Intel Core i3-1125G4 vs Intel Core i7-9850HE Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1125G4 and Intel Core i7-9850HE are both end-of-life mobile processors, yet they represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The i3-1125G4 is a modern 10 nm Tiger Lake-U part with a 15 W TDP, while the i7-9850HE is a 14 nm Coffee Lake-HR chip with a 45 W TDP. Benchmark data shows a clear victor: the i7-9850HE wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 6% to 6.7%. However, the i3-1125G4 counters with better platform features, including PCIe Gen 4 support and a larger per-core L2 cache. Both CPUs land at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are near-identical in overall performance tier despite the i7's consistent lead.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for users who prioritize raw compute: the Intel Core i7-9850HE is the stronger processor. It wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, from Cinebench R15 single-core to Cinebench R23 multi-core. The largest margin is a 6.7% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the smallest is a 6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. This consistency suggests the i7-9850HE's 6-core, 12-thread configuration with a 4.40 GHz boost clock provides a structural advantage over the i3-1125G4's 4-core, 8-thread design with a 3.70 GHz boost clock.

However, the i3-1125G4 is not without merit. It features a more advanced 10 nm process node compared to the i7-9850HE's 14 nm node, and it offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9850HE is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The i3-1125G4 also supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, whereas the i7-9850HE supports only DDR4. Additionally, the i3-1125G4's integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 is a newer GPU architecture than the UHD Graphics 630 in the i7-9850HE.

For buyers, the choice comes down to workload. The i7-9850HE is the pick for CPU-bound tasks like video rendering or multi-threaded compilation, where its 6 cores deliver a measurable edge. The i3-1125G4 is the pick for users who need a lower-power platform (15 W vs. 45 W TDP) with modern I/O and memory flexibility, even if it sacrifices raw throughput. The i3-1125G4 launched with an MSRP of $281, a figure worth noting for context. Neither chip is a clear winner for all scenarios; the data shows a trade-off between sustained multi-core performance and platform modernity.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-9850HE — Multi-Core and Single-Core Compute

The i7-9850HE wins all six benchmark comparisons, making it the definitive choice for raw processing power. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8370 against the i3-1125G4's 7860, a 6.1% advantage. The gap narrows slightly in single-core tests: Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1181 vs. 1109, a 6.1% lead. The pattern holds across older Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-9850HE scores 3515 vs. 3301 (6.1% ahead), and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 843 vs. 792 (6% ahead). Single-core scores follow suit: Cinebench R20 single-core is 496 vs. 465 (6.2% ahead), and Cinebench R15 single-core is 119 vs. 111 (6.7% ahead). This suggests the i7-9850HE's higher base clock (2.70 GHz vs. 2.00 GHz) and boost clock (4.40 GHz vs. 3.70 GHz) translate into tangible wins across all workloads.

Intel Core i3-1125G4 — Platform Features and Efficiency

The i3-1125G4 does not win any benchmarks, but it wins on the feature sheet. Its 10 nm process node is two generations ahead of the i7-9850HE's 14 nm node, which typically implies better power efficiency per clock. The i3-1125G4 also offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), doubling the I/O bandwidth of the i7-9850HE's PCIe Gen 3. Memory support is broader: the i3-1125G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7-9850HE is limited to DDR4 with a specified memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i3-1125G4's cache layout also differs, with 1.25 MB of L2 per core versus 256 KB per core on the i7-9850HE, though the i7-9850HE compensates with a larger 9 MB shared L3 cache versus 8 MB on the i3-1125G4. For users who prioritize a modern platform over peak CPU scores, the i3-1125G4 is the more future-proof option.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The i3-1125G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture (codename Tiger Lake-U) with a 10 nm process node, while the i7-9850HE uses the Coffee Lake architecture (codename Coffee Lake-HR) with a 14 nm process node. This generational gap explains several key differences.

Core and Thread Configuration: The i7-9850HE has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-1125G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This gives the i7-9850HE a 50% advantage in core count, which directly contributes to its multi-core benchmark wins.

