Intel Core i7-7700K vs Intel Core i7-8750H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two Intel processors. The Intel Core i7-8750H wins 12 of the 19 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-7700K takes 7. The margins tell the real story, however, and they are not uniform.

The most decisive victory for the i7-8750H comes in floating-point math, where it scores 22,179 against the 7700K's 18,741, a commanding 18.3% advantage. Integer math follows a similar pattern, with the mobile chip posting 35,629 versus 30,553, a 16.6% lead. These are substantial wins that reflect the extra physical cores in the 8750H. Random string sorting also favors the 8750H by 8.2% (18,622 vs 17,208), and data compression shows a 1.9% edge (139,418 vs 136,852). Data encryption is close, with the 8750H ahead by 1.3% (3,388 vs 3,343).

The 7700K fights back hard in single-threaded workloads. PassMark single-thread shows the 7700K at 2,708 versus 2,276 for the 8750H, a 16% gap that is the largest margin in either direction. Geekbench single-core tells a similar story: 1,547 vs 1,309, a 15.4% deficit for the mobile part. The 7700K also wins Geekbench multi-core, scoring 5,395 against 4,978, a 7.7% advantage that is surprising given the core count difference. Prime number finding goes to the 7700K by 12.9% (31 vs 27), and physics simulation favors it by 7.8% (655 vs 604). Extended instructions see the 7700K ahead by 3.4% (8,943 vs 8,637).

The Cinebench results are remarkably tight. Across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core, the 8750H wins every test by margins of 0.9% to 1.1%. In R15 multi-core, the 8750H scores 834 vs 825; in single-core, 117 vs 116. R20 multi-core shows 3,475 vs 3,439, and R23 multi-core shows 8,274 vs 8,189. These differences are within noise for most real-world workloads.

The average benchmark scores place the 8750H at 13,868 and the 7700K at 13,291. Both chips sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall despite their different strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests, but by very slim margins. In R15, it scores 834 vs 825 (1.1% ahead). In R20, it scores 3,475 vs 3,439 (1% ahead). In R23, it scores 8,274 vs 8,189 (1% ahead).

Q: How large is the single-threaded performance gap?

A: The 7700K is clearly ahead in single-threaded workloads. PassMark single-thread shows a 16% lead (2,708 vs 2,276), and Geekbench single-core shows a 15.4% lead (1,547 vs 1,309). In Cinebench single-core tests, however, the gap shrinks to about 1% or less in favor of the 8750H.

Q: Does the 8750H win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes. The 8750H leads by 18.3% in PassMark floating-point math (22,179 vs 18,741) and by 16.6% in PassMark integer math (35,629 vs 30,553). These are the two biggest wins in the entire comparison.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The 8750H has an average benchmark score of 13,868, while the 7700K sits at 13,291. That is a difference of roughly 4.3% in favor of the mobile chip, though both processors land at the same 68th percentile overall.

Q: Which chip wins in Geekbench?

A: The 7700K wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 5,395 vs 4,978 in multi-core (7.7% ahead) and 1,547 vs 1,309 in single-core (15.4% ahead). This is notable because the 8750H has more cores but still loses the multi-core test.

Q: Are these chips in the same performance class?

A: Yes. Both sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average scores differ by less than 5%, and their nearest rivals in the database are similar: the 8750H sits near the AMD EPYC 7443, and the 7700K sits near the Intel Core i7-1250U.

Architecture Differences

The 8750H is built on Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake-H codename, while the 7700K uses Kaby Lake. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node and built by Intel's own foundry. The core counts differ significantly: the 8750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 7700K has 4 cores and 8 threads. This explains the 8750H's advantage in math-heavy parallel workloads.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is 12 MB shared on the 8750H versus 8 MB shared on the 7700K. The larger L3 pool on the mobile chip gives it more headroom for data-heavy tasks.

Clock speeds favor the desktop part. The 7700K runs at a 4.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.50 GHz. The 8750H has a 2.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.10 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, the 8750H manages to win most multi-threaded benchmarks thanks to its additional cores and threads.

