Intel Core i7-11850HE vs Intel Core i9-10850K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks in the database?

A: The Intel Core i9-10850K wins 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE wins only 1, specifically the Geekbench single-core test.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Geekbench?

A: The i9-10850K scores 10,653 versus 8,576 for the i7-11850HE, a 24.2% advantage, the largest single delta in the head-to-head results.

Q: Does the i7-11850HE have any advantage in the benchmark data?

A: Yes, it leads in Geekbench single-core with 1,984 points versus 1,708 points for the i9-10850K, a 13.9% margin in its favor.

Q: What are the Cinebench R23 multi-core scores for both CPUs?

A: The i9-10850K records 18,592 points, while the i7-11850HE records 17,402 points, giving the desktop part a 6.8% lead.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile overall?

A: Both sit at the 60th percentile when compared against all CPUs in the database, though their average benchmark scores differ: 5,240 for the i9-10850K and 5,095 for the i7-11850HE.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-10850K boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the i7-11850HE boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The Intel Core i9-10850K is built on the Comet Lake architecture using Intel's 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture on a 10 nm node. This generational split carries through to nearly every major architectural feature.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i9-10850K provides 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-11850HE provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache layouts also diverge. The i9-10850K has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 20 MB L3 cache. The i7-11850HE has a larger per-core L1 at 80 KB and a much larger per-core L2 at 1.25 MB, with a shared 24 MB L3. So the mobile chip has more total cache per core, but the desktop chip has two additional physical cores.

Clock speeds show the desktop part's advantage. The i9-10850K runs at a 3.60 GHz base and a 5.20 GHz boost. The i7-11850HE runs at a 2.10 GHz base and a 4.70 GHz boost. Power envelopes reflect their market segments: the i9-10850K has a 125 W TDP, while the i7-11850HE is rated at 35 W.

Platform support also differs. The i9-10850K uses Intel Socket 1200, the i7-11850HE uses Intel BGA 1787. The i9-10850K has an unlocked multiplier, the i7-11850HE does not. PCIe connectivity is newer on the Tiger Lake part: Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) on the Comet Lake part. Memory bandwidth is higher on the mobile chip at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s, though both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode. Integrated graphics differ as well: UHD Graphics 630 on the i9-10850K versus UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) on the i7-11850HE. The die sizes are close, 206 mm² for the Comet Lake part and 190 mm² for the Tiger Lake part.

Production status separates them further. The i9-10850K is end-of-life and targets the desktop market, while the i7-11850HE remains active and targets mobile. The release dates in the database place the i9-10850K in 2020 and the i7-11850HE in 2021.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear split between the two processors based on workload type. The Intel Core i9-10850K is the stronger multi-threaded performer across every recorded Cinebench test and in Geekbench multi-core. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1,873 versus 1,753, Cinebench R20 multi-core with 7,808 versus 7,308, Cinebench R23 multi-core with 18,592 versus 17,402, and Geekbench multi-core with 10,653 versus 8,576. The 24.2% Geekbench multi-core margin is the largest in the head-to-head set. For users running heavy parallel workloads, the desktop chip is the pick.

The Intel Core i7-11850HE claims only one victory, but it is a notable one: Geekbench single-core at 1,984 versus 1,708, a 13.9% advantage. That result suggests the newer Tiger Lake architecture brings a per-thread efficiency edge in at least one measurement. However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the i9-10850K still leads by about 6.8% to 6.9% across R15, R20, and R23. So the i7-11850HE's single-core win is not universal across all tested applications.

From a platform perspective, the i7-11850HE offers Gen 4 PCIe, a higher memory bandwidth rating, and a dramatically lower 35 W TDP, plus an active production status. The i9-10850K counters with more cores, higher clocks, an unlocked multiplier, and a desktop socket. Buyers needing raw throughput and overclocking headroom should favor the i9-10850K. Buyers constrained by power or seeking a current mobile platform would look to the i7-11850HE. The database shows both parts at the same 60th percentile overall, but their average scores differ by only 145 points, 5,240 versus 5,095.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, using the recorded database values.

| Specification | Intel Core i9-10850K | Intel Core i7-11850HE |

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

| Series | Core 10th Gen | Core 11th Gen |

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 125 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel BGA 1787 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake | Tiger Lake-H |

| Generation | Core i9 (Comet Lake) | Core i7 (Tiger Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 206 mm² | 190 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2020-07-26 | 2021-08-02 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $400 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRK51 | SRKWZ |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers eight tests across two benchmark suites. The Intel Core i9-10850K dominates the overall tally with seven wins, but the margins and one upset are worth unpacking.

In Geekbench multi-core, the i9-10850K posts 10,653 against 8,576 for the i7-11850HE. That 24.2% gap is the largest of any comparison in this matchup. The two extra cores and higher boost clock of the desktop part translate directly into a substantial throughput advantage in this synthetic workload.

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. Across R15, R20, and R23, the i9-10850K wins every multi-core and single-core iteration by nearly identical margins. Cinebench R15 multi-core: 1,873 versus 1,753, a 6.8% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core: 7,808 versus 7,308, again 6.8%. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,592 versus 17,402, again 6.8%. The single-core Cinebench results are similarly uniform: R15 at 264 versus 247 (6.9%), R20 at 1,102 versus 1,031 (6.9%), and R23 at 2,624 versus 2,456 (6.8%). The i9-10850K maintains a steady edge across all Cinebench versions, both multi-threaded and single-threaded.

The one win for the i7-11850HE comes in Geekbench single-core. It scores 1,984 versus 1,708, a 13.9% advantage. This is the only test where the mobile chip beats the desktop part, and the margin is larger than any of the i9-10850K's Cinebench wins. The result suggests that in at least one per-thread workload, the newer Tiger Lake core design can outperform the older Comet Lake core despite a much lower 2.10 GHz base clock. Notably, this advantage does not carry over to Cinebench single-core, where the i9-10850K still leads by roughly 6.8% to 6.9%.

Looking at the broader database context, the i9-10850K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700B at an average score of 5,241 with a 0.0% delta, the Intel Core i5-14401E at 5,253 with a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at 5,259 with a -0.4% delta. The i7-11850HE's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7262 at 5,109 with a -0.3% delta, the Intel Xeon W-2155 at 5,072 with a 0.5% delta, and the Intel Core i9-7900X at 5,120 with a -0.5% delta. Both CPUs sit near the middle of the performance distribution at the 60th percentile, and the average benchmark scores differ by only 145 points, 5,240 for the i9-10850K and 5,095 for the i7-11850HE.

The practical takeaway from the head-to-head data: the i9-10850K is the stronger all-around performer in the recorded tests, particularly in multi-threaded workloads where its core count and clock speed yield leads from 6.8% to 24.2%. The i7-11850HE's single Geekbench single-core victory shows the newer architecture can win a per-thread contest, but the Cinebench single-core results contradict that pattern, leaving the i9-10850K ahead in seven of eight tests.