Intel Core i5-8600T vs Intel Core i7-9850HE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850HE and Intel Core i5-8600T are both six-core Coffee Lake parts, but they target different market segments—mobile versus desktop. Benchmark results show a consistent, narrow advantage for the i7-9850HE across all tested workloads, despite the i5-8600T having a lower TDP. The data indicates the i7-9850HE is the faster part in every Cinebench iteration, with wins ranging from 7.5% to 8.2%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-9850HE sweeps the head-to-head comparison, winning all six recorded benchmark tests. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-9850HE scores 119 against the i5-8600T’s 110, an 8.2% advantage. That single-core lead narrows slightly in the multi-core R15 test, with the i7-9850HE at 843 versus 784, a 7.5% difference. These results suggest the i7-9850HE’s higher boost clock—4.40 GHz versus 3.70 GHz—translates directly into per-thread performance gains.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i7-9850HE posts 3515 in multi-core, beating the i5-8600T’s 3270 by 7.5%. In single-core R20, the i7-9850HE scores 496 against 461, a 7.6% edge. The consistency of these margins—hovering around 7.5% across different Cinebench versions—indicates a stable performance gap rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

Cinebench R23 tells the same story. The i7-9850HE reaches 8370 in multi-core, while the i5-8600T manages 7787, again a 7.5% difference. Single-core R23 sees the i7-9850HE at 1181 versus 1099, a 7.5% lead. Notably, the i5-8600T has additional Geekbench scores—4277 multi-core and 1278 single-core—but the i7-9850HE has no corresponding Geekbench data in this comparison, so those cannot be directly compared.

The average benchmark score reinforces the picture. The i7-9850HE averages 2421, while the i5-8600T averages 2383. That is a 1.6% gap in overall performance, smaller than the Cinebench deltas suggest, likely because the i5-8600T’s Geekbench results pull its average up. Both CPUs sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are mid-pack performers. The i7-9850HE’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-8500B with an average score of 2423, just 0.1% higher, while the i5-8600T’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 at 2398, 0.6% higher.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and share the Coffee Lake architecture. The i7-9850HE uses the Coffee Lake-HR codename, while the i5-8600T is plain Coffee Lake. The die sizes differ slightly: the i7-9850HE measures 149 mm², while the i5-8600T is 154 mm². Both have six physical cores, but the i7-9850HE supports 12 threads via Hyper-Threading, whereas the i5-8600T is limited to six threads. This is a critical architectural distinction, as the i7-9850HE can process two threads per core, which helps in heavily threaded workloads.

Cache configurations are identical in structure. Each core gets 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, with a shared 9 MB L3 cache on both chips. Memory support is also the same: DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics are identical as well, with both featuring UHD Graphics 630.

The socket and market segment separate these parts. The i7-9850HE uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, and is classified as a Mobile processor. The i5-8600T uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop socket, and is a Desktop part. The i7-9850HE has a 45 W TDP, while the i5-8600T draws only 35 W. The i5-8600T also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9850HE simply lists PCIe Gen 3 without lane details.

The i5-8600T has a known release date of April 2018 and a launch MSRP of $213. The i7-9850HE’s release date is not listed. Both parts are end-of-life and have locked multipliers, so neither can be overclocked. The part numbers differ: SRFED for the i7-9850HE and SR3X3 for the i5-8600T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HE scores 1181 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 7.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-8600T’s score of 1099.

Q: How many threads does each CPU support?

A: The i7-9850HE supports 12 threads across its six cores, while the i5-8600T supports only 6 threads on its six cores, as it lacks Hyper-Threading.

Q: Are both processors built on the same process node?

A: Yes, both the i7-9850HE and the i5-8600T are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node and share the Coffee Lake architecture.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The i7-9850HE has an average benchmark score of 2421, while the i5-8600T averages 2383. That puts the i7-9850HE about 1.6% ahead on average.

Q: Do these CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the i7-9850HE nor the i5-8600T supports ECC memory. Both support DDR4 with dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the TDP of each chip?

A: The i7-9850HE has a 45 W TDP, while the i5-8600T has a lower 35 W TDP, making the i5-8600T more power-efficient on paper.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The i7-9850HE has 12 threads, while the i5-8600T has only 6. Base clocks differ: the i7-9850HE runs at 2.70 GHz, while the i5-8600T runs at 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the i7-9850HE reaching 4.40 GHz and the i5-8600T reaching 3.70 GHz. The TDP is higher on the i7-9850HE at 45 W versus 35 W on the i5-8600T.

The sockets are different: the i7-9850HE uses Intel BGA 1440, while the i5-8600T uses Intel Socket 1151. The market segments differ, with the i7-9850HE being mobile and the i5-8600T being desktop. The codenames differ slightly: Coffee Lake-HR for the i7-9850HE and Coffee Lake for the i5-8600T. Die sizes are close but not identical: 149 mm² for the i7-9850HE and 154 mm² for the i5-8600T.

The i5-8600T has a release date of April 2018 and a launch MSRP of $213, while the i7-9850HE has no release date or MSRP listed. The i5-8600T also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) specified, while the i7-9850HE only lists PCIe Gen 3. The part numbers are SRFED for the i7-9850HE and SR3X3 for the i5-8600T. Both have identical cache layouts, memory support, integrated graphics, and lack ECC support and unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9850HE wins every benchmark in this comparison. It is faster in all three Cinebench versions, both multi-core and single-core. The consistent 7.5-8.2% margins across the board indicate that the i7-9850HE’s higher clock speeds—2.70 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost versus 2.30 GHz and 3.70 GHz—provide a clear performance edge in both lightly threaded and fully threaded workloads. The extra threads from Hyper-Threading likely contribute to the multi-core wins, but the single-core wins show that raw clock speed matters just as much.

The i5-8600T wins on power efficiency. Its 35 W TDP is 10 W lower than the i7-9850HE’s 45 W, making it a better fit for systems where thermal and power budgets are tight. It also has a desktop socket, which means it can be installed in standard desktop motherboards, whereas the i7-9850HE is soldered to a mobile BGA 1440 board. For users building or upgrading a desktop system, the i5-8600T’s socket compatibility is a practical advantage, despite its lower performance.

For mobile workloads, the i7-9850HE is the clear choice. Its higher thread count and clock speeds make it better suited for demanding applications like video editing or 3D rendering on the go. The i5-8600T, while slower, offers a lower power draw for desktop builds where sustained all-core loads are less common. The data shows the i7-9850HE as the performance winner, while the i5-8600T is the efficiency and desktop-compatibility pick. Neither CPU stands out in the broader market, as both sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, but within this head-to-head, the i7-9850HE dominates.