Power and platform targets are fundamentally different. The 8750H carries a 45 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, reflecting its mobile market segment. The 7700K has a 91 W TDP, uses the Intel Socket 1151, and is aimed at desktops. The 7700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the 8750H is locked. The 7700K also lists dual-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The 8750H lists DDR4 memory support without a specified bus or bandwidth figure in the database.

Integrated graphics differ slightly. The 8750H uses UHD 630, while the 7700K uses HD 630. Both support DDR4 memory and neither supports ECC memory. The 8750H has a die size of 149 mm², while no die size is recorded for the 7700K.

The release timeline shows the 7700K launched in January 2017, while the 8750H arrived in April 2018. The 8750H is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the 7700K is still listed as active.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear division of roles. The 8750H is the better choice for workloads that scale with core count and thread count, particularly floating-point math, integer math, and data compression. Its 18.3% lead in floating-point and 16.6% lead in integer math are the largest margins in the entire comparison. For rendering, video encoding, and scientific computation that leans on math throughput, the 8750H has the edge.

The 7700K is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness and legacy desktop use. Its 16% lead in PassMark single-thread and 15.4% lead in Geekbench single-core are decisive. It also wins Geekbench multi-core by 7.7%, which is unexpected given the 8750H's extra cores. For older games, lightly threaded applications, and tasks that depend on high clock speeds, the 7700K is the stronger part.

The Cinebench results are essentially a draw, with all tests falling within 1.1% or less. If a workload is represented by Cinebench, either chip will deliver nearly identical results.

The 8750H's 68th percentile and average score of 13,868 put it slightly ahead of the 7700K's 13,291, but both chips occupy the same performance tier. The deciding factor is not raw capability but workload type and platform constraints.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The 8750H uses 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 7700K uses 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the 8750H and 4.20 GHz for the 7700K. Boost clocks are 4.10 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively. TDP is 45 W for the mobile chip and 91 W for the desktop chip.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1440 for the 8750H, Intel Socket 1151 for the 7700K. Architecture differs between Coffee Lake and Kaby Lake, though both use the 14 nm process. L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the 8750H versus 8 MB shared on the 7700K. The 7700K has dual-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the 8750H lists only DDR4 support without bandwidth figures.

The 7700K has an unlocked multiplier and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The 8750H has neither of those features listed. Integrated graphics are UHD 630 versus HD 630. Market segments are Mobile for the 8750H and Desktop for the 7700K. Production status is End-of-life for the 8750H and Active for the 7700K. Part numbers are SR3YY and SR33A respectively.

Where Each One Wins

The 8750H wins in compute-heavy parallel tasks. Floating-point math at 22,179 versus 18,741 is its standout result, followed by integer math at 35,629 versus 30,553. Data compression (139,418 vs 136,852), random string sorting (18,622 vs 17,208), and data encryption (3,388 vs 3,343) also favor the mobile chip. PassMark multi-thread goes to the 8750H at 9,799 versus 9,627. All three Cinebench multi-core tests and all three Cinebench single-core tests go to the 8750H, albeit by margins of 1% or less. This makes it the choice for renderers, compilers, and any workload that can use six cores and twelve threads effectively.

The 7700K wins in single-threaded and legacy performance. PassMark single-thread at 2,708 versus 2,276 is its biggest margin, and Geekbench single-core at 1,547 versus 1,309 reinforces that strength. Geekbench multi-core goes to the 7700K at 5,395 versus 4,978, which is notable because it wins a multi-core test despite having fewer cores. Prime number finding (31 vs 27), physics simulation (655 vs 604), and extended instructions (8,943 vs 8,637) all favor the desktop chip. For older software, high-frequency gaming, and applications that rely on a single fast core, the 7700K is the better pick.

The overall win count favors the 8750H at 12 wins versus 7, but the magnitude of the 7700K's single-threaded victories makes it a serious contender for desktop users who value responsiveness over raw throughput.