Intel Core i7-10870H vs Intel Core i9-9900T Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database places the Intel Core i7-10870H ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900T in seven of eight head-to-head tests, and the data consistently favors the mobile part across both single-thread and multi-thread workloads. The Core i7-10870H wins by a narrow 0.6% in Geekbench single-core, but its advantages range from 0.8% to 6.5% elsewhere. The Core i9-9900T holds exactly one win, a 0.6% margin in Geekbench single-core, which is effectively a statistical tie in that workload. The Core i7-10870H also posts a higher average benchmark score of 3446 versus 3499 for the Core i9-9900T, though the two CPUs sit at nearly the same percentile against all CPUs, 54th for the i7-10870H and 55th for the i9-9900T. That percentile gap of one point indicates both processors occupy the same performance tier, with the i7-10870H being the stronger option for users who prioritize raw compute across most measured workloads.

The Core i9-9900T is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP, an Intel Socket 1151 footprint, and an end-of-life production status, while the Core i7-10870H is an active mobile processor with a 45 W TDP and an Intel BGA 1440 socket. The recorded data suggests the i7-10870H is the better pick for anyone who needs sustained multi-threaded performance in a portable chassis, as it wins every Cinebench multi-core test by 6.4%. The i9-9900T remains a reasonable choice for desktop builders who need a low-power 8-core, 16-thread part with a launch MSRP of $423, but the benchmark results do not show it outperforming the i7-10870H in any meaningful way beyond the single Geekbench single-core test. The i7-10870H also benefits from a 5.00 GHz boost clock versus 4.40 GHz for the i9-9900T, and a 2.20 GHz base clock versus 2.10 GHz, which aligns with its consistent benchmark lead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-10870H dominates the multi-core arena. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1194 against 1117 for the i9-9900T, a 6.4% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap is identical at 6.4%, with scores of 4977 and 4658. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the same pattern: 11852 for the i7-10870H versus 11091 for the i9-9900T, again a 6.4% lead. Geekbench multi-core also goes to the i7-10870H, though by a much smaller margin of 0.8%, with scores of 7357 and 7298. The i7-10870H also sweeps every Cinebench single-core test, winning R15 single-core with 168 versus 157 (6.5%), R20 single-core with 702 versus 657 (6.4%), and R23 single-core with 1673 versus 1565 (6.5%).

The Intel Core i9-9900T wins only one recorded test: Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1452 against 1443 for the i7-10870H, a 0.6% margin. That result is the sole exception to an otherwise uniform pattern of i7-10870H superiority. For workloads that resemble Cinebench, which stresses all cores with rendering tasks, the i7-10870H is the clear choice. For workloads that resemble Geekbench single-core, the two processors perform nearly identically, and the i9-9900T holds a marginal edge. The i7-10870H also has additional recorded 3DMark results that the i9-9900T lacks entirely, including 5163 in 16-thread, 1347 in 2-thread, 2462 in 4-thread, 4013 in 8-thread, 5178 in max-thread, and 720 in single-thread tests, which further illustrates its broader benchmark coverage.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process and share the same core and thread configuration: 8 cores, 16 threads. They also share identical cache hierarchies, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Both support DDR4 memory, include Intel UHD Graphics, and provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither has ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The architectures differ in generation and market positioning. The i9-9900T belongs to the Coffee Lake family, specifically Coffee Lake-R, and is classified as a desktop processor. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and has a die size of 180.3 mm². Its release date is recorded as April 2019, and it carries a launch MSRP of $423. The i7-10870H belongs to the Comet Lake family, specifically Comet Lake-H, and is classified as a mobile processor. It uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, and no die size is recorded in the database. Its release date is September 2020, and it has no recorded launch MSRP.

Clock speeds also differ. The i9-9900T has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the i7-10870H has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i7-10870H runs at a higher TDP of 45 W compared to 35 W for the i9-9900T, which is consistent with its higher clock ceilings. Memory bandwidth is only recorded for the i9-9900T at 42.7 GB/s with dual-channel support, while the i7-10870H has no recorded memory bus or bandwidth data. The i7-10870H is part of Intel's 10th generation Core series, while the i9-9900T is part of the Core i9 Coffee Lake Refresh generation, and the i7-10870H remains in active production while the i9-9900T is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-10870H has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-9900T has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the i7-10870H in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i7-10870H scores 11852 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 6.4% higher than the i9-9900T's score of 11091.

Q: Does the i9-9900T win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: Yes, the i9-9900T wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1452, a 0.6% margin over the i7-10870H's 1443.

Q: Are the core counts and cache sizes the same?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores, 16 threads, 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Core i7-10870H has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i9-9900T is end-of-life, while the i7-10870H is active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniformity of the i7-10870H's multi-core advantage. Across three generations of Cinebench, the delta is locked at 6.4% for multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-10870H scores 1194 versus 1117 for the i9-9900T. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 4977 versus 4658. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 11852 versus 11091. This consistent delta suggests the i7-10870H's higher boost clock and TDP deliver a repeatable performance margin in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same script. The i7-10870H wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 168 against 157, a 6.5% edge. It wins Cinebench R20 single-core with 702 against 657, a 6.4% edge. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1673 against 1565, a 6.5% edge. These single-core wins are slightly larger in percentage terms than the multi-core wins, which is notable because the i9-9900T manages to take the Geekbench single-core test. Geekbench single-core is the i9-9900T's only victory, and it is narrow: 1452 versus 1443, a 0.6% difference. That result stands in contrast to the Cinebench single-core tests, where the i7-10870H leads by roughly 6.5%, indicating that the two benchmarks measure different aspects of single-thread performance.

Geekbench multi-core is the closest overall test. The i7-10870H scores 7357, and the i9-9900T scores 7298, a delta of only 0.8%. This is far smaller than the 6.4% Cinebench multi-core gaps, which suggests that Geekbench's workload mix does not amplify the i7-10870H's clock advantage as much as Cinebench does. In the broader context of the database, the i9-9900T's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2176G at an average score of 3502, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 at 3494, the Intel Xeon E-2246G at 3492, and the Intel Xeon D-1732TE at 3486. The i7-10870H's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS at 3447, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS at 3444, the Intel Core i7-5960X at 3442, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G at 3441. Both processors sit within a very tight cluster of scores around 3440 to 3500, with the i9-9900T's average score of 3499 edging out the i7-10870H's 3446 by 1.5%, even though the i7-10870H wins most direct comparisons. The i9-9900T also holds a marginally higher percentile rank at 55 versus 54 for the i7-10870H, which reflects the different mix of rival CPUs each part is compared against.