearly on par, with the Intel chip's higher 4.30 GHz boost clock nearly closing the architectural gap.

It is also worth noting the broader context of these scores. The Intel Core i7-8850H has an average benchmark score of 2604, placing it just ahead of rivals like the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE and the Intel Xeon E-2174G. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, with an average score of 2557, sits in a similar percentile, ranking just behind the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS. Both processors occupy the 49th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are mid-pack performers globally, but the head-to-head data shows that within this comparison, the AMD part is categorically superior.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is the superior processor for virtually all workloads. With four wins out of four head-to-head benchmarks, it is the definitive choice for users who prioritize either multi-core or single-core performance. The only scenario where the Intel Core i7-8850H could be considered competitive is in extremely narrow, single-threaded tasks where its 4.30 GHz boost clock can offset the architectural deficit, as evidenced by the 1.5% margin in Geekbench single-core. However, even in that test, the AMD part still wins.

Given that the Intel part is end-of-life and the AMD part is active, the recommendation is straightforward. For any new system, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is the logical pick. Its 2x advantage in multi-core Cinebench R15 and its 47% lead in Geekbench multi-core make it ideal for content creation, compilation, and any parallel workload. The Intel Core i7-8850H, while not a poor performer in absolute terms—it surpasses the Intel Xeon W-2125 in average score—is simply outclassed in this head-to-head. The data suggests that the Ryzen 7 4800HS offers a more future-proof and capable platform.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS wins in every benchmark category recorded, but the magnitude of the wins dictates where it is most impactful. Its greatest strength lies in heavily multi-threaded applications. The Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1700.5 versus 857 is the standout result, indicating that the AMD processor excels in rendering, video encoding, and scientific simulations. The Geekbench multi-core score of 7019 versus 4765 reinforces this, making the Ryzen 7 4800HS the clear choice for professional workloads that can utilize all 8 cores and 16 threads.

The AMD processor also wins in single-core tests, though with a smaller margin. The Cinebench R15 single-core win of 186.5 versus 120 is still a 35.7% lead, which is significant for tasks like legacy software, spreadsheet calculations, or general system responsiveness. The Geekbench single-core win of 1320 versus 1300 is negligible in practical terms. This means that for day-to-day tasks that rely on a single fast core, such as web browsing or office applications, users would likely notice little difference between the two. The Intel Core i7-8850H has no benchmark wins in this comparison, meaning there is no workload category where it can be recommended based on the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is significantly faster, scoring 1700.5 compared to the Intel Core i7-8850H's 857, a delta of -49.6% from Intel's perspective.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-8850H competitive in any single-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS wins all single-core tests. The closest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where AMD scores 1320 against Intel's 1300, a difference of only 1.5%.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the manufacturing process for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H is built on Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is built on TSMC's 7 nm process.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds for these processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite the smaller cache, the AMD part still outperforms it.

Architecture Differences

The architectural disparities between these two processors are profound and explain the benchmark results. The Intel Core i7-8850H is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-H variant, manufactured on a 14 nm process at Intel's fabs. It features a die size of 149 mm². In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, and is manufactured on a more advanced 7 nm process by TSMC. This node advantage is a key factor in the AMD part's superior efficiency and performance. The AMD chip has a larger die at 156 mm² but integrates 9,800 million transistors, a figure not provided for the Intel part.

The core configurations are also fundamentally different. Intel offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while AMD offers 8 cores and 16 threads. This 33% increase in core count is the primary driver of the multi-core performance gap. The cache hierarchy also differs. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Intel part has 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while the AMD part has 512 KB per core. At the L3 level, Intel has a larger shared pool of 12 MB, whereas AMD has 8 MB. Despite the smaller L3 cache, the AMD architecture's higher IPC and additional L2 cache likely compensate.

Memory support shows further divergence. The Intel chip supports DDR4 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4. The AMD part also specifies a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the Intel part. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses the UHD 630, while AMD uses a Radeon Graphics 448SP unit. The AMD part also specifies PCIe Gen 3 support, while the Intel part's PCIe information is absent from the data. Finally, the production statuses are opposite, with the Intel part listed as end-of-life and the AMD part as active. These architectural differences, particularly the node size and core count, collectively explain why the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is the dominant performer in this comparison.