Intel Core i7-10875H vs Intel Core i9-10900TE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data positions the Intel Core i7-10875H as the outright performance leader in almost every recorded test, despite the Intel Core i9-10900TE carrying two additional cores. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, the i7-10875H wins every single contest, with margins ranging from 1.5% to 1.7%. The i9-10900TE, however, is not without its own advantages: it offers a lower 35 W TDP compared to the 45 W of the i7-10875H, and it is built for the desktop socket LGA 1200 rather than a mobile BGA package.

For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput and maximum clock speed, the i7-10875H is the clear choice based on the recorded scores. It delivers higher results in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both in multi-core and single-core runs. The i9-10900TE, meanwhile, is the better pick for those who need a ten-core desktop processor with a lower thermal envelope, as its 35 W TDP is significantly more modest than the i7-10875H's 45 W figure. The i9-10900TE also carries a higher launch MSRP of $488, while the i7-10875H lists at $450, but the performance data consistently favors the latter in compute workloads.

In terms of overall standing, both processors sit at the 54th percentile among all CPUs in the database, which indicates they occupy a similar tier of overall capability. The average benchmark score for the i9-10900TE is 3484, while the i7-10875H posts an average of 3432. That difference is small, roughly 1.5% in favor of the i9-10900TE, but it is driven by the i9's inclusion of additional benchmark results, including Geekbench and 3DMark tests that the i9 lacks. The head-to-head Cinebench data, however, tells a different story: the i7-10875H leads in every shared test. This suggests that the i7-10875H is the more efficient performer per thread, while the i9-10900TE relies on its extra cores to keep its average score competitive.

The decision ultimately comes down to platform and thermal priorities. The i7-10875H is a mobile processor, designed for laptops and compact systems, while the i9-10900TE is a desktop part. If the system can accommodate a 45 W mobile chip and the user wants the best Cinebench results, the i7-10875H is the superior option. If the requirement is a desktop socket with a lower TDP and more cores, the i9-10900TE is the appropriate selection, accepting a small performance deficit in every measured Cinebench workload.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Intel's Comet Lake, built on a 14 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The i9-10900TE is officially designated as Comet Lake with the codename "Comet Lake," while the i7-10875H carries the codename "Comet Lake-H," indicating its mobile-oriented variant. Both belong to the Core 10th Gen series and support DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with an identical memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory, and both provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i9-10900TE packs 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-10875H has 8 cores and 16 threads. That two-core advantage for the i9 does not translate into a multi-core win in the recorded Cinebench results, which is notable. The i9-10900TE has a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i7-10875H starts at a higher 2300 MHz base and boosts to 5.10 GHz. The higher boost clock on the i7 likely explains its single-core wins across all three Cinebench versions.

Cache hierarchies are similar in structure but differ in total L3 capacity. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i9-10900TE has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-10875H has 16 MB of shared L3. The die size also differs: the i9-10900TE measures 206 mm², while the i7-10875H is smaller at 177.5 mm². The i9-10900TE uses the Intel Socket 1200, a desktop platform, whereas the i7-10875H uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile package.

Integrated graphics differ in naming: the i9-10900TE includes UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-10875H lists simply UHD Graphics. Both processors are marked as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i9-10900TE was released on 2020-04-29, and the i7-10875H was released slightly earlier on 2020-04-01. Both are locked parts, so overclocking flexibility is not part of the package for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-10875H scores 1233 against the i9-10900TE's 1213, a 1.6% advantage for the i7. In single-core R15, the i7 leads 174 to 171, a 1.7% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-10875H posts 5138 multi-core versus 5058 for the i9, again a 1.6% lead. Single-core R20 sees 725 against 714, a 1.5% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same pattern: 12234 for the i7 against 12045 for the i9, a 1.5% difference. Single-core R23 shows 1727 versus 1700, a 1.6% margin. In every single instance, the i7-10875H wins, and the margins never stray far from the 1.5% to 1.7% band.

This consistency is striking because the i9-10900TE has two more cores and 4 MB more L3 cache. Yet the i7-10875H's higher boost clock, 5.10 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, appears to overcome the core deficit. The i7 also has a higher base clock of 2300 MHz compared to 1800 MHz. The result is that the i7-10875H wins both multi-core and single-core workloads, which suggests that the i9-10900TE's additional cores do not compensate for its lower clock speeds under the specific conditions of these tests.

