Intel Core i7-10870H vs Intel Core i7-9700F Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700F and Intel Core i7-10870H are both 8-core Intel processors, but they target entirely different platforms: one is a desktop part, the other a mobile chip. The benchmark data reveals a clear overall winner in raw performance, yet the single-core results tell a different story. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head numbers, architectural differences, and use-case implications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark suite gives the Intel Core i7-10870H a decisive victory, winning 7 out of 8 tests. The largest margin comes in Geekbench multicore, where the i7-10870H scores 7357 against the i7-9700F’s 6807, a 7.5% advantage. This pattern holds across all Cinebench versions: in R15 multicore, the i7-10870H scores 1194 versus 1126, a 5.7% lead; in R20 multicore, it posts 4977 against 4693, also a 5.7% lead; and in R23 multicore, it hits 11852 versus 11176, again a 5.7% margin. The consistency of this 5.7% delta across multiple Cinebench versions suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The i7-10870H also wins every single-core Cinebench test, though by smaller margins. In R15 single-core, it scores 168 versus 158, a 6% gap. In R20 single-core, the scores are 702 and 662, a 5.7% difference. In R23 single-core, it records 1673 against 1577, again 5.7%. These consistent single-core wins are notable because the i7-9700F has a higher base clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.20 GHz), yet the i7-10870H’s higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz) appears to carry the day in short, single-threaded bursts.

The only test the i7-9700F wins is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1509 against the i7-10870H’s 1443, a 4.6% advantage. This is a curious outlier given that the i7-10870H wins all three Cinebench single-core tests. The Geekbench workload may favor the i7-9700F’s higher base clock or its desktop-oriented memory subsystem, but the data does not specify the exact reason. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — the i7-9700F averages 3464 and the i7-10870H averages 3446, a 0.5% difference — which places them both at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-10870H’s average score of 3446 places it just 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-5960X, while the i7-9700F’s 3464 average is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2186G.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 14 nm process node and Intel foundry, but their architectures diverge in several key ways. The i7-9700F is built on Coffee Lake, part of the Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation, designed for the Intel Socket 1151 desktop platform. The i7-10870H uses Comet Lake-H, belonging to the Core 10th Gen series, and fits the Intel BGA 1440 mobile socket. This fundamental platform difference explains many of the other spec disparities.

The most significant architectural difference is thread count. The i7-9700F offers 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-10870H provides 8 cores and 16 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. This doubling of threads directly explains the i7-10870H’s consistent multicore wins — it can process twice as many threads simultaneously. The i7-10870H also has a larger L3 cache: 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared on the i7-9700F. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) caches.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The i7-9700F has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the i7-10870H runs at 2.20 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The i7-10870H’s 300 MHz higher boost clock likely contributes to its single-core Cinebench wins, despite the i7-9700F’s higher base frequency. Thermal design power also reflects their different platforms: the i7-9700F is rated at 65W TDP, while the i7-10870H is rated at 45W TDP, a lower figure typical for mobile parts.

The i7-10870H includes Intel UHD Graphics integrated graphics, while the i7-9700F has no integrated graphics at all (the "F" suffix indicates this). Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the i7-9700F specifies dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-10870H’s memory bus and bandwidth fields are not listed. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-9700F has a die size of 180.3 mm², while the i7-10870H’s die size is not listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-10870H is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads. Its 16 threads give it a 5.7% to 7.5% edge across all Cinebench and Geekbench multicore tests. For content creation tasks like video rendering, 3D modeling, or software compilation that scale with thread count, the i7-10870H’s Hyper-Threading advantage is decisive. The data shows this consistently: R15 multicore 1194 versus 1126, R20 multicore 4977 versus 4693, R23 multicore 11852 versus 11176, and Geekbench multicore 7357 versus 6807.

The i7-10870H also wins most single-core tests, which is relevant for everyday responsiveness, gaming, and lightly-threaded applications. It outperforms the i7-9700F in Cinebench R15 single-core (168 versus 158), R20 single-core (702 versus 662), and R23 single-core (1673 versus 1577), each by 5.7% to 6%. The higher 5.00 GHz boost clock appears to give it an edge in bursty, single-threaded scenarios.

The Intel Core i7-9700F wins only one test: Geekbench single-core, scoring 1509 versus 1443, a 4.6% margin. This suggests that in certain single-threaded workloads, the i7-9700F’s higher base clock of 3.00 GHz — which it can sustain more easily given its 65W TDP desktop power budget — provides an advantage. This could matter for legacy applications that are strictly single-threaded and sensitive to sustained clock speeds rather than peak boost.

The i7-9700F also has the advantage of being a desktop part with a larger power envelope (65W TDP versus 45W), which may translate to more consistent sustained performance under heavy loads that exceed short boost windows. Its dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth is explicitly listed, whereas the i7-10870H’s memory bandwidth is not specified, potentially indicating a less capable memory subsystem in the mobile part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H has 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-9700F has 8 threads. Both have 8 cores, but the i7-10870H supports Hyper-Threading, giving it twice the thread count.

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

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench multicore, where the Intel Core i7-10870H scores 7357 versus the i7-9700F’s 6807, a 7.5% difference. The i7-10870H also leads by 6% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Does the desktop processor win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-9700F wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1509 against the i7-10870H’s 1443, a 4.6% advantage. This is its only head-to-head win out of 8 tests.

Q: Are these processors on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both use the 14 nm process node from Intel. They share the same process but use different architectures: Coffee Lake for the i7-9700F and Comet Lake-H for the i7-10870H.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-10870H includes UHD Graphics, while the Intel Core i7-9700F has no integrated graphics, as indicated by its "F" suffix.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between them?

A: The i7-9700F has an average benchmark score of 3464, and the i7-10870H has an average of 3446. The difference is 0.5%, placing both at the 54th percentile of all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9700F | Intel Core i7-10870H |

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

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Comet Lake-H |

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Die Size | 180.3 mm² | Not listed |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not listed |

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

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2019-04-22 | 2020-09-16 |

| Launch MSRP | $333 | Not listed |

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-10870H as the stronger performer in almost every measurable benchmark. It wins 7 of 8 head-to-head tests, with its 16 threads providing a consistent 5.7% advantage across all Cinebench multicore tests and a 7.5% lead in Geekbench multicore. It also wins all single-core Cinebench tests by 5.7% to 6%, despite the i7-9700F’s higher base clock. For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded performance — content creators, developers, or anyone running heavily parallel workloads — the i7-10870H is the clear choice based on the numbers.

The Intel Core i7-9700F’s sole win in Geekbench single-core (4.6% ahead) indicates it retains an edge in certain single-threaded scenarios, potentially due to its higher base clock and desktop power envelope. Its 65W TDP versus 45W TDP also suggests it can sustain higher clocks under continuous load, which may benefit long-running single-threaded tasks. However, its end-of-life production status and lack of integrated graphics make it less flexible for new builds that might need an iGPU for troubleshooting or basic display output.

The i7-10870H is an active, mobile-market part with integrated graphics, making it suitable for laptops where space and power efficiency matter. Its 45W TDP is lower, yet it still outperforms the desktop chip in most tests. The i7-9700F, being a desktop part with a launch MSRP of $333, fits systems where a discrete GPU is always present and where the 65W TDP is acceptable. Ultimately, the benchmark data favors the i7-10870H for overall performance, while the i7-9700F remains relevant only for specific single-threaded workloads and desktop platforms that cannot accommodate the mobile BGA 1440 socket.