Intel Core i7-11850HE vs Intel Core i9-7900X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-7900X and Intel Core i7-11850HE occupy opposite ends of the hardware spectrum: one is a desktop HEDT processor from 2017, the other a mobile part from 2021. Despite this, their average benchmark scores sit within 0.5% of each other (5120 vs 5095), placing both at the 60th percentile among all CPUs. The data reveals a near-total split in workload dominance, with the i9-7900X winning seven of eight head-to-head tests while the i7-11850HE secures a single, decisive victory in Geekbench single-core.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-7900X wins every multi-threaded and most single-threaded Cinebench tests in the comparison. Its largest margin comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 8841 against 8576, a 3.1% advantage. Across all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), the i9-7900X leads in both multi-core and single-core runs, with deltas consistently at 1.6% or 1.7%. This pattern indicates that the desktop chip’s 10 cores and 20 threads provide a structural edge in rendering workloads, even when the per-core efficiency of the newer mobile silicon is superior.

The Intel Core i7-11850HE wins only Geekbench single-core, and it wins decisively. Its score of 1984 beats the i9-7900X’s 1437 by 27.6%. This is the single largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, dwarfing any advantage the i9-7900X manages elsewhere. The mobile chip’s higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs 4.50 GHz) and newer Tiger Lake architecture explain this outlier, but the fact that it does not translate into Cinebench single-core wins is telling: the i9-7900X still edges out the i7-11850HE in R15 single-core (251 vs 247), R20 single-core (1048 vs 1031), and R23 single-core (2496 vs 2456), all by 1.6%.

The split is therefore clear: for sustained multi-threaded rendering and legacy single-thread tests, the i9-7900X is the consistent winner; for a single, modern single-thread workload (Geekbench), the i7-11850HE is far ahead. No test shows the two within 1% of each other except the Cinebench multi-core results, where the i9-7900X’s margins are narrow but uniform.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras. The i9-7900X is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-X codename, using a 14 nm process node. It is a 7th generation Core i9 part from the X-Series, released in 2017, and is now end-of-life. The i7-11850HE uses the Tiger Lake architecture (Tiger Lake-H codename), a 10 nm process, and belongs to the Core 11th Gen series, released in 2021; it remains an active production part.

Core and cache layouts diverge sharply. The i9-7900X has 10 cores and 20 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 14 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-11850HE has 8 cores and 16 threads, with 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite having two fewer cores, the mobile chip carries 10 MB more L3 cache, which contributes to its single-thread efficiency.

The i7-11850HE also integrates graphics (UHD Graphics with Xe-LP architecture), while the i9-7900X has no integrated graphics. The desktop part compensates with a wider memory bus: quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, versus dual-channel DDR4 at 51.2 GB/s on the mobile chip. PCIe support differs too: the i9-7900X offers Gen 3 with 44 lanes, while the i7-11850HE provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Both support DDR4 memory and neither supports ECC.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test opens the comparison: the i9-7900X scores 1782 against 1753, a 1.7% lead. Single-core R15 follows a similar pattern: 251 vs 247, a 1.6% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i9-7900X again takes multi-core (7425 vs 7308, +1.6%) and single-core (1048 vs 1031, +1.6%). The same margin repeats in Cinebench R23 multi-core (17680 vs 17402) and single-core (2496 vs 2456), both at 1.6%.

Geekbench multi-core shows the i9-7900X’s best relative performance: 8841 vs 8576, a 3.1% win. This is the only test where the delta exceeds 2% in either direction, aside from the Geekbench single-core result. There, the i7-11850HE’s 1984 score crushes the i9-7900X’s 1437, producing a 27.6% swing. That single result flips the narrative entirely: in a workload that favors short, high-frequency bursts, the mobile chip is overwhelmingly faster.

The overall win count is 7–1 in favor of the i9-7900X, but the magnitude of the i7-11850HE’s single victory is greater than all seven of the i9-7900X’s wins combined (27.6% vs a cumulative ~11.4%). This means the average benchmark score tells a misleadingly close story: the two chips are statistically near-identical (0.5% apart), yet they achieve that parity through entirely different performance profiles.

Specification Differences

The table below isolates only the fields where the two processors differ, omitting identical attributes like DDR4 memory support, lack of ECC, and Intel as manufacturer.

| Specification | Intel Core i9-7900X | Intel Core i7-11850HE |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel BGA 1787 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-X | Tiger Lake-H |

| Generation | Core i9 (X-Series 7th Gen) | Core i7 (Tiger Lake-H) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | N/A | 190 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 14 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 44 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2017-06-25 | 2021-08-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $999 | $400 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SR3L2 | SRKWZ |

The TDP gap is the most dramatic: 140 W versus 35 W, a four-fold difference. The i9-7900X draws that power for its 10 cores and quad-channel memory controller; the i7-11850HE sips power for its 8 cores and dual-channel setup. The socket difference (2066 vs BGA 1787) confirms that one is replaceable and the other is soldered. The i9-7900X allows multiplier unlocking; the i7-11850HE does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-7900X has an average benchmark score of 5120, while the Intel Core i7-11850HE averages 5095. The i9-7900X leads by 0.5%, and both sit at the 60th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How large is the i7-11850HE’s win in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i7-11850HE scores 1984 versus 1437 for the i9-7900X, a 27.6% advantage. This is the largest delta in any test between the two processors.

Q: Does the i9-7900X win every Cinebench test?

A: Yes. The i9-7900X wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, each in multi-core and single-core). Its margins are 1.7% in R15 multi-core and 1.6% in every other Cinebench test.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i9-7900X has a TDP of 140 W, while the i7-11850HE has a TDP of 35 W. The desktop part consumes four times the power budget of the mobile part.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-11850HE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 14 MB on the i9-7900X. The mobile chip also has larger per-core L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (1.25 MB vs 1 MB) caches.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory bandwidth?

A: No. The i9-7900X offers quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-11850HE uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear decision rule based on workload. For multi-threaded rendering in Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the Intel Core i9-7900X wins every time, though by narrow margins (1.6% to 1.7%). Its 10 cores and 20 threads provide a small but consistent edge in these tests, and its Geekbench multi-core lead is more substantial at 3.1%. Users running sustained parallel workloads should choose the i9-7900X.

For single-threaded Geekbench performance, the Intel Core i7-11850HE is the overwhelming choice. Its 27.6% lead is not a marginal difference; it is a categorical advantage. The mobile chip achieves this with a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs 4.50 GHz), a newer 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture, and more cache per core. Anyone prioritizing modern single-thread responsiveness over multi-core rendering should pick the i7-11850HE.

The i9-7900X also wins the Cinebench single-core tests, albeit by 1.6%, so the i7-11850HE’s advantage is specific to Geekbench rather than universal. The i9-7900X is the safer pick for mixed workloads that include both rendering and general computing, given its 7–1 win count. However, the i7-11850HE’s far lower TDP (35 W vs 140 W), active production status, and integrated graphics make it the only viable option for mobile or power-constrained systems. The i9-7900X’s end-of-life status and quad-channel memory support suit a stationary desktop build; the i7-11850HE’s BGA socket and soldered design suit an integrated laptop platform. There is no all-around winner — the choice depends entirely on whether the priority is 10 cores with wide memory bandwidth or 8 cores with a massive single-thread spike.