Intel Core i7-6700T vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

Intel Core i7-9850HL vs Intel Core i7-6700T

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-9850HL wins every recorded comparison against the Intel Core i7-6700T. Across six Cinebench tests, the i7-9850HL posts a consistent lead of roughly 12.8% to 13.1%, while the i7-6700T never takes a single victory. The i7-9850HL also holds a slightly higher overall percentile ranking (44th versus 43rd), and its average benchmark score of 1941 edges out the 1918 of the i7-6700T. The i7-9850HL is the faster processor in this pairing, but the two chips serve different markets, one being a low-power mobile part and the other a lower-TDP desktop part, which shapes how those performance margins matter in practice.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9850HL wins decisively on every benchmark in the database. Looking at the head-to-head results, it leads the i7-6700T by 12.9% in Cinebench R15 multicore (676 versus 599) and by 13.1% in Cinebench R15 singlecore (95 versus 84). The margin narrows slightly in single-threaded tests, but the pattern holds across all three Cinebench versions: R20 multicore shows a 12.9% lead (2819 versus 2496), R20 singlecore shows a 12.8% lead (397 versus 352), R23 multicore shows a 12.9% lead (6712 versus 5943), and R23 singlecore shows a 12.9% lead (947 versus 839). The i7-9850HL also maintains a higher average benchmark score, 1941 versus 1918, and sits one percentile point higher in the global database ranking.

The i7-6700T has no recorded wins in any benchmark category. Its only advantage comes from its market segment: it is a desktop processor, whereas the i7-9850HL is a mobile part. For a desktop user, the i7-6700T offers a traditional Socket 1151 platform, which may be more familiar than the BGA 1440 socket of the i7-9850HL. However, in pure compute performance, the data shows no scenario where the i7-6700T comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The i7-9850HL is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR codename, while the i7-6700T uses Skylake. Both are fabricated on the same 14 nm process node at Intel, and both feature 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache differs: the i7-9850HL has 9 MB shared, while the i7-6700T has 8 MB shared. The die size is recorded for the i7-9850HL at 149 mm², while no die size is listed for the i7-6700T.

Core and thread counts diverge significantly. The i7-9850HL offers 6 cores and 12 threads, whereas the i7-6700T has 4 cores and 8 threads. This explains the consistent multicore advantage. Clock speeds also favor the i7-9850HL despite its lower base clock: it runs at 1900 MHz base and 4100 MHz boost, while the i7-6700T runs at 2800 MHz base and 3600 MHz boost. The higher boost clock of the i7-9850HL drives its single-core wins.

Memory support differs. The i7-9850HL supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-6700T supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower recorded bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both processors lack ECC memory support. PCIe is Gen 3 for both, though the i7-6700T is noted as having 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9850HL simply lists Gen 3. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-9850HL carries UHD Graphics 630, the i7-6700T has HD Graphics 530.

The i7-9850HL uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, while the i7-6700T uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket. The i7-6700T has a recorded release date of August 31, 2015, and a launch MSRP of $303, while the i7-9850HL has no release date or MSRP in the database. Both are end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results tell a consistent story of the i7-9850HL outperforming the i7-6700T by nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-9850HL scores 676 against 599, a 12.9% advantage. Singlecore in R15 shows 95 against 84, a 13.1% lead, the largest margin in any test. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the 12.9% figure with scores of 2819 and 2496. R20 singlecore shows a 12.8% lead, 397 versus 352. Cinebench R23 multicore again shows 12.9%, 6712 versus 5943, and R23 singlecore closes at 12.9%, 947 versus 839.

The consistency of these deltas, all falling between 12.8% and 13.1%, suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. The i7-9850HL benefits from two additional cores and four additional threads, as well as a 500 MHz higher boost clock. The i7-6700T, despite a higher base clock of 2800 MHz, cannot overcome the architectural and core-count disadvantage.

It is importantly the i7-6700T has Geekbench scores in the database, 3906 multicore and 1128 singlecore, but no corresponding Geekbench results are recorded for the i7-9850HL, so those cannot be compared directly. The six Cinebench tests, however, are complete for both processors and cover both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL wins every multicore test. It leads by 12.9% in Cinebench R15 (676 versus 599), R20 (2819 versus 2496), and R23 (6712 versus 5943).

Q: Is the i7-9850HL also faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: Yes. The i7-9850HL wins all three single-core tests: Cinebench R15 (95 versus 84, 13.1% lead), R20 (397 versus 352, 12.8% lead), and R23 (947 versus 839, 12.9% lead).

Q: How do their core counts compare?

A: The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-6700T has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i7-9850HL supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-6700T supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are they on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both use Intel's 14 nm process node. The i7-9850HL is Coffee Lake architecture, and the i7-6700T is Skylake.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-9850HL has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-6700T has 8 MB shared.

Specification Differences

The i7-9850HL and i7-6700T differ in several key specifications. Core count: 6 versus 4. Threads: 12 versus 8. Base clock: 1900 MHz versus 2800 MHz. Boost clock: 4100 MHz versus 3600 MHz. TDP: 25 W versus 35 W. Socket: Intel BGA 1440 versus Intel Socket 1151. Architecture: Coffee Lake versus Skylake. Process node is identical at 14 nm.

L3 cache: 9 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. Die size: 149 mm² for the i7-9850HL, not recorded for the i7-6700T. Memory support: DDR4 only versus DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 630 versus HD Graphics 530. Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop. Release date: not recorded for the i7-9850HL, August 31, 2015 for the i7-6700T. Launch MSRP: not recorded for the i7-9850HL, $303 for the i7-6700T. Part numbers: SRFEH for the i7-9850HL, SR2BUSR2L3 for the i7-6700T. Both have PCIe Gen 3, no ECC support, and locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-9850HL as the clear performance winner. It beats the i7-6700T in all six recorded Cinebench tests by margins between 12.8% and 13.1%, and it holds a higher average benchmark score (1941 versus 1918) and a higher global percentile (44th versus 43rd). Users needing maximum compute throughput, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, should choose the i7-9850HL based solely on these benchmark results.

The i7-6700T retains relevance only for its platform characteristics. It is a desktop processor on Socket 1151, which allows for a replaceable CPU on a standard motherboard. The i7-9850HL is a mobile BGA 1440 part, soldered and not upgradeable. The i7-6700T also supports DDR3 memory in addition to DDR4, which could be useful for legacy systems, and it has a recorded launch MSRP of $303, though pricing should not factor into a performance-based decision.

For a desktop build where the CPU must be socketed and replaceable, the i7-6700T is the only option between these two. For any scenario where raw compute performance matters, and especially for multi-threaded tasks where the 6-core/12-thread configuration shines, the i7-9850HL is the superior processor. The benchmark data is one-sided, and the i7-9850HL is the recommended choice for performance, with the caveat that its mobile socket limits it to systems designed around BGA 1440.