Intel Core i7-1195G7 vs Intel Core i7-8850H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1195G7 and Intel Core i7-8850H represent two distinct generations of Intel mobile engineering, one a low-power Tiger Lake-U part and the other a higher-TDP Coffee Lake-H chip. Benchmark data reveals a fascinating split: the newer i7-1195G7 dominates in single-threaded workloads and most Cinebench tests despite having fewer cores, while the older i7-8850H counters with a significant win in Geekbench multi-core testing. This comparison showcases how architectural efficiency can offset core-count disadvantages in some workloads, yet raw core count still matters in others.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8850H tops out at 4.30 GHz. The i7-1195G7 also starts from a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the i7-8850H.

Q: How many cores and threads does each CPU offer?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads, giving it a 50% core and thread advantage over the Intel Core i7-1195G7, which offers 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 has an average benchmark score of 2638, placing it 0.1% behind the Intel Core i9-8950HK (2641). The Intel Core i7-8850H scores 2604 on average, which is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE (2596). Both CPUs sit at the 49th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which CPU wins in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 wins decisively, scoring 1584 versus 1300 for the i7-8850H. This represents a 21.8% lead, the largest single delta between the two processors in any benchmark.

Q: Does the i7-8850H win any benchmark comparisons?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-8850H wins only one of the eight head-to-head tests: Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 4765 versus 4248 for the i7-1195G7, a 10.8% advantage.

Q: What is the process node for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-8850H uses the older 14 nm node. The i7-1195G7 also has a slightly smaller die size at 144 mm² compared to 149 mm² for the i7-8850H.

Architecture Differences

The two processors stem from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1195G7 is a Tiger Lake-U part built on Willow Cove cores, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process. Its die size is 144 mm², and it features a per-core L1 cache of 80 KB and a per-core L2 cache of 1.25 MB. The shared L3 cache is 12 MB.

In contrast, the Intel Core i7-8850H is a Coffee Lake-H chip using older Skylake-derived cores, fabricated on the 14 nm node with a die size of 149 mm². Its cache hierarchy is smaller per core: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, though it also shares a 12 MB L3 cache.

The Tiger Lake part integrates Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the Coffee Lake chip uses the older UHD 630 graphics. Memory support differs as well, with the i7-1195G7 supporting DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, while the i7-8850H is limited to DDR4. The i7-1195G7 also adds PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, a feature absent from the i7-8850H's specifications.

The power envelopes tell a different story: the i7-1195G7 is rated at 28W TDP, whereas the i7-8850H draws 45W. This 17W difference explains why the i7-8850H can support two additional physical cores. The i7-1195G7 uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the i7-8850H uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, making them physically incompatible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent pattern across Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-1195G7 scores 887 against 857 for the i7-8850H, a 3.5% win. Single-core R15 performance shows the i7-1195G7 ahead at 125 versus 120, a 4.2% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-1195G7 leads multi-core with 3697 versus 3574 (3.4% delta) and single-core with 521 versus 504 (3.4% delta).

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The i7-1195G7 posts 8803 in multi-core, beating the i7-8850H's 8511 by 3.4%. In single-core R23, the i7-1195G7 scores 1242 against 1201 for the i7-8850H, again a 3.4% delta.

The pattern breaks in Geekbench. The i7-8850H wins multi-core decisively, scoring 4765 versus 4248 for the i7-1195G7, a 10.8% advantage. However, Geekbench single-core flips dramatically: the i7-1195G7 scores 1584 versus 1300, a massive 21.8% lead that is the largest margin in any test.

What makes these results striking is that the i7-1195G7 wins seven of eight benchmarks despite having 33% fewer cores and a lower TDP. The i7-8850H's only victory comes in Geekbench multi-core, where its additional two cores and four threads appear to provide a meaningful advantage. In Cinebench tests, the newer architecture's higher clock speeds and improved IPC overcome the core deficit.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across nearly every major specification. The i7-1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-8850H offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for the i7-1195G7 and 2.70 GHz for the i7-8850H, with boost clocks of 5.00 GHz and 4.30 GHz respectively.

TDP differs substantially: the i7-1195G7 consumes 28W versus 45W for the i7-8850H. Sockets are incompatible, with the i7-1195G7 using BGA 1449 and the i7-8850H using BGA 1440. Process nodes are distinct at 10 nm for Tiger Lake and 14 nm for Coffee Lake, with die sizes of 144 mm² and 149 mm² respectively.

Cache configurations diverge in per-core allocation: the i7-1195G7 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while the i7-8850H has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Both share 12 MB of L3 cache. Memory support favors the i7-1195G7 with DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X options, versus DDR4 only for the i7-8850H. The i7-1195G7 includes PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes; the i7-8850H lists no PCIe specification.

Integrated graphics differ significantly: Iris Xe-LP G7 with 96 EU on the Tiger Lake part versus UHD 630 on the Coffee Lake chip. The i7-1195G7 has a launch MSRP of $426; no launch MSRP is listed for the i7-8850H. Release dates are also far apart, with the i7-1195G7 launching in May 2021 and the i7-8850H in April 2018.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture for most workloads: the Intel Core i7-1195G7 is the stronger processor. It wins seven of eight head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench test across R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants. Its single-core performance is particularly dominant, with a 21.8% lead in Geekbench single-core and consistent 3.4% to 4.2% margins in Cinebench single-core tests.

The i7-8850H's lone victory in Geekbench multi-core (10.8% ahead) suggests that applications heavily optimized for multiple threads and not reliant on the latest instruction sets could still favor the six-core part. The 6-core/12-thread configuration provides raw parallelism that the 4-core/8-thread i7-1195G7 cannot match in that specific workload.

For buyers prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness, the i7-1195G7 is the clear choice based on benchmark results. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock, 10 nm architecture, and 21.8% Geekbench single-core advantage make it superior for everyday tasks and lightly threaded applications. The i7-8850H remains relevant only for workloads that specifically reward its additional cores, as demonstrated by its Geekbench multi-core win, though even there the margin is narrow compared to the i7-1195G7's dominance elsewhere.

The average benchmark scores place the two CPUs nearly level, with the i7-1195G7 at 2638 and the i7-8850H at 2604, a difference of roughly 1.3%. Both sit at the 49th percentile of all CPUs, indicating similar overall positioning in the broader market. The i7-1195G7 achieves this parity with a 28W TDP versus 45W, making it the more efficient choice in addition to being the faster one in most tests.