AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS vs Intel Core i9-8950HK Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS across all four shared benchmark tests. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD part scores 1700.5 against the Intel Core i9-8950HK's 884, a 92.4% advantage. That is nearly double the throughput in a heavily threaded rendering workload. The margin stems from the AMD processor's eight cores and sixteen threads, which more than compensate for the Intel chip's higher boost clock in parallel tasks.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS again leads, scoring 186.5 versus 124 for the Intel Core i9-8950HK, a 50.4% difference. This result is notable because single-core performance usually favors higher clock speeds, and the Intel part boosts to 4.70 GHz compared to 4.20 GHz for the AMD chip. Yet the Zen 2 architecture delivers a substantially higher score per clock, flipping the expected outcome.

Geekbench multi-core reinforces the pattern: AMD scores 7019, Intel scores 4577, a 53.4% lead for the AMD processor. This test is widely used for cross-platform CPU comparison, and the delta is consistent with the Cinebench multi-core result. The AMD part's 8-core, 16-thread configuration clearly scales better than the Intel part's 6-core, 12-thread layout in these workloads.

The closest contest is Geekbench single-core, where AMD scores 1320 and Intel scores 1318, a razor-thin 0.2% margin. While the AMD processor technically wins, the two are functionally identical in this test. The data suggests that for lightly threaded, single-core applications, the Intel chip's higher boost clock nearly neutralizes the architectural efficiency of Zen 2, but not quite.

Overall, the head-to-head table records 4 wins for the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS and 0 for the Intel Core i9-8950HK. The average benchmark scores in the database reflect a similar story, though with a smaller gap: the AMD part averages 2557, while the Intel part averages 2641. That average is skewed by the Intel chip's additional Cinebench R20 and R23 results, which are not present in the AMD record. For the tests both CPUs share, the AMD part is consistently ahead, often by wide margins.

The Intel Core i9-8950HK does carry a higher boost clock and a larger L3 cache, but the benchmark data does not show those advantages converting into wins. In every shared test, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS comes out on top, with the single-core Geekbench result being the only near-tie.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-8950HK uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-H, on a 14 nm process at Intel. The process node gap is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm, which directly impacts power efficiency and transistor density.

The AMD chip integrates 9,800 million transistors on a die size of 156 mm². The Intel part has no recorded transistor count in the database, but its die size is 149 mm². The smaller process node allows AMD to pack more cores into a similar physical footprint. The Ryzen 7 4800HS offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i9-8950HK offers 6 cores and 12 threads. That two-core, four-thread advantage is the primary driver of the multi-core benchmark results.

Cache layouts also differ. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD processor has 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Intel part has 256 KB per core. For L3, AMD provides 8 MB shared, while Intel provides 12 MB shared. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache does not appear to compensate for the core deficit in the recorded workloads.

Memory support shows another divergence. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4, with a dual-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i9-8950HK supports DDR4 only, with no memory bus or bandwidth figures listed in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD part includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors (listed as 448SP). The Intel part includes UHD 630. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so the comparison rests on specifications alone, but the AMD iGPU has a notably higher shader count.

The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1440. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the AMD part's multiplier is locked. Production status also differs: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i9-8950HK is End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS wins in every shared test category. Multi-core workloads are its strongest territory, with a 92.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 53.4% lead in Geekbench multi-core. This makes it the clear choice for video rendering, 3D modeling, software compilation, and any other workload that scales across many threads. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides a substantial parallel processing advantage.

Single-core performance is a narrower win for AMD. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part leads by 50.4%, which is a large margin. In Geekbench single-core, the lead shrinks to 0.2%, essentially a tie. For everyday applications like web browsing, office productivity, or light coding, the two CPUs are nearly indistinguishable. The Intel chip's higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.20 GHz) keeps it competitive in lightly threaded tasks, but it does not achieve a win in any recorded test.

The Intel Core i9-8950HK's best showing is Geekbench single-core, where it falls just 2 points short of the AMD part. That result suggests that for legacy single-threaded applications, the Intel chip is not at a significant disadvantage. However, the database records no test where the Intel part wins outright. The Intel chip does have an unlocked multiplier, which could allow manual overclocking to boost performance, but the database does not include overclocked results.

For users who prioritize multi-threaded throughput, the data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is the superior processor. For users who only care about single-core speed in a narrow set of applications, the two are effectively tied, with AMD holding a marginal edge. The Intel part's end-of-life status and higher 95 W TDP further tilt the recommendation toward AMD, but TDP is a power figure, not a benchmark score.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the database record.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS | Intel Core i9-8950HK |

|----------------|-------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 95 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Renoir | Coffee Lake-H |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 149 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not recorded |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 448SP | UHD 630 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2020-01-05 | 2018-04-01 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | 100-000000098 | SRCKN |

The base clock is identical at 2.90 GHz for both. L1 cache is also identical at 64 KB per core. Neither supports ECC memory. Both are mobile processors.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i9-8950HK has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS scores 1700.5, which is 92.4% higher than the Intel Core i9-8950HK's score of 884.

Q: Is the Intel chip faster in single-core tests?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS wins all single-core tests. It leads by 50.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 0.2% in Geekbench single-core.

Q: What is the difference in process node?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is built on TSMC's 7 nm process. The Intel Core i9-8950HK is built on Intel's 14 nm process.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-8950HK has a higher boost clock at 4.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS boosts to 4.20 GHz. Despite this, the AMD chip wins every shared benchmark.

Q: What is the production status of each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is listed as Active. The Intel Core i9-8950HK is listed as End-of-life.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a single conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is the stronger processor in every recorded test. It wins all four head-to-head benchmarks, with the largest margin being a 92.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the smallest being a 0.2% edge in Geekbench single-core. The Intel Core i9-8950HK never takes a win, despite its higher boost clock and larger L3 cache.

For users selecting a CPU for multi-threaded work, such as video editing, 3D rendering, or software builds, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS is the only sensible choice from this data. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration delivers nearly double the Cinebench R15 multi-core score of the Intel part. The AMD chip also runs at a lower 45 W TDP versus 95 W for the Intel part, which matters in mobile systems, even though TDP is not a benchmark score.

For users who primarily run single-threaded applications, the two CPUs are effectively tied. The Geekbench single-core scores are 1320 for AMD and 1318 for Intel, a 0.2% difference that is within noise. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a larger AMD lead, but that specific workload favors the AMD architecture.

The Intel Core i9-8950HK does offer an unlocked multiplier, which enables manual overclocking. The database does not include overclocked results, so any performance gain from that feature is unverified. Given that the stock results already favor AMD across the board, and the Intel part is End-of-life, the recorded data supports choosing the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS for new systems. The AMD processor is also Active in production, ensuring ongoing availability. The verdict from the measurements is clear: the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS outperforms the Intel Core i9-8950HK in every shared benchmark, with the largest advantages in multi-core workloads.