Intel Core i3-10300 vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850HL and Intel Core i3-10300 are two processors that, despite their different market positions and core counts, land nearly identically in aggregate benchmark scores. The data shows the i7-9850HL holds a narrow but consistent lead across every Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison, winning all six benchmarks. Its average benchmark score of 1941 places it at the 44th percentile, while the i3-10300’s average of 1934 places it at the 43rd percentile. The margin between them is minimal — the largest delta in any test is just 0.4% — making this a matchup defined by nuance rather than dominance. The verdict from the data is straightforward: the i7-9850HL is the faster part in threaded and single-threaded workloads alike, but the i3-10300 is a desktop processor with a higher boost clock and active production status, which may matter for system builders despite the slight performance deficit.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i7-9850HL is the superior processor for raw performance, as it wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests against the Intel Core i3-10300. The margins are small — 0.4% in multi-core R15, R20, and R23, and 0.3% in single-core R20 and R23 — but they are consistent across every workload. The i7-9850HL achieves this with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-10300 operates with 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite the core-count advantage, the i7-9850HL’s win is not a landslide; the i3-10300’s higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz help close the gap against the i7-9850HL’s 1.90 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost.

For users prioritizing performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the i7-9850HL is the clear choice, even if the edge is thin. For those building a desktop system with an active processor, the i3-10300 offers a comparable experience with a higher clock speed and a socket that supports standard desktop motherboards. The i7-9850HL is end-of-life and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, making it a mobile-focused part, while the i3-10300 is active and targets the desktop segment. The data does not show a single decisive advantage for either part; instead, it shows the i7-9850HL edging ahead in every benchmark while the i3-10300 counters with higher clocks and an active production status.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 14 nm process node and are both manufactured by Intel, but they belong to different architectural families. The i7-9850HL is based on Coffee Lake, with the codename Coffee Lake-HR, and belongs to the Core i7 (Coffee Lake-HR) generation. The i3-10300 is based on Comet Lake, with the codename Comet Lake, and belongs to the Core i3 (Comet Lake) generation. This distinction is significant: Coffee Lake-HR is a mobile-oriented architecture, while Comet Lake is a desktop-focused refresh.

Cache configurations differ slightly. Both parts feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The total L3 cache differs, however: the i7-9850HL has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-10300 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This 1 MB difference in L3 cache is one of the few architectural advantages for the i7-9850HL, alongside its higher core and thread counts. The i7-9850HL also has a die size of 149 mm², a figure not listed for the i3-10300.

Feature-wise, both processors support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. Both integrate UHD Graphics 630, and both use PCIe Gen 3, though the i3-10300 lists 16 lanes (CPU only) while the i7-9850HL does not specify a lane count. The i7-9850HL has a TDP of 25 watts, while the i3-10300 has a TDP of 62 watts, reflecting the mobile versus desktop design intent. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9850HL wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are so small that the practical advantage is minimal. In multi-core tests, the i7-9850HL scores 676 in Cinebench R15, 2819 in R20, and 6712 in R23, versus 673, 2808, and 6687 for the i3-10300, respectively. The 0.4% delta in each multi-core test suggests the i7-9850HL’s two extra cores (6 vs 4) and four extra threads (12 vs 8) provide a slight throughput benefit, but the i3-10300’s higher clocks mitigate that advantage.

In single-core tests, the i7-9850HL also leads, scoring 95 in R15, 397 in R20, and 947 in R23, against 95, 396, and 944 for the i3-10300. The R15 single-core score is identical at 95, while R20 and R23 show deltas of 0.3%. This is notable because the i3-10300 has a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz vs 4.10 GHz), yet the i7-9850HL still edges ahead in single-threaded performance. This suggests the i7-9850HL’s architecture or cache configuration (9 MB vs 8 MB L3) offers a slight efficiency advantage per clock.

The i3-10300’s wins are not in benchmark scores but in operational characteristics. It has a higher base clock (3.70 GHz vs 1.90 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz vs 4.10 GHz), which could translate to snappier responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks not captured by these specific Cinebench runs. It is also an active product, whereas the i7-9850HL is end-of-life, and it uses the Intel Socket 1200 for desktop builds, while the i7-9850HL uses the BGA 1440 socket, which is typically soldered to mobile boards.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has an average benchmark score of 1941, while the Intel Core i3-10300 has an average score of 1934. The i7-9850HL ranks at the 44th percentile versus all CPUs, and the i3-10300 ranks at the 43rd percentile.

Q: How do the core and thread counts differ?

A: The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-10300 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite the i7-9850HL’s higher core count, the multi-core performance delta is only 0.4% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: What is the difference in clock speeds?

A: The i7-9850HL has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The i3-10300 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i3-10300 is significantly higher in both base and boost clocks.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory, and both use integrated UHD Graphics 630.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The i7-9850HL has a TDP of 25 watts, while the i3-10300 has a TDP of 62 watts. The i7-9850HL is a mobile processor, and the i3-10300 is a desktop processor.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The i3-10300 is active, with a release date of 2020-04-29, while the i7-9850HL is end-of-life. The i3-10300 uses the Intel Socket 1200, and the i7-9850HL uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-9850HL wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-9850HL scores 676 against the i3-10300’s 673, a 0.4% delta. The single-core R15 test is a dead heat at 95 points for both, with a 0% delta, though the i7-9850HL is credited as the winner. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-9850HL scores 2819 in multi-core and 397 in single-core, versus 2808 and 396 for the i3-10300, yielding deltas of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.

In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds. The i7-9850HL scores 6712 in multi-core and 947 in single-core, while the i3-10300 scores 6687 and 944. The multi-core delta is 0.4%, and the single-core delta is 0.3%. These results show that the i7-9850HL’s advantage is consistent but narrow, never exceeding 0.4%. The i3-10300’s higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz does not translate into a single-core win, as the i7-9850HL’s 4.10 GHz boost, combined with its larger 9 MB L3 cache, is enough to edge ahead in every test. The largest winning margin for the i7-9850HL is 4 points in R23 multi-core (6712 vs 6687), while the smallest margin is 0 points in R15 single-core.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet shows several key differences between the two processors. The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-10300 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock differs substantially: 1.90 GHz for the i7-9850HL versus 3.70 GHz for the i3-10300. The boost clock also favors the i3-10300, at 4.40 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. The TDP reflects their market segments: 25 watts for the mobile i7-9850HL and 62 watts for the desktop i3-10300.

The sockets are incompatible: the i7-9850HL uses Intel BGA 1440, while the i3-10300 uses Intel Socket 1200. The architectures differ, with Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake-HR) on the i7-9850HL and Comet Lake on the i3-10300. Both use the same 14 nm process node and are manufactured by Intel. Cache differs in L3 size: 9 MB shared on the i7-9850HL versus 8 MB shared on the i3-10300. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Memory support is the same: DDR4, dual-channel, 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and no ECC. Both feature UHD Graphics 630 and PCIe Gen 3, though the i3-10300 specifies 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-9850HL has a die size of 149 mm², while the i3-10300’s die size is not listed. The i7-9850HL is end-of-life with part number SRFEH, while the i3-10300 is active with part number SRH3J and a release date of 2020-04-29. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a launch MSRP listed. The i7-9850HL is in the mobile market segment, and the i3-10300 is in the desktop segment.