Intel Core i7-11850HE vs Intel Core i9-13900TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, though not overwhelming, advantage for the Intel Core i9-13900TE across every Cinebench test in the comparison. In all six head-to-head benchmarks, the i9-13900TE emerges as the winner, with no benchmark favoring the i7-11850HE. The margins are remarkably uniform, ranging from 6.1% to 6.2% in favor of the newer part.

Starting with multi-threaded workloads, the i9-13900TE scores 1861 in Cinebench R15 multicore, a 6.2% advantage over the i7-11850HE's 1753. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i9-13900TE posts 7758 versus 7308 for the i7-11850HE, again a 6.2% gap. In the more demanding Cinebench R23 multicore test, the i9-13900TE reaches 18472, while the i7-11850HE manages 17402, a 6.1% difference. These results indicate that the i9-13900TE's advantage is not dependent on the specific workload intensity; it holds steady across the R15, R20, and R23 versions of the test.

Single-threaded performance tells a similar story, though with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the i9-13900TE scores 262 against 247 for the i7-11850HE, a 6.1% lead. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows the i9-13900TE at 1094 versus 1031, a 6.1% difference. Cinebench R23 singlecore follows with 2607 for the i9-13900TE and 2456 for the i7-11850HE, a 6.1% gap. The consistency of these deltas suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The average benchmark score for the i9-13900TE is 5342, compared to 5095 for the i7-11850HE. This places the i9-13900TE in the 60th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i9-10900KF at an average score of 5316 (0.5% delta) and the AMD EPYC 7281 at 5315 (0.5% delta). The i7-11850HE also sits in the 60th percentile, but its nearest rivals are different: the AMD EPYC 7262 at 5109 (-0.3% delta), the Intel Core i9-7900X at 5120 (-0.5% delta), and the Intel Xeon W-2155 at 5072 (0.5% delta). The data indicates that while both processors occupy the same percentile tier, the i9-13900TE is positioned near the upper boundary of that tier, whereas the i7-11850HE sits closer to the middle.

Notably, the i7-11850HE has additional Geekbench scores in the database, with a multicore score of 8576 and a singlecore score of 1984. The i9-13900TE does not have corresponding Geekbench entries in the recorded data, so a direct comparison on that test suite is not possible from the available measurements.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and are built for different market segments, which explains their performance profiles. The Intel Core i9-13900TE is a Raptor Lake-S part, part of the Core 13th Gen family, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE is a Tiger Lake-H part from the Core 11th Gen family. Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, but the die sizes differ: the i9-13900TE measures 257 mm², while the i7-11850HE is smaller at 190 mm².

The core configurations diverge substantially. The i9-13900TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, whereas the i7-11850HE has 8 cores and 16 threads. This tripling of core count is a major structural difference, yet the benchmark deltas are only around 6%, which indicates that the i7-11850HE's individual cores are highly efficient relative to the i9-13900TE's many cores, or that the workloads are not fully scaling across the extra cores. The base clock of the i9-13900TE is 1000 MHz, which is notably lower than the i7-11850HE's 2100 MHz base clock. However, the i9-13900TE boosts to 5.00 GHz, exceeding the i7-11850HE's 4.70 GHz boost clock.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 2 MB per core on the i9-13900TE versus 1.25 MB per core on the i7-11850HE. The L3 cache is 36 MB shared on the i9-13900TE, compared to 24 MB shared on the i7-11850HE. These larger caches on the i9-13900TE likely contribute to its performance edge, especially in multi-threaded scenarios.

Memory support diverges as well. The i9-13900TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i7-11850HE supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the i7-11850HE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i9-13900TE. The i9-13900TE supports ECC memory, whereas the i7-11850HE does not. PCIe capabilities also differ: the i9-13900TE offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-11850HE provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics are present on both, but they are different implementations: the i9-13900TE uses UHD Graphics 770, while the i7-11850HE uses UHD Graphics (Xe-LP). The sockets are incompatible, with the i9-13900TE on Intel Socket 1700 and the i7-11850HE on Intel BGA 1787, reflecting their desktop versus mobile market segments. The i9-13900TE was released on 2023-01-03, while the i7-11850HE came out on 2021-08-02. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

From the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core i9-13900TE is the clear performance leader in this comparison, winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests with margins between 6.1% and 6.2%. The i7-11850HE does not win a single benchmark in the database. For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the i9-13900TE is the stronger choice.

