Intel Core i7-1250U vs Intel Core i7-8750H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U wins decisively. It scores 1574 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 25.8% ahead of the Intel Core i7-8750H's 1168. This gap is consistent across other single-threaded tests, including Geekbench single-core where the 1250U leads 1661 to 1309, a 21.2% advantage.

Q: Does the older Core i7-8750H win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 4 of the 19 head-to-head tests. Its most significant victories are in PassMark random string sorting (18622 vs 13593, a 37% lead) and PassMark extended instructions (8637 vs 6497, a 32.9% lead). It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (8274 vs 7069, a 17% lead) and PassMark data compression (139418 vs 119280, a 16.9% lead).

Q: How do the two chips compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Core i7-8750H has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 13868, compared to 13351 for the Core i7-1250U. Both processors sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning their overall standing is essentially equal despite their very different designs.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The Core i7-8750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads. Notably, they share the same thread count, but the 1250U achieves that with more physical cores (likely split between performance and efficiency cores given its Alder Lake architecture, though the database records the total core count).

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-1250U has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Core i7-8750H boosts to 4.10 GHz. The 1250U also has a much higher base clock figure recorded in the database at 1100.00 MHz, though this reflects its hybrid architecture's base frequency reporting rather than a direct comparison to the 8750H's 2.20 GHz base.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No, the Core i7-8750H is marked as end-of-life, while the Core i7-1250U is listed as active. The 8750H was released in April 2018, and the 1250U came later in February 2022.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of Intel's mobile lineup. The Core i7-8750H is built on Coffee Lake-H, a 14 nm design using the Intel BGA 1440 socket. The Core i7-1250U uses Alder Lake-U, fabricated on a 10 nm process and mounted on Intel BGA 1781. This generational leap explains most of the behavioral differences in the benchmark data.

The core configurations are notably different. The 8750H is a conventional 6-core, 12-thread part. The 1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads, which indicates a hybrid layout where not all cores contribute equally to thread count. The 1250U's L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core on the 8750H, and its L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB per core. Both chips share 12 MB of L3 cache, so the total cache hierarchy favors the newer part substantially.

The 1250U also carries a much lower TDP of 9 watts compared to the 8750H's 45 watts. This is a dramatic difference in power envelope, yet the 1250U still manages to win the majority of benchmarks. The integrated graphics differ as well: the 8750H uses UHD 630, while the 1250U ships with Iris Xe 96EU. Memory support also diverges, with the 8750H limited to DDR4 and the 1250U supporting both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The 1250U additionally supports PCIe Gen 4.

The die size for the 8750H is recorded at 149 mm², while no die size is listed for the 1250U. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The 8750H carries part number SR3YY, while the 1250U has no part number recorded.

The Verdict

The data tells a clear story for most workloads: the Core i7-1250U is the better processor for the vast majority of tasks. It wins 15 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, including sweeping the single-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, Geekbench, and PassMark. Its single-thread advantage is substantial, ranging from 15.8% in PassMark single-thread to 48.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core. This makes it the obvious choice for applications that rely on responsiveness, light-threaded workloads, and everyday use.

However, the 8750H is not without its strongholds. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 17%, PassMark data compression by 16.9%, PassMark extended instructions by 32.9%, and PassMark random string sorting by 37%. Users whose workloads lean on these specific tasks, particularly string sorting or extended instruction processing, may find the older chip better suited. The 8750H also shows a higher average benchmark score overall (13868 vs 13351), though both sit at the same 68th percentile.

For buyers choosing between a used 8750H laptop and a newer 1250U system, the 1250U is the stronger pick for general performance, especially given its 9-watt TDP versus 45 watts. The efficiency advantage is enormous, and it still delivers superior single-core and multi-core results in most tests. The 8750H remains relevant only for niche workloads where its specific strengths matter more than the 1250U's broad superiority.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8750H | Intel Core i7-1250U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base clock | 2.20 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 9 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel BGA 1781 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-H | Alder Lake-U |

| Process node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | 149 mm² | Not recorded |

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

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

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 4 |

| Integrated graphics | UHD 630 | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | April 2018 | February 2022 |

| Part number | SR3YY | Not recorded |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single-core results are where the 1250U establishes its dominance. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 1250U scores 226 against the 8750H's 117, a 48.2% lead that is the largest margin in any test. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 25.8% gap (1574 vs 1168), and Geekbench single-core shows a 21.2% gap (1661 vs 1309). Even in PassMark single-thread, where the margin is smallest at 15.8%, the 1250U still wins comfortably with 2703 to 2276.

The multi-core picture is more nuanced. The 1250U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 28.9% (1172.94 vs 834), Cinebench R20 multi-core by 12.8% (3983 vs 3475), and Geekbench multi-core by 13.8% (5777 vs 4978). It also wins PassMark multi-thread by 13.5% (11329 vs 9799) and PassMark integer math by 11.7% (40328 vs 35629). But the 8750H strikes back in Cinebench R23 multi-core with a 17% win (8274 vs 7069), which is one of the largest multi-core margins in the entire comparison.

The 8750H's other wins are concentrated in specific PassMark subtests. Random string sorting is its best result, 18622 versus 13593, a 37% advantage. Extended instructions follow at 32.9% (8637 vs 6497). Data compression is a 16.9% win (139418 vs 119280). These are meaningful for workloads like compression utilities and specialized instruction-heavy code.

The 1250U also shows strength in encryption and physics. PassMark data encryption is a 55.7% blowout (7642 vs 3388), the largest margin of any test in the comparison. PassMark physics is a 31.4% win (881 vs 604), and PassMark floating point math is a 16.7% win (26625 vs 22179). Prime number finding favors the 1250U by 53.4% (58 vs 27).

Overall, the head-to-head data shows a processor generation gap that favors the newer 1250U across most categories. The 8750H retains specific strengths in string handling, extended instructions, data compression, and one of the four Cinebench multi-core tests. Buyers should weigh those niche wins against the 1250U's broad superiority in single-threaded performance, encryption, physics, and most multi-core workloads.