Intel Core i7-7740X vs Intel Core i7-8850H Comparison

Intel Core i7-7740X and Intel Core i7-8850H are two very different Intel parts that happen to sit close in average benchmark scores. The 7740X is a desktop X-Series chip with a 50th percentile ranking, while the 8850H is a mobile Coffee Lake-H processor with a 49th percentile ranking. The data shows a clear split: the 8850H dominates in Cinebench workloads, but the 7740X takes a decisive lead in Geekbench, particularly in single-core tests. The 7740X achieves an average benchmark score of 2648, while the 8850H trails slightly with 2604.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the Geekbench single-core test. The Intel Core i7-7740X scores 1619, which is 24.5% higher than the 8850H's 1300. This is the largest margin in either direction across all tests. The 7740X also wins in Geekbench multi-core, scoring 5246 versus 4765 for the 8850H, a 10.1% advantage. These wins are significant because they show the desktop chip's architecture excels in workloads that favor raw per-thread execution and memory throughput.

The 8850H, however, wins every single Cinebench test in the suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 8850H scores 857 against 831 for the 7740X, a 3% difference. The single-core R15 test is closer, with 120 versus 117, a 2.5% margin. The pattern holds in R20: the 8850H leads multi-core with 3574 versus 3465 (3% ahead) and single-core with 504 versus 488 (3.2% ahead). In Cinebench R23, the 8850H again takes both tests, scoring 8511 versus 8250 in multi-core (3.1% ahead) and 1201 versus 1164 in single-core (3.1% ahead).

The overall win count is 6 for the 8850H and 2 for the 7740X, but the magnitude of those two Geekbench wins is substantial. The 7740X's 24.5% single-core Geekbench lead is more than eight times larger than any single Cinebench margin the 8850H manages. This means the average score difference of 44 points (2648 vs 2604) masks a very inconsistent performance profile between the two chips.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8850H is the clear winner for sustained multi-threaded rendering tasks. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, give it an edge in all three Cinebench versions tested. Whether you are looking at R15, R20, or R23, the 8850H consistently beats the 7740X by roughly 3% in both single-core and multi-core tests. This suggests that for workloads like 3D rendering, video encoding, or any task that scales across cores, the 8850H delivers more consistent performance.

The Intel Core i7-7740X takes the win in Geekbench, which often reflects different workload characteristics than Cinebench. The 7740X's 10.1% multi-core lead and 24.5% single-core lead in Geekbench indicate it handles certain types of integer and floating-point operations more efficiently. This makes it the better choice for applications that are sensitive to memory latency, per-core IPC in specific instruction sets, or that rely heavily on single-threaded performance outside of the Cinebench rendering engine.

The socket and platform differences reinforce the use-case split. The 7740X uses the Intel Socket 2066 platform with quad-channel DDR4 memory support, which can benefit memory-bandwidth-hungry applications. The 8850H uses Intel BGA 1440 and lacks a listed memory bus configuration, being designed for mobile systems where power efficiency is paramount. The 8850H has a 45W TDP, while the 7740X is rated at 112W, meaning the desktop chip consumes significantly more power to achieve its Geekbench superiority.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the choice is straightforward. If your primary workloads are Cinebench-style rendering tasks, the Intel Core i7-8850H is the better performer. It wins all six Cinebench tests, and while the margins are modest at 2.5% to 3.2%, they are consistent across every version of the benchmark. The 8850H also offers integrated UHD 630 graphics, which the 7740X lacks entirely, making it a more self-contained solution for systems without a discrete GPU.

If your work leans toward Geekbench-style benchmarks, the Intel Core i7-7740X is the superior part. The 24.5% single-core lead is massive, and the 10.1% multi-core lead is also substantial. The 7740X is also the only one of the two with an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking to potentially extend its lead further. It is a desktop part with a 112W TDP and quad-channel memory support, positioning it for high-performance desktop builds.

The data shows the 7740X sits at the 50th percentile and its nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2274G with a delta of 0.2%, while the 8850H sits at the 49th percentile with its nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE at 0.3%. Both chips are essentially average performers in their respective segments. Pick the 8850H for mobile or compact systems where rendering matters, and pick the 7740X for desktop systems where Geekbench-style performance and overclocking headroom are priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i7-7740X scores 1619 in Geekbench single-core, which is 24.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-8850H's score of 1300.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-8850H win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the 8850H wins all six Cinebench tests, including R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants, with margins ranging from 2.5% to 3.2%.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-7740X has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports overclocking?

A: The Intel Core i7-7740X has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it supports overclocking. The Intel Core i7-8850H does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-7740X has a TDP of 112W, while the Intel Core i7-8850H has a TDP of 45W.

Q: Which CPU includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-7740X has no integrated graphics listed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and are built for different platforms. The Intel Core i7-7740X uses the Kaby Lake architecture with the codename Kaby Lake-X, part of the Core i7 X-Series 7th Generation. It is manufactured on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The Intel Core i7-8850H uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the codename Coffee Lake-H, part of the Core i7 Coffee Lake-H generation. It is also on a 14 nm process, but its die size is listed at 149 mm², while the 7740X has no die size listed.

The 7740X has 4 cores with 8 threads, while the 8850H has 6 cores with 12 threads. The L3 cache differs significantly: the 7740X has 8 MB shared, while the 8850H has 12 MB shared. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The 7740X supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, while the 8850H supports DDR4 but has no memory bus configuration listed. The 7740X has PCIe Gen 3 support, while the 8850H has no PCIe information listed.

The 7740X lacks integrated graphics, while the 8850H includes UHD 630 integrated graphics. The 7740X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, whereas the 8850H does not. The 7740X is marked as Active in production, while the 8850H is End-of-life. The 7740X was released in June 2017, while the 8850H was released in April 2018. The 8850H has a part number of SR3YZ, while the 7740X has no part number listed.

Specification Differences

The core specifications that differ between the two processors are straightforward. The Intel Core i7-7740X has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8850H has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The 7740X has a TDP of 112W, while the 8850H has a TDP of 45W.

The socket types are entirely different: the 7740X uses Intel Socket 2066, while the 8850H uses Intel BGA 1440. The market segments are also different, with the 7740X being a desktop processor and the 8850H being a mobile processor. The 7740X has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the 8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the 7740X versus 12 MB shared on the 8850H.

The 7740X supports quad-channel memory, while the 8850H has no memory bus information. The 7740X has PCIe Gen 3, while the 8850H has no PCIe listing. The 7740X has no integrated graphics, while the 8850H has UHD 630. The 7740X has an unlocked multiplier, while the 8850H does not. The 7740X is Active in production, while the 8850H is End-of-life. The 7740X has a release date of June 2017, while the 8850H has a release date of April 2018. The 8850H has a die size of 149 mm², while the 7740X has no die size listed.