However, the data also reveals that the i9-13900TE's advantage is modest relative to its core count advantage. With 24 cores versus 8 cores, one might expect a much larger multi-core lead, but the benchmark deltas stay around 6%. This suggests that the i7-11850HE's higher base clock (2.10 GHz versus 1.00 GHz) and its Tiger Lake architecture are doing significant work to keep it competitive. The i7-11850HE also has a lower average benchmark score of 5095 versus 5342, but both sit in the 60th percentile of all CPUs.

The i7-11850HE has its own merits, particularly for mobile applications. It is a BGA 1787 part with a 35 W TDP, and its memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is recorded, whereas the i9-13900TE does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure. The i7-11850HE also has Geekbench scores in the database (8576 multicore, 1984 singlecore), which the i9-13900TE lacks, making the i7-11850HE a more thoroughly characterized part in some respects.

The i7-11850HE is listed with a launch MSRP of $400. Both processors share a 35 W TDP, a 10 nm process node, and dual-channel memory support. The choice between them depends on whether the user needs the higher multi-core performance of the i9-13900TE or the mobile form factor of the i7-11850HE. The data does not show a scenario where the i7-11850HE outperforms the i9-13900TE in the tested benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across numerous specification fields. The i9-13900TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i7-11850HE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock is 1.00 GHz on the i9-13900TE versus 2.10 GHz on the i7-11850HE. The boost clock is 5.00 GHz on the i9-13900TE versus 4.70 GHz on the i7-11850HE. The socket is Intel Socket 1700 for the i9-13900TE and Intel BGA 1787 for the i7-11850HE.

The architecture is Raptor Lake for the i9-13900TE and Tiger Lake for the i7-11850HE. The die size is 257 mm² for the i9-13900TE and 190 mm² for the i7-11850HE. L2 cache is 2 MB per core on the i9-13900TE versus 1.25 MB per core on the i7-11850HE. L3 cache is 36 MB shared on the i9-13900TE versus 24 MB shared on the i7-11850HE.

Memory support differs: the i9-13900TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11850HE supports DDR4 only. The i9-13900TE has ECC memory support, the i7-11850HE does not. PCIe is Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the i9-13900TE, Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the i7-11850HE. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the i9-13900TE and UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) on the i7-11850HE. The market segment is Desktop for the i9-13900TE and Mobile for the i7-11850HE. Release dates are 2023-01-03 for the i9-13900TE and 2021-08-02 for the i7-11850HE.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i9-13900TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i9-13900TE scores 18472, while the i7-11850HE scores 17402, giving the i9-13900TE a 6.1% lead.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i9-13900TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-11850HE supports only DDR4.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i7-11850HE wins?

A: In the recorded head-to-head data, the i7-11850HE wins zero benchmarks. The i9-13900TE wins all six Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the TDP of both processors?

A: Both the i9-13900TE and the i7-11850HE have a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The i9-13900TE supports ECC memory, while the i7-11850HE does not.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13900TE wins in every Cinebench test recorded in the head-to-head comparison. Its largest margins are 6.2% in Cinebench R15 multicore and Cinebench R20 multicore, with the remaining tests showing 6.1% leads. This makes the i9-13900TE the preferred choice for workloads that are heavily reliant on Cinebench-style rendering performance, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. Its 24 cores, larger L2 and L3 caches, and support for DDR5 memory provide a structural foundation for this advantage.

The Intel Core i7-11850HE, while not winning any head-to-head tests, has distinct strengths in other areas. It is a mobile processor with a BGA 1787 socket, making it suitable for compact, mobile systems where the i9-13900TE's desktop Socket 1700 cannot be used. The i7-11850HE has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a specification absent from the i9-13900TE's entry. It also has Geekbench scores in the database (8576 multicore, 1984 singlecore), which the i9-13900TE lacks, meaning the i7-11850HE has a broader benchmark profile in the database.

From the nearest rivals data, the i9-13900TE is comparable to the Intel Core i9-10900KF (0.5% delta) and AMD EPYC 7281 (0.5% delta), while the i7-11850HE sits near the AMD EPYC 7262 (-0.3% delta) and Intel Core i9-7900X (-0.5% delta). The i7-11850HE also has a launch MSRP of $400, a figure not listed for the i9-13900TE. For users needing a mobile processor with a 35 W TDP and ECC support is not a requirement, the i7-11850HE is the only viable option in this pairing. For users who can accommodate a desktop socket and want maximum Cinebench performance, the i9-13900TE is the clear winner, with a 6.1% to 6.2% advantage across all tested workloads.