Intel Core i7-1180G7 vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850HL and Intel Core i7-1180G7 are both end-of-life mobile processors, yet they represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The 9850HL is a 6-core, 12-thread Coffee Lake-HR part with a 25 W TDP, while the 1180G7 is a 4-core, 8-thread Tiger Lake-U chip with a dramatically lower 9 W TDP. Across six Cinebench benchmarks, the older 9850HL wins every single test, but the margins are razor-thin—never exceeding 1.1%. This creates a fascinating dynamic where architectural generation differences are nearly neutralized by core-count and power-target trade-offs.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-9850HL, which wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. In multi-core workloads, the 9850HL leads by 0.6% in Cinebench R15 (676 vs 672), R20 (2819 vs 2802), and R23 (6712 vs 6672). The pattern is consistent: the 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides a slight but reliable advantage over the 1180G7’s 4-core, 8-thread layout, even though the latter has a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz compared to 4.10 GHz.

Single-core results follow the same trend, with the 9850HL winning by 1.1% in Cinebench R15 (95 vs 94), 0.5% in R20 (397 vs 395), and 0.5% in R23 (947 vs 942). This is notable because the 1180G7’s Tiger Lake architecture is based on the newer Willow Cove cores and runs on a 10 nm process, yet its higher peak frequency does not translate into a single-core victory. The 9850HL’s older Coffee Lake cores, with their 1900 MHz base clock, are evidently sufficient to edge out the newer design in these specific workloads.

Where the 1180G7 does have an implicit advantage is in power efficiency—its 9 W TDP is less than half the 9850HL’s 25 W TDP. While this does not appear in the benchmark scores, it positions the 1180G7 as the better fit for ultra-portable, fanless designs. The 9850HL, with its higher TDP, is better suited to systems with more substantial cooling. The data does not show the 1180G7 winning any benchmark, but its power envelope is the only clear differentiator in its favor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i7-9850HL is built on the Coffee Lake-HR architecture using a 14 nm process node from Intel. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket and supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. Integrated graphics are provided by the UHD Graphics 630.

The Intel Core i7-1180G7, in contrast, is based on the Tiger Lake architecture with Willow Cove cores, manufactured on a 10 nm process. It has fewer cores—4 cores and 8 threads—but a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz and a lower base clock of 1300 MHz. Its cache configuration is substantially different: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This represents a 33% increase in L3 capacity and a much larger per-core L2 allocation. The 1180G7 uses the Intel BGA 1598 socket and supports LPDDR4X memory, though its 34.1 GB/s bandwidth is lower than the 9850HL’s 42.7 GB/s.

PCIe support also differs: the 9850HL uses Gen 3, while the 1180G7 offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The integrated GPU is a major generational leap—the 1180G7 carries Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, whereas the 9850HL uses the older UHD Graphics 630. The die sizes are close (149 mm² for the 9850HL vs 144 mm² for the 1180G7), but the newer part packs more L3 cache and a more advanced GPU into a slightly smaller area. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Core i7-9850HL is the superior processor. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with its largest margin being 1.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core. Its average benchmark score of 1941 places it at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, just ahead of the 1180G7’s average score of 1930 and 43rd percentile. The 9850HL’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-7820HQ, scores 1940—a 0.1% delta—while the 1180G7’s closest competitor, the AMD Opteron 6348, matches its 1930 score exactly.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the 9850HL is the clear choice. Its 6-core advantage is consistent across all multi-core tests, and it even edges out the 1180G7 in single-core tests despite the latter’s higher boost clock. The 1180G7, however, offers a compelling alternative for systems where power consumption is critical. Its 9 W TDP enables fanless or ultra-thin designs that the 25 W 9850HL cannot support. The 1180G7 also has a more modern memory interface (LPDDR4X), PCIe Gen 4, and a significantly better integrated GPU, though these do not show up in the provided Cinebench scores.

The choice ultimately depends on the workload and platform constraints. If the system can handle a 25 W TDP and requires maximum multi-threaded performance, the 9850HL is the better option. If the priority is a compact, low-power device with newer I/O and graphics capabilities, the 1180G7 is the more appropriate fit—but the data shows it will not outperform the 9850HL in CPU-bound rendering tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-1180G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has a TDP of 25 W, while the Intel Core i7-1180G7 has a TDP of 9 W.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1180G7 has a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-9850HL’s 4.10 GHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has an average benchmark score of 1941, while the Intel Core i7-1180G7 scores 1930. The 9850HL sits at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, and the 1180G7 at the 43rd.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-1180G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-9850HL has 9 MB.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i7-1180G7 supports LPDDR4X memory. Both use dual-channel buses.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent, with the Intel Core i7-9850HL winning every test by a margin between 0.5% and 1.1%. The largest single-core win comes in Cinebench R15, where the 9850HL scores 95 against the 1180G7’s 94, a 1.1% delta. This is notable because the 1180G7 has a 0.50 GHz boost-clock advantage, yet still falls behind. The smallest single-core margin is 0.5% in both Cinebench R20 (397 vs 395) and R23 (947 vs 942).

Multi-core results are equally tight. The 9850HL leads by 0.6% in all three multi-core tests: Cinebench R15 (676 vs 672), R20 (2819 vs 2802), and R23 (6712 vs 6672). The 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides a consistent edge, but the 4-core, 8-thread 1180G7 stays within striking distance in every test. This suggests that the 1180G7’s higher per-core efficiency, driven by its Willow Cove cores and 12 MB L3 cache, nearly compensates for its two-core deficit.

The overall win count is 6-0 in favor of the 9850HL. However, the average benchmark scores tell a similar story: 1941 for the 9850HL vs 1930 for the 1180G7, a difference of just 0.6%. Both processors sit near the 43-44th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that they are mid-pack performers overall. The 9850HL’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-7820HQ, scores 1940 (0.1% delta), while the 1180G7’s nearest rival, the AMD Opteron 6348, scores 1930 (0% delta). These results show two processors that are nearly identical in CPU rendering performance, with the 9850HL holding a slight but consistent lead across all tested workloads.