Intel Core i5-1250P vs Intel Core i7-9800X Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1250P and Intel Core i7-9800X are separated by four years of architecture, yet the benchmark data reveals a remarkably tight contest. Despite the i7-9800X’s higher boost clock and desktop-class power envelope, the newer mobile i5-1250P edges it out in every single Cinebench test, though by margins so slim they border on statistical noise. The i5-1250P’s average benchmark score of 4515 places it 1.3% above the i7-9800X’s 4455, and both processors sit at the 58th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy nearly identical performance tiers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result comes from Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-1250P scores 15610 against the i7-9800X’s 15416, a 1.3% advantage. This is the largest raw point gap in the entire comparison, yet it translates to just 194 points. The single-core variant of the same test shows a similar pattern: 2203 for the i5-1250P versus 2176 for the i7-9800X, representing a 1.2% lead. These margins are consistent across the entire Cinebench suite.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1250P posts 1573 against 1553, a 1.3% win. The single-core R15 result is 222 versus 219, a 1.4% edge — the largest percentage advantage the i5-1250P achieves anywhere. Cinebench R20 follows the identical trend: multi-core 6556 vs 6474 (1.3%), single-core 925 vs 913 (1.3%). The i5-1250P wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, but the i7-9800X never loses by more than 1.4%.

What makes this notable is that the i7-9800X carries higher base and boost clocks (3.80 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively, versus 1.70 GHz and 4.40 GHz for the i5-1250P). The i5-1250P compensates with a newer architecture and more cores — 12 versus 8 — though both have 16 threads. The data suggests the i5-1250P’s 12-core design and 10 nm process offset the i7-9800X’s clock advantage, though just barely. For the i7-9800X, the only benchmark not shared in this head-to-head is Geekbench, where it scores 7488 multi-core and 1398 single-core; no comparable i5-1250P Geekbench data exists in the pack.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1250P wins every benchmark in the comparison set, making the use-case split straightforward: it is the faster processor across all tested workloads. However, the magnitude of those wins matters. A 1.3% multi-core advantage in Cinebench R23 means the i5-1250P is effectively equal to the i7-9800X in heavily threaded rendering tasks, not decisively superior. The single-core deltas of 1.2–1.4% are equally small, meaning day-to-day responsiveness and lightly threaded application performance will feel indistinguishable.

The i7-9800X’s strengths lie outside the Cinebench results. It offers quad-channel memory support with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, whereas the i5-1250P uses dual-channel memory with no listed bandwidth figure. For workloads that are sensitive to memory bandwidth — such as large data sets or certain scientific computing tasks — the i7-9800X’s memory subsystem could provide an advantage that Cinebench does not measure. Additionally, the i7-9800X has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the i5-1250P is locked. The i7-9800X also supports 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus the i5-1250P’s 20 Gen 4 lanes; Gen 4 offers higher per-lane bandwidth, but the i7-9800X has far more total lanes for expansion.

The i5-1250P counters with integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU), which the i7-9800X lacks entirely. This makes the i5-1250P a self-contained solution for systems without a discrete GPU, while the i7-9800X requires one. The i5-1250P is also a mobile part (BGA 1744 socket, 28 W TDP) versus the i7-9800X’s desktop part (Socket 2066, 165 W TDP), suggesting the i5-1250P achieves parity at a fraction of the power draw — though exact power efficiency comparisons are limited to the TDP figures.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from opposite ends of Intel’s design timeline. The i5-1250P uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, built on the Alder Lake-P codename and belonging to the Core i5 (Alder Lake-P) generation. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, with a die size of 217 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support covers both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, and it provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The integrated Iris Xe 80EU graphics make it a complete package for mobile systems.

The i7-9800X, in contrast, belongs to the Skylake-X family (Core i7 X-Series 9th Gen) on a 14 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with no die size listed. Its cache is smaller per core — 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 — but larger in total L3 at 16.5 MB shared. It supports only DDR4 memory but does so across four channels, yielding an 85.3 GB/s memory bandwidth figure. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 44 lanes, and there is no integrated graphics. The i7-9800X was released on 2018-10-18, while the i5-1250P arrived on 2022-02-22, a gap of roughly three and a half years.

The core count difference is the most architecturally significant: the i5-1250P has 12 cores to the i7-9800X’s 8, yet both present 16 threads. This implies the i5-1250P uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores (consistent with Alder Lake’s hybrid design), though the FACT PACK does not specify the core type split. The i7-9800X’s 8 cores run at much higher base clocks (3.80 GHz vs 1.70 GHz), which explains how it nearly matches the 12-core part despite having fewer cores. The 10 nm process of the i5-1250P versus the 14 nm of the i7-9800X contributes to the former’s dramatically lower 28 W TDP compared to 165 W.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow verdict: the Intel Core i5-1250P is the faster processor in every benchmark measured. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 1.2% to 1.4%. For users comparing raw rendering performance, the i5-1250P offers a slight but consistent edge. Its higher core count (12 vs 8) and newer architecture compensate for the i7-9800X’s clock speed advantage.

However, the i7-9800X is not without reason to exist. Its quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes make it a stronger foundation for memory-hungry or expansion-heavy desktop builds. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, which could close or reverse the small Cinebench gaps. And its 16.5 MB of L3 cache versus 12 MB might benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads.

The practical choice depends on the platform. For a mobile or compact system where integrated graphics and low power (28 W TDP) are essential, the i5-1250P is the only viable option of the two. For a desktop workstation with discrete graphics, the i7-9800X’s memory bandwidth and overclocking headroom may matter more than a 1.3% Cinebench deficit. The i7-9800X also has a launch MSRP of $589, though pricing comparisons are not part of this analysis.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-1250P scores 15610, which is 1.3% higher than the Intel Core i7-9800X’s 15416.

Q: Does the i7-9800X win any benchmark in this comparison?

A: No. The i5-1250P wins all six head-to-head Cinebench benchmarks, with the i7-9800X losing by 1.2% to 1.4% depending on the test.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i7-9800X has a listed memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s using quad-channel DDR4, while the i5-1250P uses dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 with no bandwidth figure provided in the data.

Q: Do both CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-1250P includes Iris Xe 80EU graphics, while the i7-9800X has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The i5-1250P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-9800X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which CPU is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The i7-9800X has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5-1250P is locked.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-1250P | Intel Core i7-9800X |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1700.00 MHz | 3800.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 165 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Skylake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16.5 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 85.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 44 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 80EU | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $589 |