Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i9-10885H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-10600K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The scores are nearly identical. The Intel Core i5-10600K scores 12106, and the Intel Core i9-10885H scores 12102, a difference of just 0.1%.

Q: Which processor wins Geekbench multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 6764 compared to 6393 for the Intel Core i5-10600K, a 5.8% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600K has a base clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-10885H has a base clock of 2.40 GHz.

Q: Are both processors based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are Comet Lake parts built on Intel's 14 nm process node, but the i9-10885H uses the Comet Lake-H codename while the i5-10600K uses the Comet Lake codename.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H boosts to 5.30 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-10600K's 4.80 GHz boost clock.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to Intel's Core 10th Gen family and share the Comet Lake architecture, fabricated on the same 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The similarities extend to the integrated graphics solution, with both chips featuring UHD Graphics 630, and both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes from the CPU. They also share the same L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core, and neither supports ECC memory.

The architectural differences are mostly defined by their target segments. The Intel Core i9-10885H is a mobile part, designated with the Comet Lake-H codename, and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. It is built around 8 cores and 16 threads with a shared L3 cache of 16 MB. Its base clock is set to 2.40 GHz, but it can boost to 5.30 GHz, and the thermal design power is 45 watts. The die size is recorded at 206 mm². This chip is marked as end-of-life in production status and its multiplier is locked.

The Intel Core i5-10600K targets the desktop segment, using the Intel Socket 1200. It has 6 cores and 12 threads with a smaller shared L3 cache of 12 MB. Its base clock is much higher at 4.10 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, and the thermal design power is 125 watts. This processor is still marked as active in production, and its multiplier is unlocked, meaning the user can adjust the clock multiplier for overclocking. No die size is recorded for this part. Both chips share the same 64 KB per-core L1 and 256 KB per-core L2 cache structure, so the main architectural split comes down to core count, cache capacity, clock behavior, and platform.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows an unusually close competition between the two processors. Across the three Cinebench generations (R15, R20, and R23), the multi-core scores are almost perfectly matched. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10600K scores 1220 against 1219 for the i9-10885H, a 0.1% edge for the desktop part. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-10600K scores 5084 versus 5082, a 0.0% difference. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-10600K scores 12106 versus 12102, again a 0.0% difference. The pattern is clear: despite having two fewer cores, the i5-10600K matches the i9-10885H in these rendering workloads.

Single-core Cinebench results are equally tight. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both chips score 172, with the i9-10885H listed as the winner on a 0.0% delta. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both score 717, again with the i9-10885H listed as the winner on a 0.0% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-10600K edges ahead with 1709 versus 1708, a 0.1% difference. The single-core story is effectively a statistical tie across all three tests.

The Geekbench results show a different picture. In Geekbench multi-core, the i9-10885H takes a clear lead with 6764 against 6393 for the i5-10600K, a 5.8% advantage. This is the largest margin in any head-to-head test. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-10600K reverses the trend with 1477 versus 1447, a 2% advantage. The overall win tally from the recorded head-to-head tests gives the i5-10600K 5 wins and the i9-10885H 3 wins, but the margins are mostly negligible outside the Geekbench multi-core result.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specification fields. The i9-10885H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-10600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock is 2.40 GHz for the mobile part and 4.10 GHz for the desktop part, while the boost clock is 5.30 GHz for the mobile part and 4.80 GHz for the desktop part. The thermal design power is 45 watts for the i9-10885H and 125 watts for the i5-10600K. The socket is Intel BGA 1440 for the mobile chip and Intel Socket 1200 for the desktop chip. The codename is Comet Lake-H for the i9-10885H and Comet Lake for the i5-10600K. The L3 cache is 16 MB shared for the i9-10885H and 12 MB shared for the i5-10600K. The die size is recorded as 206 mm² for the i9-10885H, with no die size recorded for the i5-10600K. The memory bandwidth is 46.9 GB/s for the i9-10885H and 42.7 GB/s for the i5-10600K. The i9-10885H is end-of-life and has a launch MSRP of $556, while the i5-10600K is active with no launch MSRP recorded. The multiplier is unlocked on the i5-10600K and locked on the i9-10885H. The market segment is Mobile for the i9-10885H and Desktop for the i5-10600K.

The Verdict

The data points to a nuanced decision. In the Cinebench suite, the i5-10600K and i9-10885H are effectively interchangeable, with all multi-core and single-core deltas at or below 0.1%. The i5-10600K achieves this parity with two fewer cores by relying on a much higher base clock of 4.10 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, though the i9-10885H counters with a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. The Geekbench multi-core test is the one clear differentiator: the i9-10885H leads by 5.8%, which aligns with its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and larger 16 MB L3 cache.

The i5-10600K has the edge in Geekbench single-core by 2%, and it carries an unlocked multiplier, making it the more flexible choice for users who plan to adjust clock settings. The i9-10885H, on the other hand, is a mobile part with a 45 watt TDP, which indicates a very different power profile compared to the 125 watt desktop chip. The average benchmark score in the database is 3651 for the i9-10885H and 3533 for the i5-10600K, and both sit at the 55th percentile among all CPUs. The i9-10885H's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 and the Intel Core i3-13100E, have average scores within 0.5% of its own. The i5-10600K's nearest rivals, including the Intel Xeon W-1290TE and the Intel Core i3-12300, are within 0.2%.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-10885H wins in Geekbench multi-core, the only test with a meaningful margin. The 5.8% lead over the i5-10600K suggests that workloads which scale with core count and thread count will favor the mobile chip. Its higher 5.30 GHz boost clock and larger 16 MB L3 cache also give it a theoretical advantage in bursty single-threaded scenarios, though the recorded Cinebench single-core scores do not reflect a substantial gap. The i9-10885H is the better pick for multi-threaded productivity tasks as measured by Geekbench, and its 45 watt TDP indicates it is designed for mobile systems where power draw is a consideration.

The i5-10600K wins in the majority of head-to-head tests, but most of those wins are by 0.1% or less. Its Geekbench single-core lead of 2% is the second-largest margin in the dataset, and its unlocked multiplier makes it the more attractive option for users who want to push clock speeds beyond stock settings. The i5-10600K also matches or slightly exceeds the i9-10885H in every Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core, despite having fewer cores. The desktop chip is the better choice for users who prioritize consistent rendering performance across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and for those who value the flexibility of an unlocked multiplier on a desktop platform.