Intel Core i5-10600 vs Intel Core i7-9850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850H and Intel Core i5-10600 are both 6-core, 12-thread processors from Intel, but they target different market segments. The i7-9850H is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP, while the i5-10600 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. In the database's head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i5-10600 wins all six comparisons, leading by roughly 6.4% in most cases. However, the i7-9850H records a higher average benchmark score overall, a result that includes Geekbench scores not present for the i5-10600.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600 boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-9850H boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i5-10600 has a 65 W TDP, the i7-9850H has a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which processor is designed for mobile systems?

A: The i7-9850H is a mobile processor with a BGA 1440 socket, while the i5-10600 is a desktop processor with an LGA 1200 socket.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes, both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.

Q: Which processor wins all recorded Cinebench tests?

A: The i5-10600 wins all six Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from -6.4% to -6.5% relative to the i7-9850H.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-9850H has an average score of 2934, while the i5-10600 has 2837, but the i5-10600 lacks Geekbench entries.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process and use the same UHD Graphics 630 integrated GPU. They share identical L1 and L2 cache sizes per core and the same 12 MB shared L3 cache. Memory support is also identical: DDR4 with dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC.

The key architectural differences lie in the core design and platform. The i7-9850H uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake-HR codename, while the i5-10600 uses Comet Lake. The i7-9850H is part of the Core i7 generation (Coffee Lake-HR), and the i5-10600 is part of the Core i5 generation (Comet Lake). The i7-9850H has a die size of 149 mm², while the i5-10600's die size is not recorded in the database.

The socket and platform differ: the i7-9850H uses Intel BGA 1440, a mobile socket, while the i5-10600 uses Intel Socket 1200 for desktop. The PCIe implementation also differs: the i7-9850H lists PCIe Gen 3 without lane specification, while the i5-10600 lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-9850H is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-10600 is active. Release dates are 2019-04-22 for the i7-9850H and 2020-04-29 for the i5-10600.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six Cinebench head-to-head comparisons, and the i5-10600 wins all of them. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10600 scores 988 against 925 for the i7-9850H, a delta of -6.4% (meaning the i7-9850H trails by 6.4%). In R15 single-core, the i5-10600 scores 139 versus 130, a delta of -6.5%. The R20 multi-core test shows 4119 for the i5-10600 and 3856 for the i7-9850H, again a -6.4% delta. R20 single-core: 581 vs 544, -6.4%. R23 multi-core: 9809 vs 9182, -6.4%. R23 single-core: 1384 vs 1296, -6.4%.

These results indicate a consistent performance advantage for the i5-10600 across all Cinebench versions, both in multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The margin is nearly uniform, suggesting the i5-10600's higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz base, 4.80 GHz boost versus 2.60 GHz base, 4.60 GHz boost) translate directly into a roughly 6.4% performance lead.

The i7-9850H does have Geekbench scores in the database: 6087 multi-core and 1449 single-core. The i5-10600 has no Geekbench entries, so no direct comparison is possible. The i7-9850H's average benchmark score of 2934 is higher than the i5-10600's 2837, but this average includes Geekbench results that are absent for the i5-10600.

In terms of overall standing, the i7-9850H sits at the 51st percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 2934, placing it essentially tied with the Intel Core i5-9600KF (2935, 0% delta) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 (2921, 0.5% delta). The i5-10600 also sits at the 51st percentile, with an average score of 2837, tied with the Intel Core i7-6800K (2838, 0% delta) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U (2829, 0.3% delta). Both processors are thus mid-pack performers, but the i5-10600's Cinebench advantage is clear.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Base clock: 2.60 GHz (i7-9850H) vs 3.30 GHz (i5-10600)
• Boost clock: 4.60 GHz vs 4.80 GHz
• TDP: 45 W vs 65 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1440 vs Intel Socket 1200
• Architecture: Coffee Lake vs Comet Lake
• Codename: Coffee Lake-HR vs Comet Lake
• Generation: Core i7 (Coffee Lake-HR) vs Core i5 (Comet Lake)
• Die size: 149 mm² vs not recorded
• PCIe: Gen 3 vs Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)
• Market segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Production status: End-of-life vs Active
• Release date: 2019-04-22 vs 2020-04-29
• Part number: SRFCN vs SRH37

All other recorded specifications are identical: 6 cores, 12 threads, 14 nm process, Intel foundry, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 12 MB shared L3, DDR4 memory support, dual-channel bus, 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC, UHD Graphics 630, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-10600 wins every Cinebench test. It is faster in both multi-core and single-core workloads across R15, R20, and R23. The consistent 6.4% to 6.5% margin makes it the clear choice for compute-heavy tasks that rely on Cinebench-style rendering.

The i7-9850H, however, holds a higher average benchmark score (2934 vs 2837) and has Geekbench results that the i5-10600 lacks. This suggests that in the broader database, the i7-9850H performs well in Geekbench, but without a direct head-to-head, that advantage cannot be quantified against the i5-10600.

The i7-9850H is also the only one of the two designed for mobile platforms, with a BGA 1440 socket and a 45 W TDP. The i5-10600 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP and an LGA 1200 socket. For users building a desktop system, the i5-10600 offers superior Cinebench performance. For a laptop or other mobile form factor, the i7-9850H is the only option, and it remains competitive despite being end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-10600 in raw performance. It wins all six recorded Cinebench tests, with a lead of approximately 6.4% in multi-core and single-core workloads. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz and 4.80 GHz) give it a consistent edge over the i7-9850H's 2.60 GHz and 4.60 GHz. The i5-10600 is also an active product, while the i7-9850H is end-of-life.

The i7-9850H is not without merit. It has a higher average benchmark score (2934 vs 2837) and includes Geekbench results that the i5-10600 does not have. It is also the only mobile option, with a lower 45 W TDP and a BGA 1440 socket. For a desktop user prioritizing Cinebench performance, the i5-10600 is the clear winner. For a mobile user, the i7-9850H is the only choice, and it still delivers respectable scores, though it trails the i5-10600 in every direct comparison.

In summary, the i5-10600 is the superior performer in the recorded head-to-head tests, while the i7-9850H offers a mobile form factor and a higher average score driven by Geekbench. The choice depends on the target platform: desktop users should pick the i5-10600, and mobile users should consider the i7-9850H.