The i9-10900TE does have other benchmark data in its favor, though not in the head-to-head section. Its average benchmark score of 3484 is higher than the i7-10875H's 3432, a difference of about 1.5%. That average includes tests like Geekbench and 3DMark that are only recorded for the i7-10875H, so the comparison is not apples-to-apples. The i9's average is buoyed by its nearest rival scores: the Intel Xeon D-1732TE sits at 3486 with a 0% delta, the Intel Xeon E-2246G at 3492 with a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 at 3494 with a -0.3% delta. The i9-10900TE also trails the Intel Core i9-9900T, which scores 3499 with a -0.4% delta. The i7-10875H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9880H at 3433 with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G at 3441 with a -0.3% delta, the Intel Core i7-5960X at 3442 with a -0.3% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS at 3444 with a -0.3% delta. Both processors cluster tightly with their rivals, indicating that neither is an outlier in its performance class.

For the i7-10875H, additional benchmark results are available. It scores 5104 in 3DMark 16-thread, 1404 in 2-thread, 2527 in 4-thread, 4050 in 8-thread, 5081 in max-thread, and 753 in single-thread. In Geekbench, it posts 6511 multi-core and 1384 single-core. The i9-10900TE has no equivalent 3DMark or Geekbench scores in the database, so those numbers cannot be directly compared.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specification fields. The core count differs: the i9-10900TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-10875H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are different as well: 1800 MHz for the i9 versus 2300 MHz for the i7. Boost clocks also differ: 4.50 GHz for the i9 versus 5.10 GHz for the i7. The TDP is another clear separation: 35 W for the i9-10900TE, 45 W for the i7-10875H.

Socket types are not shared. The i9-10900TE uses Intel Socket 1200, a desktop socket, while the i7-10875H uses Intel BGA 1440, a mobile package. The market segment reflects this: the i9 is classified as Desktop, the i7 as Mobile. The codenames differ slightly: Comet Lake for the i9, Comet Lake-H for the i7. The die size is larger on the i9 at 206 mm² versus 177.5 mm² for the i7. L3 cache differs: 20 MB shared on the i9, 16 MB shared on the i7. The integrated graphics are listed as UHD Graphics 630 for the i9 and UHD Graphics for the i7. Release dates differ by a few weeks: 2020-04-29 for the i9, 2020-04-01 for the i7. Launch MSRP values are $488 for the i9 and $450 for the i7. The part numbers are also distinct: SRJFC for the i9, SRJ8F for the i7.

Several specifications are identical. Both use the 14 nm process node, both are built by Intel, both support DDR4 memory, both have dual-channel memory buses, both have 46.9 GB/s memory bandwidth, both lack ECC support, both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, both have 64 KB L1 per core, both have 256 KB L2 per core, both are locked (not multiplier unlocked), and both are Active in production. The architecture name is the same for both: Comet Lake.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-10875H wins with a score of 12234, while the Intel Core i9-10900TE scores 12045. That is a 1.5% advantage for the i7-10875H.

Q: Does the i9-10900TE's extra two cores give it a multi-core advantage?

A: No. Despite having 10 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads for the i7-10875H, the i9-10900TE loses every multi-core Cinebench test. The i7 wins R15 multi-core 1233 to 1213, R20 multi-core 5138 to 5058, and R23 multi-core 12234 to 12045.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The i9-10900TE has a TDP of 35 W, while the i7-10875H has a TDP of 45 W. The i9 is the lower-power part by 10 W.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 54th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i9-10900TE has an average benchmark score of 3484, and the i7-10875H has an average of 3432.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i7-10875H has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the i9-10900TE boosts to 4.50 GHz. The i7 also has a higher base clock at 2300 MHz versus 1800 MHz.

Q: Do the two processors use the same socket?

A: No. The i9-10900TE uses Intel Socket 1200, which is a desktop socket, while the i7-10875H uses Intel BGA 1440, which is a mobile package. The i9 is classified as a Desktop part, and the i7 is classified as Mobile.