Intel Core i3-10305T vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850HL and the Intel Core i3-10305T are remarkably close in raw performance, despite their differing core counts and market segments. The benchmark data shows a consistent, narrow lead for the i7-9850HL across every recorded Cinebench test, with all deltas hovering around 1%. In the database, the i7-9850HL records an average benchmark score of 1941, placing it at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-10305T scores 1922, landing at the 43rd percentile. This sub-1% difference in average score means that for most real-world tasks, users would be hard-pressed to notice a difference based on compute performance alone.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results paint a picture of near-parity, but the i7-9850HL wins every single comparison. In Cinebench R15, the i7-9850HL scores 676 in multi-core versus 669 for the i3-10305T, a 1% advantage. In single-core, the margin is slightly larger in percentage terms, with the i7-9850HL scoring 95 against 94, a 1.1% lead. These are the kind of margins that fall within run-to-run variance, yet they are recorded consistently.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i7-9850HL achieves 2819 in multi-core, while the i3-10305T manages 2791, again a 1% delta. In single-core, the scores are 397 and 393, respectively, also a 1% difference. The i7-9850HL's advantage remains stable, not expanding or contracting with the workload.

The most modern test in the database, Cinebench R23, shows the same story. The i7-9850HL scores 6712 in multi-core versus 6647 for the i3-10305T, a 1% lead. In single-core, the i7-9850HL scores 947, and the i3-10305T scores 938, another 1% delta. Out of six possible wins, the i7-9850HL takes all six, but the average delta across all tests is just 1%. This indicates that the i7-9850HL's additional two cores and four threads do not translate into a substantial multi-core advantage in this specific comparison, likely due to its lower 25W TDP limiting sustained boost clocks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has a higher average benchmark score of 1941, compared to 1922 for the Intel Core i3-10305T. This places the i7-9850HL at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-10305T sits at the 43rd percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The i7-9850HL scores 6712, and the i3-10305T scores 6647. The i7-9850HL leads by 1%, a margin that is consistent with the other multi-core tests in the database.

Q: Does the i3-10305T win in any benchmark comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 6 wins for the i7-9850HL and 0 wins for the i3-10305T across all tested Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads.

Q: What is the difference in their market segments?

A: The i7-9850HL is marked as a Mobile processor, while the i3-10305T is marked as a Desktop processor. This distinction is crucial for platform selection, as they use different sockets.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different between the two?

A: Both processors feature the Intel UHD Graphics 630, so there is no difference in the integrated graphics solution.

Q: What are the launch dates for these CPUs?

A: The i3-10305T has a recorded release date of March 15, 2021. The i7-9850HL has no recorded release date in the database.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear, albeit narrow, victory for the Intel Core i7-9850HL in raw compute performance. It wins every recorded benchmark, holds a higher average score, and sits one percentile higher in the global ranking. However, the practical impact of this victory is minimal due to the consistent 1% delta. The i3-10305T, despite having fewer cores, is nearly identical in output, which points to its higher 35W TDP and 3.00 GHz base clock compensating for the i7-9850HL's core advantage.

For a user deciding between these two, the benchmark results alone do not provide a decisive factor. The i7-9850HL is the faster chip in the database, but the i3-10305T is not far behind. The choice should be dictated by platform needs, not performance. The i7-9850HL is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1440, while the i3-10305T is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1200. If the system requires a socketed desktop processor, the i3-10305T is the only option. If the system is a soldered mobile design, the i7-9850HL is the only option. From a pure performance standpoint, the i7-9850HL is the winner, but the margin is so thin that it should not be the primary reason for selection.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications that explain their performance profiles. The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-10305T has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this, the i3-10305T has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz compared to 1900 MHz (1.90 GHz) on the i7-9850HL. The boost clocks are nearly identical, with the i7-9850HL at 4.10 GHz and the i3-10305T at 4.00 GHz.

The TDP is a significant differentiator: the i7-9850HL is rated at 25W, while the i3-10305T is rated at 35W. The sockets are incompatible, with the i7-9850HL using Intel BGA 1440 and the i3-10305T using Intel Socket 1200. The L3 cache differs slightly, with the i7-9850HL featuring 9 MB shared and the i3-10305T featuring 8 MB shared. The i7-9850HL has a recorded die size of 149 mm², while the i3-10305T has no die size recorded.

The production status is another difference: the i7-9850HL is listed as End-of-life, while the i3-10305T is listed as Active. The i3-10305T has a launch MSRP of $143, and the i7-9850HL has no recorded launch MSRP. The PCIe configuration differs, with the i3-10305T listed as "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)" and the i7-9850HL simply as "Gen 3".

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node and use the same UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics. They share the same L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core. The L3 cache totals 9 MB on the i7-9850HL and 8 MB on the i3-10305T. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory.

The architectural lineage differs: the i7-9850HL is based on Coffee Lake, with the codename Coffee Lake-HR, while the i3-10305T is based on Comet Lake, with the codename Comet Lake-R. The i7-9850HL belongs to the Core i7 (Coffee Lake-HR) generation, while the i3-10305T belongs to the Core i3 (Comet Lake) generation. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-9850HL is a mobile part, and the i3-10305T is a desktop part, which is the fundamental architectural context for their different TDPs and socket requirements.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9850HL wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. It takes the multi-core tests in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 with scores of 676, 2819, and 6712, respectively. It also wins the single-core tests in those same suites with scores of 95, 397, and 947. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration gives it a slight edge in all workloads, but the margin is consistently just 1%.

The Intel Core i3-10305T does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Its 4-core, 8-thread setup, combined with a higher 35W TDP, allows it to nearly match the i7-9850HL, but it falls short in every recorded test. The i3-10305T's advantage lies outside of pure compute benchmarks: it is an active, socketed desktop processor, making it a more serviceable and upgradeable platform component. Its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz may also provide more consistent performance in lightly threaded, short-duration tasks, but the recorded single-core scores do not reflect this, as the i7-9850HL still leads.

In summary, the i7-9850HL is the winner on every benchmark metric, making it the superior choice for raw compute performance in the database. The i3-10305T is the runner-up, with its primary strengths being platform flexibility and active production status, not benchmark dominance.