Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i9-9980HK Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9980HK and Intel Core i5-10600K represent two distinct interpretations of Intel’s 14nm architecture, separated by a generation but facing off in similar performance territory. The data shows a mobile flagship with eight cores and a desktop mid-range part with six, yet the benchmark results are surprisingly close, with the desktop chip taking seven of eight head-to-head tests. This analysis compares the two based strictly on the supplied facts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of the direct benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600K wins seven of the eight head-to-head benchmarks listed, with the Intel Core i9-9980HK taking only one.

Q: What is the single biggest performance lead for the Intel Core i9-9980HK?

A: In the Geekbench multicore test, the i9-9980HK scores 6687 against the i5-10600K's 6393, a lead of 4.6%.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i5-10600K in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i5-10600K scores 1709 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 2.2% ahead of the i9-9980HK's 1671.

Q: Do the two processors share the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both the i9-9980HK and the i5-10600K are built on Intel's 14 nm process node.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600K has a base clock of 4.10 GHz, significantly higher than the i9-9980HK's 2.40 GHz.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980HK is listed as a Mobile processor, while the Intel Core i5-10600K is in the Desktop segment.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural generations and target different platforms. The Intel Core i9-9980HK is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR codename, and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, indicating a mobile design. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-10600K is a Comet Lake part, using the Intel Socket 1200, which is a desktop platform. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process, but the core configurations differ significantly. The i9-9980HK features 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-10600K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Cache allocation also differs. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 16 MB on the i9-9980HK versus 12 MB on the i5-10600K. The integrated graphics are similar, with the i9-9980HK featuring UHD 630 and the i5-10600K featuring UHD Graphics 630, both supporting DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i9-9980HK has a TDP of 45 watts, whereas the i5-10600K has a much higher TDP of 125 watts, reflecting the desktop part's higher power envelope. Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier, but the i5-10600K also lists a PCIe configuration of Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-9980HK simply lists Gen 3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear picture of performance parity with slight edges in specific workloads. Across the entire Cinebench suite, the Intel Core i5-10600K consistently holds a narrow advantage. In Cinebench R15, the i5-10600K scores 1220 in multicore against the i9-9980HK's 1193, a 2.2% difference. The single-core result is similar, with the i5-10600K posting 172 versus 168 for the i9-9980HK, a 2.3% lead. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the i5-10600K wins multicore with 5084 against 4971 (2.2% ahead) and single-core with 717 against 701 (also 2.2% ahead). The largest Cinebench margin appears in R23, where the i5-10600K's multicore score of 12106 beats the i9-9980HK's 11836 by 2.2%, and its single-core score of 1709 beats 1671 by the same 2.2% delta.

The Geekbench results tell a more mixed story. The Intel Core i9-9980HK takes the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 6687, which is 4.6% higher than the i5-10600K's 6393. This is the only head-to-head win for the mobile chip, showcasing the benefit of its 8-core configuration in this specific workload. However, the i5-10600K strikes back decisively in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1477 against the i9-9980HK's 1389, a margin of 6%. This is the largest percentage difference in either direction across all tests, indicating a substantial single-thread advantage for the desktop part.

Additional data from the i5-10600K's benchmark list provides context for its threading performance. In 3DMark tests, the i5-10600K scores 5378 in the 16-thread test and 5377 in the max-threads test, showing near-linear scaling. Its 8-thread score is 4504, the 4-thread score is 2970, and the 2-thread score is 1553, with a single-thread score of 799. These figures are not directly compared to the i9-9980HK, as that chip lacks these specific test results, but they illustrate the desktop part's consistent performance across different thread counts.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear, albeit narrow, victory for the Intel Core i5-10600K in most measurable performance metrics. With seven wins out of eight head-to-head benchmarks, the desktop chip demonstrates superiority in both Cinebench and Geekbench single-core tests, as well as in the multi-core Cinebench tests. The i5-10600K's higher base clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to the i9-9980HK's 2.40 GHz, likely contributes to its consistent lead in single-threaded workloads, where it posts a 6% advantage in Geekbench single-core.

However, the Intel Core i9-9980HK is not without merit. Its 4.6% victory in Geekbench multicore shows that the additional two cores (8 vs 6) can provide a real advantage in certain multi-threaded scenarios. For users whose applications are heavily optimized for many cores and respond well to Geekbench's specific workload, the i9-9980HK offers a measurable edge. The data also shows the i9-9980HK is within 2.2% of the i5-10600K in all Cinebench multicore tests, despite having a significantly lower TDP of 45 watts versus 125 watts.

The choice between the two depends on the platform and workload priorities. The i5-10600K is the better performer for general desktop use, especially for tasks that favor single-thread speed, as it wins all Cinebench tests and Geekbench single-core. The i9-9980HK, being a mobile part, is the relevant choice for laptops, and its Geekbench multicore performance suggests it can handle demanding multi-threaded tasks competently. The i5-10600K's active production status versus the i9-9980HK's end-of-life status also indicates which part is more current in the market.

Specification Differences

The specifications reveal the fundamental design differences between the two processors. The Intel Core i9-9980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-10600K has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i9-9980HK has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, whereas the i5-10600K has a higher base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator, with the i9-9980HK rated at 45 watts and the i5-10600K at 125 watts.

The socket and platform differ entirely: the i9-9980HK uses Intel BGA 1440, and the i5-10600K uses Intel Socket 1200. The architecture and codename also differ, with the i9-9980HK being Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake-HR) and the i5-10600K being Comet Lake. The L3 cache is larger on the i9-9980HK at 16 MB shared, compared to 12 MB shared on the i5-10600K. The market segment is listed as Mobile for the i9-9980HK and Desktop for the i5-10600K. Production status also differs, with the i9-9980HK marked as End-of-life and the i5-10600K as Active. The release dates are distinct, with the i9-9980HK released on 2019-04-22 and the i5-10600K on 2020-04-29. The part numbers are SRFD0 for the i9-9980HK and SRH6R for the i5-10600K.