Intel Core i5-1155G7 vs Intel Core i7-9850HE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1155G7 and Intel Core i7-9850HE are both mobile processors, but they come from different eras of Intel design. The database records six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons between them, and the i7-9850HE wins all six. The margins are narrow, which makes the feature differences between the two parts more important than the raw scores might suggest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-9850HE takes every recorded Cinebench matchup. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 843 against the i5's 822, a 2.5% lead. In R15 single-core, it scores 119 against 115, a 3.4% lead, which is the largest margin in the entire comparison. The R20 tests show the same pattern: 3515 versus 3425 in multi-core (2.6% ahead) and 496 versus 483 in single-core (2.6% ahead). The R23 results follow suit, with the i7 at 8370 versus 8155 in multi-core (2.6% ahead) and 1181 versus 1151 in single-core (2.5% ahead).

The consistency of these margins is notable. The i7 wins by roughly 2.5% to 3.4% across every test, regardless of workload type. That is a narrow band. The i5-1155G7 has a higher boost clock at 4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, yet it still trails in single-core performance. The i7's advantage comes from its larger core count: 6 cores and 12 threads against 4 cores and 8 threads. A 50% core advantage normally produces a larger multi-core gap, but the i5's newer Tiger Lake architecture and 10nm process close the distance. The result is a multi-core lead of only about 2.5% to 2.6% for the i7.

The i5 does have additional recorded data that the i7 lacks. The database shows Geekbench scores for the i5: 4246 in multi-core and 1574 in single-core. No Geekbench results are recorded for the i7, so a direct comparison in that test is not possible. The i5 also carries a higher average benchmark score of 2496 against the i7's 2421, and it sits at the 49th percentile of all CPUs while the i7 sits at the 48th. Those aggregate figures favor the i5, even though the i7 wins every direct Cinebench matchup.

The aggregate rival positions reinforce this picture. The i5's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500T, which scores 2493 and sits 0.1% behind the i5, and the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3, which scores 2507 and sits 0.4% ahead. The i7's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8500B at 2423 (0.1% ahead of the i7) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U at 2424 (0.1% ahead). Both parts sit in a similar performance band, despite the i7's clean sweep in the direct Cinebench matchups.

The Verdict

Strictly from the recorded head-to-head data, the Intel Core i7-9850HE is the faster processor. It wins all six Cinebench tests, and no recorded test goes the other way. If your workload is built around Cinebench-style rendering, the i7 is the pick. The margins are small, but they are consistent.

However, the i5-1155G7 is the more modern part. It is in active production, while the i7 is end-of-life. The i5 draws 28W against the i7's 45W, which matters for laptop battery life and cooling. The i5 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i7 is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The i5 also has Iris Xe-LP graphics with 80 execution units, compared to the i7's UHD Graphics 630. The i5 supports LPDDR4X memory in addition to DDR4, while the i7 only supports DDR4.

The i5 was released on 2021-05-30 and has a launch MSRP of $309. The i7 has no recorded release date and no launch MSRP. For a new laptop design, the i5 is the sensible choice. For squeezing the last few percent of Cinebench performance out of an existing platform, the i7 wins on the merits of the benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HE wins all six recorded Cinebench tests. It leads by 2.5% to 3.4% depending on the test.

Q: How large is the i7's single-core advantage?

A: The i7 leads by 3.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 2.6% in R20 single-core, and 2.5% in R23 single-core.

Q: Does the i5 have more cores than the i7?

A: No. The i5 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The i5-1155G7 boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the i7-9850HE boosts to 4.40 GHz. Despite the lower boost clock, the i7 still wins every single-core test.

Q: Which CPU is still in production?

A: The i5-1155G7 is listed as active. The i7-9850HE is end-of-life.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5 is rated at 28W, and the i7 is rated at 45W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The i5-1155G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9850HE has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i5 and 2.70 GHz for the i7. Boost clocks are 4.50 GHz for the i5 and 4.40 GHz for the i7. TDP is 28W for the i5 and 45W for the i7.

The sockets are different: the i5 uses Intel BGA 1449, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 1440. The process nodes differ as well, with the i5 on 10nm and the i7 on 14nm. Die sizes are close, at 144 mm² for the i5 and 149 mm² for the i7.

Cache layouts are distinct. The i5 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i7 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 9 MB of shared L3. The i7's larger L3 pool is its only cache advantage.

Memory support differs. The i5 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i7 supports DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory. The i7 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i5 has no recorded bandwidth figure. The i5 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i7 uses PCIe Gen 3.

Integrated graphics are different as well. The i5 has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 80 execution units, and the i7 has UHD Graphics 630. The i5 is in active production, released on 2021-05-30, with a launch MSRP of $309 and part number SRKSF. The i7 is end-of-life, has no recorded release date or MSRP, and carries part number SRFED. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i5-1155G7 is built on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U platform with Willow Cove cores. The i7-9850HE is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR platform. This is a generational gap: Tiger Lake is a 10nm design, while Coffee Lake is 14nm. The newer process is a major reason the i5 stays competitive despite having fewer cores.

The core designs differ in cache strategy. The i5's Willow Cove cores use 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, which is substantially more L2 than the i7's 256 KB per core. The i7 compensates with a larger shared L3 pool of 9 MB versus 8 MB. The i5's larger per-core caches help its single-threaded efficiency, but the i7's extra two cores and larger L3 give it the edge in the recorded Cinebench tests.

Memory architecture also differs. The i5 supports LPDDR4X in addition to DDR4, which is typical for newer ultraportable platforms. The i7 is limited to DDR4. The i5's PCIe Gen 4 support with 16 CPU lanes is a significant upgrade over the i7's PCIe Gen 3, enabling faster NVMe storage and external GPU connections.

The integrated graphics are from different generations. The i5's Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 80 execution units is a much newer design than the i7's UHD Graphics 630. The i5 also has a lower TDP of 28W versus 45W, which reflects the efficiency gains of the 10nm process. The i7's higher TDP and older architecture place it in a different power class, even though both are mobile parts.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9850HE wins every recorded Cinebench test. If the workload is CPU rendering, video encoding, or any multi-threaded task that scales like Cinebench, the i7 is the faster part. Its 6 cores and 12 threads provide the raw throughput, and its 9 MB of shared L3 helps in cache-sensitive workloads. The i7 also wins single-core tests, despite the i5's higher boost clock, which makes it the better choice for lightly threaded applications that follow the Cinebench pattern.

The i5-1155G7 wins on platform features and efficiency. It draws 28W against the i7's 45W, which makes it the better fit for thin-and-light laptops. It supports PCIe Gen 4, LPDDR4X memory, and has a newer integrated GPU in Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 80 execution units. It is in active production, while the i7 is end-of-life. The i5 also has a higher average benchmark score of 2496 versus 2421, and it sits at the 49th percentile of all CPUs compared to the i7's 48th.

The i5's Geekbench results, 4246 in multi-core and 1574 in single-core, are recorded in the database, while the i7 has no Geekbench data. That means the i5 has a broader recorded performance profile, even though it loses the direct Cinebench matchups. For a new laptop build, the i5 is the practical choice. For an existing system that already uses the i7's platform, the benchmark data says the i7 is the faster CPU.