Intel Core i7-10810U vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-10810U wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-9850HL. Across all six Cinebench workloads, the i7-10810U takes the top spot, with margins ranging from 1.1% to 1.8%. There are no tests in the database where the i7-9850HL comes out ahead.

The i7-10810U’s advantage is consistent in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For single-core performance, the i7-10810U leads by 1.1% in Cinebench R15, 1.8% in R20, and 1.6% in R23. For multi-core, the lead is a steady 1.5% across all three Cinebench versions. This uniformity suggests a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

The i7-9850HL is not without merit, however. Its base clock is substantially higher at 1900 MHz versus 1100 MHz for the i7-10810U, which could translate to more consistent performance in lightly threaded, bursty tasks that do not boost for long durations. Yet the recorded Cinebench scores show the i7-10810U still edges ahead even in single-core tests, where base clock matters less.

For users prioritizing raw benchmark performance, the i7-10810U is the clear choice. The i7-9850HL’s higher base clock does not translate into a single benchmark win. The database shows a perfect 6-0 sweep for the i7-10810U, with no exceptions.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but they come from different architecture families. The i7-10810U uses the Comet Lake architecture with the codename Comet Lake-U, while the i7-9850HL uses the older Coffee Lake architecture with the codename Coffee Lake-HR. Both are 6-core, 12-thread mobile parts, and both share the same 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core.

The most significant architectural difference is in the L3 cache. The i7-10810U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-9850HL has only 9 MB. This 3 MB difference can matter in workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than 9 MB but smaller than 12 MB, potentially reducing memory traffic and improving performance.

The i7-10810U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the i7-9850HL supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The i7-9850HL has a specified memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-10810U does not have a bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-10810U ships with Intel UHD Graphics, while the i7-9850HL ships with Intel UHD Graphics 630. The i7-9850HL also has a recorded die size of 149 mm², while the i7-10810U has no die size entry. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked (multiplier not unlocked).

Both parts use the same Intel BGA 1440 socket, run at a 25 W TDP, support PCIe Gen 3, and are marked as end-of-life mobile products. The i7-10810U has a release date of April 2020, while the i7-9850HL has no recorded release date.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six direct comparisons between these two CPUs, all from the Cinebench suite. The i7-10810U wins every one, but the margins are narrow. This is not a landslide; it is a consistent, small advantage.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-10810U scores 686 against 676 for the i7-9850HL, a 1.5% difference. In single-core R15, the scores are 96 versus 95, a 1.1% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap remains at 1.5% (2862 versus 2819), while the single-core gap widens to 1.8% (404 versus 397). In Cinebench R23, the multi-core margin is again 1.5% (6816 versus 6712), and single-core is 1.6% (962 versus 947).

The largest single advantage anywhere is the 1.8% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core. The smallest is the 1.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. There is no test where the i7-9850HL comes within a rounding error of winning.

Interpreting these numbers: the i7-10810U is consistently faster, but the practical difference is small. A 1.5% multi-core advantage means the i7-10810U completes a long render in about 98.5% of the time the i7-9850HL would take. For a single benchmark run, this is within run-to-run variance. Across many workloads, the i7-10810U should edge ahead slightly more often than not.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this. The i7-10810U has an average score of 1971, placing it at the 44th percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 (1973, 0.1% higher), AMD Ryzen 3 2300X (1968, 0.1% lower), AMD Ryzen 5 2600H (1967, 0.2% lower), and Intel Core i5-7600K (1976, 0.3% higher). The i7-9850HL averages 1941, also at the 44th percentile, with rivals such as the Intel Core i7-7820HQ (1940, 0.1% higher), Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945, 0.2% lower), Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 (1947, 0.3% lower), and Intel Core i5-1035G7 (1948, 0.4% lower).

The 30-point average score gap (1971 versus 1941) is about 1.5%, matching the head-to-head Cinebench margins. Both CPUs sit in the same performance tier relative to the broader CPU landscape, but the i7-10810U sits at the top of that tier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-10810U wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 686 versus 676 in R15, 2862 versus 2819 in R20, and 6816 versus 6712 in R23, each a 1.5% lead.

Q: Does the higher base clock of the i7-9850HL help in any benchmark?

A: No. Despite a 1900 MHz base clock versus 1100 MHz for the i7-10810U, the i7-9850HL does not win a single recorded test. The i7-10810U wins all six head-to-head comparisons.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to other processors in the database?

A: Both sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-10810U averages 1971, close to the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 (1973) and Intel Core i5-7600K (1976). The i7-9850HL averages 1941, near the Intel Core i7-7820HQ (1940) and Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (1945).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest lead for the i7-10810U is 1.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core (404 versus 397). The smallest lead is 1.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core (96 versus 95).

Q: Do these CPUs have the same cache configuration?

A: No. The i7-10810U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-9850HL has 9 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: Are both CPUs still in production?

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

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-10810U | Intel Core i7-9850HL |

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

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake-U | Coffee Lake-HR |

| Base clock | 1100 MHz | 1900 MHz |

| Boost clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

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

| Memory support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

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

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Die size | Not recorded | 149 mm² |

| Release date | April 2020 | Not recorded |

| Part number | Not recorded | SRFEH |

The two CPUs share: 6 cores, 12 threads, 25 W TDP, Intel BGA 1440 socket, 14 nm process, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 3, no ECC support, locked multiplier, and mobile market segment.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, winner: the Intel Core i7-10810U. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with margins from 1.1% to 1.8%. Its 12 MB L3 cache versus 9 MB gives it a structural advantage in cache-sensitive workloads. Its higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.10 GHz explains its consistent single-core wins.

The i7-9850HL is not a bad processor. Its 1900 MHz base clock is much higher, which could provide steadier performance in sustained, non-boosting scenarios. It also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a detail the i7-10810U lacks in the database. But benchmark results do not reflect any advantage from these traits.

For users choosing between these two, the decision is straightforward. The i7-10810U is the better performer in every measured category. Choose it if you want the highest Cinebench scores, the larger L3 cache, or the higher boost clock. The i7-9850HL is only preferable if you specifically need its higher base clock or its recorded memory bandwidth specification, neither of which translated into a benchmark win.

Both CPUs occupy the same 44th percentile tier, so the practical difference in real-world applications will be small. But within this tier, the i7-10810U is the top dog. The i7-9850HL is a close second, not a competitor.