Intel Core i5-9500T vs Intel Core i7-9850HE Comparison

Intel Core i5-9500T and Intel Core i7-9850HE are both six-core Coffee Lake parts, but they target very different platforms. The i5-9500T is a 35 W desktop chip for Socket 1151, while the i7-9850HE is a 45 W mobile chip soldered to BGA 1440. Despite the i7’s higher specifications, the benchmark gap between them is remarkably narrow, which makes this comparison useful for anyone deciding between a low-power desktop build and a compact mobile platform.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-9850HE wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, but the margins are consistently slim. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 scores 843 against the i5’s 832, a 1.3% advantage. The single-core R15 result is closer still: 119 versus 117, a 1.7% edge for the i7. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap repeats at 1.3% (3515 vs 3470), while single-core shows a 1.4% difference (496 vs 489). In Cinebench R23, the i7 leads by 1.3% in both multicore (8370 vs 8264) and single-core (1181 vs 1166).

What does this mean in practice? A 1.3% multicore difference is well within run-to-run variation for most workloads. The i7-9850HE is technically faster in every benchmark, but the i5-9500T is not far behind. For a desktop part with a 10 W lower TDP, that is a strong showing. The i7’s extra threads (12 vs 6) do not translate into a proportional performance advantage, which suggests that power and thermal limits on the mobile platform are holding back its potential.

The i5-9500T also has Geekbench results in the database, which the i7 lacks. The i5 scores 4407 in Geekbench multicore and 1198 in single-core. Those numbers place it squarely in the same performance class as the i7’s Cinebench results, reinforcing the idea that the two CPUs are closer than their specs suggest.

Looking at overall averages, the i5-9500T posts an average benchmark score of 2493, while the i7-9850HE sits at 2421. That is a 72-point swing in favor of the desktop chip, which is notable because the i7 wins every direct comparison. The difference comes from the i5 having Geekbench results included in its average, while the i7 only has Cinebench data. The database’s percentile rankings reflect this: the i5 sits at the 49th percentile of all CPUs, and the i7 sits at the 48th.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process and share the Coffee Lake architecture. The i5-9500T uses the Coffee Lake codename, while the i7-9850HE uses Coffee Lake-HR, which is the high-performance mobile variant. Both have 6 cores, but the i7 adds Hyper-Threading for 12 threads, while the i5 runs 6 threads. That is the single biggest architectural difference between them.

Cache layouts are identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. Memory support is also the same: DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s of theoretical bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. Both integrate UHD Graphics 630, so the iGPU is not a differentiator.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i5-9500T has a 2.20 GHz base clock and a 3.70 GHz boost clock. The i7-9850HE runs at 2.70 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. That is a 500 MHz base and 700 MHz boost advantage for the i7, yet the benchmark results do not reflect that full margin. The i7’s 45 W TDP is higher than the i5’s 35 W, but the mobile platform’s cooling and power delivery likely cap sustained boost frequencies.

PCIe connectivity differs by platform. The i5-9500T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, which is typical for a desktop socket. The i7-9850HE lists Gen 3 without a lane count, which is common for BGA mobile parts where the chipset handles most expansion. The i5 also has a listed launch MSRP of $192, which serves as a reference point for its market positioning. The i7 has no launch MSRP in the database.

The die size is recorded only for the i7-9850HE at 149 mm². The i5’s die size is not listed, so a direct comparison on that metric is not possible. Both are end-of-life products, and the i5 was released on 2018-03-31, while the i7’s release date is not recorded.

The Verdict

Choose the i7-9850HE if you need the absolute fastest performance in every recorded benchmark, but understand that the advantage is only 1.3% to 1.7%. It wins all six head-to-head tests, including both single-core and multicore workloads. It also offers 12 threads versus 6, which could help in heavily threaded applications even if the measured Cinebench gains are small. The i7’s higher base and boost clocks are real, but the data shows they do not deliver a commanding lead.

Choose the i5-9500T if you are building a desktop system and want comparable performance with lower power consumption. Its 35 W TDP is 10 W lower than the i7’s 45 W, and its average benchmark score is actually higher at 2493 versus 2421. The i5 also has Geekbench data showing 4407 multicore and 1198 single-core, which are solid numbers for a six-thread chip. The desktop socket means easier upgrades and more cooling options, which could close the small gap with the i7 in sustained workloads.

The i7-9850HE is the faster chip on paper and in the head-to-head results. The i5-9500T is the more efficient choice for a desktop, and its overall average score suggests it is not giving up much. Neither chip is a winner by a large margin, so platform compatibility and power budgets should drive the decision.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-9500T | Intel Core i7-9850HE |

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

| Threads | 6 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Coffee Lake-HR |

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

| Die Size | Not listed | 149 mm² |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2018-03-31 | Not listed |

| Launch MSRP | $192 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRF4D | SRFED |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HE has 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-9500T has 6 threads. Both have 6 physical cores.

Q: Is the i7-9850HE faster in Cinebench R23?

A: Yes, the i7-9850HE scores 8370 in multicore and 1181 in single-core, while the i5-9500T scores 8264 and 1166 respectively. The i7 leads by 1.3% in both tests.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-9500T has a 35 W TDP, and the i7-9850HE has a 45 W TDP. The i7 consumes 10 W more power.

Q: Do both CPUs support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus and 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-9500T has an average benchmark score of 2493, while the i7-9850HE has an average of 2421. The i5 is ahead by 72 points.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No, both are listed as end-of-life products.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9850HE wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, including Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore. Its largest margin is 1.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and its smallest is 1.3% in most other tests. If you need the highest possible score in a direct comparison, the i7 is the clear choice.

The i5-9500T wins on overall average benchmark score with 2493 versus 2421, and it also has Geekbench results that the i7 lacks. Its 4407 multicore and 1198 single-core Geekbench scores are competitive with the i7’s Cinebench performance. The i5 also has a lower TDP at 35 W, making it the better pick for power-constrained desktop builds.

For a desktop user, the i5-9500T offers a standard Socket 1151 platform with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, which is a practical advantage for expansion. For a mobile user, the i7-9850HE is soldered to BGA 1440, so it is not upgradeable, but it brings the higher clock speeds and thread count to a compact form factor. The data shows a narrow performance gap, so the i5-9500T is the smarter choice for a desktop, while the i7-9850HE is the only option if you need its specific mobile platform.