Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core i7-9700 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-9700 wins 5. The Core 7 350's advantages are heavily concentrated in single-threaded and scalar workloads, with the i7-9700 retaining wins in multi-threaded rendering and certain memory-intensive operations.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700 is decisively ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 11200 versus 8030 for the Core 7 350, a 39.5% advantage. This is the largest multi-core win for either processor in the recorded data.

Q: What is the biggest single-threaded margin between them?

A: The Core 7 350 leads by 45.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 292 versus 159 for the i7-9700. That is the largest percentage gap in any test across the entire comparison set.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-9700 has an average benchmark score of 18180, while the Core 7 350 averages 17779. Both sit in the 71st to 72nd percentile among all CPUs, with the i7-9700 at the 72nd percentile and the Core 7 350 at the 71st.

Q: How does data compression performance compare?

A: The i7-9700 scores 181411 in PassMark data compression, which is 26.8% higher than the Core 7 350's 143123. However, the Core 7 350 turns the tables in data encryption, scoring 10933 against 4322 for the i7-9700, a 60.5% lead.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The i7-9700 has dual-channel DDR4 support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 7 350 uses single-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s. Despite the single-channel bus, the newer memory standard gives the Core 7 350 a higher bandwidth rating.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and target different market segments. The Intel Core i7-9700 is a desktop part built on the Coffee Lake architecture (Coffee Lake Refresh generation) using Intel's 14 nm process node. It was released in April 2019 and is now end-of-life. The Core 7 350 is a mobile processor based on the Wildcat Lake codename (Core 5 generation), fabricated on a 3 nm node, released in April 2026, and remains active in production.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The i7-9700 packs 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 7 350 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Both lack hyper-threading, but the Core 7 350 compensates with a much higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz for the i7-9700. Base clocks tell a different story: the i7-9700 runs at 3.00 GHz, the Core 7 350 at just 1.50 GHz. This indicates a power-optimized design for mobile use.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The i7-9700 allocates 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 350 has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The much larger per-core L2 on the Core 7 350 suggests a design tuned for latency-sensitive single-thread workloads, while the i7-9700's larger shared L3 benefits multi-core data sharing.

Memory support and PCIe connectivity differ completely. The i7-9700 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core 7 350 uses single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 4 with only 6 CPU lanes. The Core 7 350's higher memory bandwidth, despite half the channels, comes from the newer memory standard.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The i7-9700 carries UHD Graphics 630, while the Core 7 350 features Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe cores). The TDP figures are stark: 65 watts for the desktop i7-9700 versus 15 watts for the mobile Core 7 350. Socket types differ (Socket 1151 versus BGA 1516), and the die size for the i7-9700 is recorded at 180.3 mm², while the Core 7 350's die size is not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits cleanly into two narratives: the Core 7 350 dominates single-threaded and scalar tests, while the i7-9700 wins in multi-core rendering and several memory-bound PassMark workloads.

Starting with the Core 7 350's wins, the single-core margins are substantial. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 7 350 scores 292 against 159 for the i7-9700, a 45.5% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 758 versus 664, a 12.4% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core delivers 2046 versus 1581, a 22.7% advantage. PassMark single-thread results are 4100 versus 2756, a 32.8% lead for the Core 7 350.

The Core 7 350 also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1220 versus 1128, 7.5% ahead) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (5373 versus 4704, 12.5% ahead). This is notable because the i7-9700 has two more cores, but the Core 7 350's per-core efficiency overcomes that deficit in these tests. PassMark physics shows 1173 versus 820, a 30.1% lead, and PassMark multithread records 15170 versus 13223, a 12.8% margin. Floating-point math favors the Core 7 350 at 42809 versus 34187, a 20.1% difference. The largest Core 7 350 win is data encryption at 10933 versus 4322, a 60.5% gap, and prime number finding shows 107 versus 48, a 55.1% advantage.

The i7-9700's wins are equally clear in their respective domains. The most significant is Cinebench R23 multi-core: 11200 versus 8030, a 39.5% lead that reverses the earlier multi-core results. Data compression shows 181411 versus 143123, a 26.8% advantage. Extended instructions deliver 14488 versus 12045, a 20.3% win. Integer math records 40138 versus 33734, a 19% margin, and random string sorting comes in at 23482 versus 17238, a 36.2% lead.

Overall, the Core 7 350 dominates in terms of win count (12 versus 5), but the i7-9700's largest victory (39.5% in R23 multi-core) is bigger than most of the Core 7 350's individual wins. The Core 7 350's encryption and prime number margins are the exceptions, exceeding 50%.

Specification Differences

The processors differ across nearly every specification category:

| Feature | Intel Core i7-9700 | Intel Core 7 350 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2.5 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 6 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | April 2019 | April 2026 |

| Launch MSRP | $333 | $469 |

Both processors have locked multipliers, lack ECC memory support, and are manufactured by Intel. The i7-9700 has a listed die size of 180.3 mm², while the Core 7 350's die size is not recorded. Transistor counts are unavailable for both.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9700 is the better choice for multi-core rendering workloads that scale with core count. Its 39.5% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the single largest multi-core margin in this comparison. It also leads in data compression (26.8% ahead), extended instruction sets (20.3% ahead), integer math (19% ahead), and random string sorting (36.2% ahead). These results point to workloads that benefit from the 8-core configuration and the 12 MB shared L3 cache. Desktop users with access to dual-channel DDR4 and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes will find the i7-9700 better suited for sustained multi-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core 7 350 wins in every single-threaded test, with margins ranging from 12.4% to 45.5%. It also dominates data encryption (60.5% ahead), prime number finding (55.1% ahead), floating-point math (20.1% ahead), and physics workloads (30.1% ahead). The 3 nm process node and larger per-core caches (192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2) give it a clear efficiency advantage. Its higher memory bandwidth (59.7 GB/s) despite single-channel operation, combined with PCIe Gen 4 support, makes it better for latency-sensitive and scalar workloads. Mobile users benefit from the 15 W TDP, a fraction of the i7-9700's 65 W requirement.

The Verdict

The data does not declare a single overall winner because these processors serve different markets. The i7-9700 is a desktop part aimed at multi-core throughput with an 8-core design and larger shared L3. The Core 7 350 is a mobile part built for efficiency with a 6-core design and superior single-thread performance.

For users prioritizing Cinebench R23 multi-core results, data compression, or integer-heavy tasks, the i7-9700 is the clear pick. Its 39.5% R23 multi-core lead and 26.8% compression advantage are decisive. The 72nd percentile ranking versus 71st for the Core 7 350, along with the slightly higher average benchmark score (18180 versus 17779), reinforces this for mixed workloads.

For users prioritizing single-thread speed, encryption, floating-point math, or mobile power efficiency, the Core 7 350 is the obvious choice. Its 45.5% R15 single-core lead and 60.5% encryption advantage are the largest margins in this comparison. The 15 W TDP makes it suitable for battery-powered systems, while the i7-9700's 65 W TDP requires a desktop platform.

The production status settles the long-term question: the i7-9700 is end-of-life, while the Core 7 350 remains active. The Core 7 350 wins 12 of 17 benchmarks, but the i7-9700 wins the most important multi-core rendering test by a wide margin. Choose the i7-9700 for desktop multi-core workloads, choose the Core 7 350 for mobile efficiency and single-thread performance.