Intel Core i5-1035G7 vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a surprisingly clear story: the Intel Core i5-1035G7 wins every single direct comparison in this matchup, taking all six head-to-head tests. That does not mean the i7-9850HL is a bad processor — it means that in the specific workloads measured here, the newer Ice Lake architecture of the i5-1035G7 overcomes its deficit in core count. The i5-1035G7 holds a 0.3% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 0.4% edge in R20 multi-core, and a matching 0.4% advantage in R23 multi-core. Single-core results are almost identical, with the i5 leading by 0.5% in R20 single-core and 0.4% in R23 single-core.

The i7-9850HL does have two additional physical cores and four additional threads, but the data shows that advantage does not translate into a benchmark win anywhere in this test suite. The i5-1035G7 is the pick for anyone whose work is represented by Cinebench rendering tests — content creation, 3D modelling, or any sustained multi-threaded load. The i7-9850HL should be chosen only if you specifically need its six-core configuration for tasks not covered by these benchmarks, or if the 25W TDP envelope fits a particular chassis design better than the 15W part. Both processors sit at the 44th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are separated by just 7 points — 1948 for the i5 versus 1941 for the i7. That is a difference of roughly 0.4%, which is within run-to-run noise. The verdict is essentially a tie in overall capability, with the i5 taking the crown in every measured discipline.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural generations and different manufacturing nodes. The i5-1035G7 is built on Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, using a 10 nm process node from Intel. Its generation is listed as Core i5 (Sunny Cove-U). The die size is 123 mm². The i7-9850HL uses Coffee Lake architecture, codenamed Coffee Lake-HR, on a 14 nm process node. Its generation is Core i7 (Coffee Lake-HR), and the die is larger at 149 mm². That 26 mm² difference reflects the older process technology and the larger core complex.

Core and cache configurations differ substantially. The i5-1035G7 packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Its L3 cache is 6 MB shared. The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, but each core carries only 64 KB of L1 cache. L2 is the same at 256 KB per core, and L3 jumps to 9 MB shared. So the i7 offers 50% more cores and 50% more L3 cache, yet loses every benchmark — evidence of the IPC efficiency of the newer Sunny Cove cores in the i5.

Memory bandwidth also differs. The i5-1035G7 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i7-9850HL also uses dual-channel DDR4 but peaks at 42.7 GB/s. That is a 8.5 GB/s advantage for the i5, which helps explain its multi-core performance despite fewer cores. Both chips use PCIe Gen 3, neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The integrated graphics differ too: the i5 carries Iris Plus graphics, while the i7 uses UHD Graphics 630. The i5 is still listed as Active in production, while the i7 is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Looking at the six Cinebench results, the i5-1035G7 wins all of them, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 678 against the i7's 676 — a 0.3% delta. That is effectively a tie, but a win nonetheless. R15 single-core is dead even at 95 points for both, with the i5 awarded the win at 0% delta. Moving to R20, the i5 posts 2829 multi-core versus 2819 for the i7, a 0.4% gap. Single-core R20 sees the i5 at 399 and the i7 at 397, a 0.5% edge. In R23, the i5 scores 6736 multi-core and 951 single-core, while the i7 manages 6712 and 947 respectively — both 0.4% behind.

The pattern is consistent: the i5 leads by roughly half a percent in every test, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. That consistency suggests an architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The i7's two extra cores should theoretically give it a significant multi-core lead — 6 cores versus 4 is a 50% increase in core count — but the data shows the i5 holds its ground and even edges ahead. The 10 nm process and newer Sunny Cove cores deliver higher instructions-per-clock, which compensates for the core deficit. In single-core tests, the i5's 3.70 GHz boost clock versus the i7's 4.10 GHz boost clock means the i7 has a raw frequency advantage, yet the i5 still wins by 0.4-0.5%. That is a clear sign that per-clock performance is markedly better on the Ice Lake part.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core performance?

A: The i5-1035G7 wins all three multi-core tests: Cinebench R15 (678 vs 676), R20 (2829 vs 2819), and R23 (6736 vs 6712). The margins are 0.3-0.4% in each case.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i5-1035G7 takes single-core wins in R20 (399 vs 397, a 0.5% delta) and R23 (951 vs 947, a 0.4% delta). R15 single-core is a dead tie at 95 points for both.

Q: Does the i7-9850HL have more cores and threads?

A: Yes, the i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, versus 4 cores and 8 threads for the i5-1035G7. Despite this, the i5 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The i5-1035G7 has an average benchmark score of 1948, while the i7-9850HL scores 1941. That is a 7-point difference, which is less than 0.4%.

Q: Which CPU is still in active production?

A: The i5-1035G7 is listed as Active in production status. The i7-9850HL is marked as End-of-life.

Q: How does the i5-1035G7 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-1035G7 sits within 0.3% of its closest competitors. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 (1947), 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-8709G (1950), 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945), and 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE (1954).

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1035G7 wins in every single benchmark category measured here. That makes it the default choice for any workload represented by Cinebench — rendering, 3D modelling, video encoding, or any multi-threaded compute task. The data shows a 0.3-0.5% advantage across all six tests, so if you are choosing purely on benchmark performance, the i5 is the winner. It also has a lower 15W TDP versus the i7's 25W, which means it should produce less heat and potentially offer better battery life in a laptop. The 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 42.7 GB/s is another point in the i5's favour, particularly for memory-sensitive workloads.

The i7-9850HL does not win a single benchmark in this comparison, but that does not mean it is without merit. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides more parallel hardware resources, which could matter in applications that scale beyond what these Cinebench tests capture. The larger 9 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB might help in certain database or caching workloads. The higher 4.10 GHz boost clock versus 3.70 GHz could also benefit lightly-threaded tasks that are not perfectly represented by the single-core Cinebench scores. The i7 also uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, which may have broader software compatibility with legacy enterprise applications. If you need a 25W TDP part with more physical cores for a specific system design, the i7-9850HL remains a viable option — but the benchmark data is unambiguous: the i5-1035G7 is the faster chip in every test that was run.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-1035G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 1200 MHz for the i5 and 1900 MHz for the i7. Boost clocks are 3.70 GHz for the i5 and 4.10 GHz for the i7. The i5 has a 15W TDP, the i7 has a 25W TDP. Sockets are different: the i5 uses Intel BGA 1526, the i7 uses Intel BGA 1440. Architecture and process node differ as well — Ice Lake on 10 nm for the i5 versus Coffee Lake on 14 nm for the i7. Die sizes are 123 mm² and 149 mm² respectively.

Cache configurations differ: the i5 has 80 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The i7 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 9 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s for the i5 versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7. Integrated graphics are Iris Plus on the i5 and UHD Graphics 630 on the i7. Production status is Active for the i5 and End-of-life for the i7. The i5 was released on 2019-07-31, while the i7 has no release date listed. Part numbers are SRGKJ for the i5 and SRFEH for the i7. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, both use PCIe Gen 3, neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.