Clock Speeds: The i7-9850HE runs at a 2.70 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.40 GHz. The i3-1125G4 runs lower at 2.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The i7-9850HE's higher clocks are a major factor in its single-core victories.

Cache Hierarchy: The i3-1125G4 features 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the i7-9850HE has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i3-1125G4's larger per-core L2 is a notable architectural improvement, but the i7-9850HE's 9 MB shared L3 cache edges out the i3-1125G4's 8 MB shared L3.

Memory and I/O: The i3-1125G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in a dual-channel configuration, while the i7-9850HE supports only DDR4 in dual-channel with a 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-1125G4 also features PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-9850HE is limited to PCIe Gen 3.

Integrated Graphics: The i3-1125G4 integrates Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, while the i7-9850HE integrates UHD Graphics 630. The Iris Xe-LP is a newer architecture, though benchmark data for graphics is not included in this comparison.

Physical Differences: The i3-1125G4 uses Intel BGA 1449 socket and has a die size of 144 mm², while the i7-9850HE uses Intel BGA 1440 and has a die size of 149 mm². The i3-1125G4 has a TDP of 15 W, significantly lower than the i7-9850HE's 45 W.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HE is faster. It wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a score of 8370 versus 7860 for the i3-1125G4, a 6.1% advantage. The i7-9850HE also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core (3515 vs. 3301) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (843 vs. 792).

Q: Is the i3-1125G4 better in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-9850HE winning all six tests, covering both single-core and multi-core variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The i3-1125G4 records zero wins.

Q: How do their overall performance percentiles compare?

A: Both processors are at the 48th percentile of all CPUs. The i3-1125G4 has an average benchmark score of 2451, while the i7-9850HE has an average score of 2421. This puts them in the same performance tier, despite the i7-9850HE's consistent head-to-head wins.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The i3-1125G4 uses a 10 nm Tiger Lake process with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9850HE uses a 14 nm Coffee Lake process with 6 cores and 12 threads. The i3-1125G4 supports PCIe Gen 4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the i7-9850HE is limited to PCIe Gen 3 and DDR4.

Q: Which CPU is better for a low-power laptop?

A: The i3-1125G4, with a 15 W TDP, is designed for lower power consumption compared to the i7-9850HE's 45 W TDP. This makes the i3-1125G4 more suitable for thinner, fanless designs, though it sacrifices multi-core performance.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the i3-1125G4 and the i7-9850HE have ECC memory support listed as false.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results paint a consistent picture: the i7-9850HE outperforms the i3-1125G4 across the board, but the margins are modest.

Cinebench R23 Multi-Core: The i7-9850HE scores 8370, beating the i3-1125G4's 7860 by 6.1%. This is the largest absolute gap in the multi-core tests, reflecting the i7's extra two cores.

Cinebench R23 Single-Core: The i7-9850HE scores 1181, beating the i3-1125G4's 1109 by 6.1%. This shows that even in lightly-threaded workloads, the i7's higher boost clock (4.40 GHz vs. 3.70 GHz) provides an edge.

Cinebench R20 Multi-Core: The i7-9850HE scores 3515 versus 3301 for the i3-1125G4, a 6.1% lead. This matches the R23 multi-core margin, suggesting consistent scaling.

Cinebench R20 Single-Core: The i7-9850HE scores 496 versus 465 for the i3-1125G4, a 6.2% advantage. This is slightly larger than the R23 single-core margin.

Cinebench R15 Multi-Core: The i7-9850HE scores 843 versus 792 for the i3-1125G4, a 6% lead. This is the smallest margin in the multi-core set.

Cinebench R15 Single-Core: The i7-9850HE scores 119 versus 111 for the i3-1125G4, a 6.7% lead. This is the largest single-core margin in the comparison.

The i3-1125G4's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i5-8600 (deltaPct -0.1%) and the Intel Xeon D-1541 (deltaPct 0.1%), placing it in the same performance league as those chips. The i7-9850HE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8500B (deltaPct -0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U (deltaPct -0.1%). These external comparisons confirm that both CPUs are clustered in a similar mid-range performance band, with the i7-9850HE holding a consistent but narrow edge over the i3-1125G4.