Intel Core i5-9500F vs Intel Core i7-8850H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-9500F claims the Geekbench victories, while the Intel Core i7-8850H takes the Cinebench suite. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-9500F scores 5185 against 4765 for the i7-8850H, a decisive 8.8% margin. The single-core gap is even wider: 1504 versus 1300, a 15.7% advantage for the desktop part. These are not marginal differences; they represent a substantial lead in workloads that favor the i5-9500F's higher base and boost clocks.

The i7-8850H, however, wins every Cinebench test. Its margins are narrow, ranging from 0.6% to 0.7% across R15, R20, and R23, but they are consistent. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-8850H scores 8511 versus 8453 for the i5-9500F. The single-core R23 result shows 1201 against 1193. These wins point to the i7-8850H's advantage in sustained rendering workloads, likely stemming from its 12 threads versus 6, even though its clock speeds are lower.

The data splits cleanly by benchmark family. For Geekbench-style integer and memory tests, the i5-9500F is the clear pick. For Cinebench's ray-tracing and multi-threaded rendering, the i7-8850H edges ahead. Users prioritizing short, bursty single-threaded tasks will find the i5-9500F more responsive. Users running long multi-threaded renders will see slightly better completion times with the i7-8850H.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Coffee Lake architecture and the 14 nm process node, but they are not identical silicon. The i5-9500F is a Coffee Lake Refresh desktop part with 6 cores and 6 threads, no integrated graphics, and a 65 W TDP. The i7-8850H is a Coffee Lake-H mobile part with 6 cores and 12 threads, a 45 W TDP, and integrated UHD 630 graphics. The i7-8850H also has a larger die size at 149 mm², while the i5-9500F's die size is not recorded.

Cache configurations differ notably. The i5-9500F has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-8850H carries 12 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The extra 3 MB of L3 on the i7-8850H likely helps its Cinebench performance, as larger working sets can reside closer to the cores.

Clock speeds favor the i5-9500F. It runs a 3.00 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, versus 2.70 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost for the i7-8850H. The desktop part's higher clocks explain its Geekbench single-core lead. The i7-8850H compensates with Hyper-Threading, doubling its thread count to 12, which explains its Cinebench multicore edge.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the i5-9500F specifies dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-8850H's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded. The i5-9500F uses Intel Socket 1151 and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The i7-8850H uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, with no PCIe lane data in the database. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The i5-9500F targets desktop builds with a separate graphics card, hence the F suffix indicating no integrated GPU. The i7-8850H, as a mobile part, includes UHD 630 graphics for laptops without discrete GPUs. Production status for both is end-of-life, with release dates in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500F runs at 3.00 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, while the Intel Core i7-8850H runs at 2.70 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost.

Q: Does the i7-8850H support more threads than the i5-9500F?

A: Yes. The i7-8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-9500F has 6 cores and 6 threads, giving the i7-8850H a 100% thread advantage.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-8850H has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 9 MB for the i5-9500F.

Q: Can the i5-9500F run without a discrete graphics card?

A: No. The i5-9500F has no integrated graphics, so it requires a separate GPU. The i7-8850H includes UHD 630 integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multicore?

A: The i5-9500F scores 5185 versus 4765 for the i7-8850H, a 8.8% advantage.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both are marked as end-of-life in the database.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-9500F | Intel Core i7-8850H |

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

| Threads | 6 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Coffee Lake-H |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) | Core i7 (Coffee Lake-H) |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 149 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not recorded |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD 630 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Part Number | Not recorded | SR3YZ |

| Release Date | 2019-04-22 | 2018-04-01 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench tests deliver the most dramatic splits. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-9500F scores 1504 against 1300, a 15.7% lead. This is a large margin, reflecting the desktop part's higher boost clock and likely better thermal headroom. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-9500F scores 5185 versus 4765, an 8.8% lead. Despite having half the threads, the i5-9500F's higher clocks and dual-channel memory bandwidth overcome the i7-8850H's thread advantage in this workload.

The Cinebench results flip the script. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-8850H scores 857 versus 852, a 0.6% edge. The single-core test is a tie at 120 for both. In Cinebench R20, the i7-8850H wins multicore 3574 to 3550 (0.7%) and single-core 504 to 501 (0.6%). Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern: multicore 8511 to 8453 (0.7%) and single-core 1201 to 1193 (0.7%).

The consistency of the Cinebench margins is notable. Every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, shows the i7-8850H ahead by roughly 0.6% to 0.7%. This suggests the i7-8850H's 12 threads and larger 12 MB L3 cache provide a small but reliable edge in rendering workloads. Meanwhile, the i5-9500F's Geekbench wins are much larger in percentage terms, indicating a qualitative advantage in applications that reward raw clock speed over thread count.

The database records 3 wins for the i5-9500F and 5 wins for the i7-8850H. However, the magnitude of the i5-9500F's Geekbench wins (8.8% and 15.7%) far exceeds the 0.7% maximum margin for the i7-8850H. A win is a win in benchmark counts, but the data suggests the i5-9500F has the more decisive performance advantages where it leads.

The Verdict

The data points to a split decision based on workload type. For users running Geekbench-style applications, which include common productivity tasks, web browsing, and photo editing, the Intel Core i5-9500F is the superior choice. Its 15.7% single-core and 8.8% multicore Geekbench leads are substantial and will translate to snappier everyday performance.

For users running Cinebench renders or similar multi-threaded 3D workloads, the Intel Core i7-8850H is the better option. Its wins across all three Cinebench generations, while narrow, are consistent. The 12 threads and 12 MB L3 cache give it a sustained rendering advantage that the i5-9500F cannot match, despite its lower clock speed.

The i5-9500F also holds advantages in memory bandwidth specification (42.7 GB/s dual-channel) and desktop socket flexibility (Intel Socket 1151). The i7-8850H's BGA 1440 socket means it is soldered into laptops, not upgradeable. Its integrated UHD 630 graphics is a benefit for systems without a discrete GPU, but the i5-9500F requires a separate graphics card.

The i7-8850H's lower 45 W TDP makes it suitable for thinner mobile chassis, while the i5-9500F's 65 W TDP is typical for desktop towers. Neither is unlocked for overclocking. Both are end-of-life, so availability is limited to existing stock or used markets.

The verdict is clear: choose the i5-9500F for general desktop use and single-threaded performance, choose the i7-8850H for multi-threaded rendering in a mobile form factor. The benchmark data does not support a single universal winner, but it does support a confident recommendation based on the specific workload.