Intel Core i7-7740X vs Intel Core i7-9750HF Comparison

This comparison pits a 6-core/12-thread Coffee Lake mobile processor against a 4-core/8-thread Kaby Lake-X desktop chip. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the 9750HF dominates Cinebench across all versions, while the 7740X takes Geekbench. Both land at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, with average scores separated by a razor-thin margin—2662 for the mobile part versus 2648 for the desktop part. That near-identical average masks very different behavior depending on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-9750HF is the consistent winner in rendering and 3D content creation workloads. It takes all six Cinebench tests—R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. The margins are uniform, ranging from 5.1% to 5.5% across every Cinebench variant. This suggests an architectural advantage that scales evenly, not a workload-specific quirk. If your primary tools are Cinema 4D, Blender, or similar renderers that use Cinebench-style physics, the 9750HF is the pick.

The i7-7740X wins decisively in Geekbench. Its multi-core score of 5246 beats the 9750HF's 4844 by 7.7%, and the single-core gap is even larger at 15.7% (1619 versus 1365). Geekbench stresses memory latency, branch prediction, and integer/floating-point operations differently than Cinebench. The desktop chip's higher base clock of 4.30 GHz, combined with a 4.60 GHz boost, gives it a raw speed advantage that Geekbench rewards. For general productivity, office work, and everyday multitasking, the 7740X feels snappier.

The win count is 6-2 in favor of the 9750HF, but that statistic is misleading. The Geekbench losses are substantial—especially the 15.7% single-core deficit—while the Cinebench wins are all in the narrow 5% band. Neither chip is universally better; the right choice depends entirely on which benchmark suite reflects your actual workflow.

Architecture Differences

The 9750HF uses Coffee Lake-HR, a 14 nm mobile architecture with a 45 W TDP. It runs 6 cores and 12 threads at a 2.60 GHz base clock, boosting to 4.50 GHz. The die size is 149 mm², and it shares 12 MB of L3 cache across all cores. It fits the Intel BGA 1440 socket, is soldered to the motherboard, and has no unlocked multiplier. The memory bus is dual-channel DDR4 with a measured bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. It is marked end-of-life, with a release date of April 2019.

The 7740X uses Kaby Lake-X, also on a 14 nm process, but with a drastically different configuration. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a 4.30 GHz base clock, and a 4.60 GHz boost. The TDP is 112 W—nearly 2.5 times higher than the mobile chip. It uses the Intel Socket 2066 and supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, though the bandwidth figure is not listed in the data. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared. It has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is possible, and it remains in active production. Its release date is June 2017, making it nearly two years older.

Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) cache sizes, the same DDR4 memory type, PCIe Gen 3 support, and no integrated graphics. The process node is identical at 14 nm from Intel's foundry. The core count difference is the primary driver of multi-threaded performance, while the clock speed difference and memory channel count drive single-threaded and memory-sensitive results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. In R15 multi-core, the 9750HF scores 876 against the 7740X's 831, a 5.4% advantage. Single-core R15 shows 123 versus 117, a 5.1% edge. R20 multi-core repeats the pattern: 3652 versus 3465, again 5.4%. The single-core R20 gap widens slightly to 5.5% (515 versus 488). R23 multi-core gives 8696 versus 8250, another 5.4% win. Single-core R23 is 1227 versus 1164, a 5.4% margin. The uniformity is striking—the 9750HF's extra two cores provide a steady 5% throughput advantage in Cinebench, regardless of the version or thread count.

The Geekbench results flip the script. Multi-core favors the 7740X at 5246 versus 4844, a 7.7% lead. Single-core is the largest gap in the entire comparison: 1619 versus 1365, a 15.7% deficit for the 9750HF. This is a massive difference. The 7740X's base clock of 4.30 GHz is 1.70 GHz higher than the 9750HF's 2.60 GHz base. Even accounting for boost clocks (4.60 versus 4.50 GHz), the desktop chip sustains higher frequencies due to its 112 W power budget. Geekbench's workload pattern rewards that sustained frequency, while the mobile chip's higher core count cannot compensate.

Consider the practical implications. A 15.7% single-core deficit means the 9750HF feels noticeably slower in web browsing, spreadsheet work, and any application that is not heavily multi-threaded. Conversely, the 5.4% Cinebench lead means the 7740X will lag in video rendering, 3D modeling, and batch photo processing. The average benchmark score difference is only 0.5% (2648 versus 2662), which confirms these are evenly matched processors overall, but the distribution of wins is heavily workload-dependent.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The i7-9750HF wins every multi-core Cinebench test. It leads by 5.4% in R15 (876 versus 831), R20 (3652 versus 3465), and R23 (8696 versus 8250). The two extra cores provide a consistent advantage across all render workloads.

Q: Why does the i7-7740X win Geekbench by such a large margin?

A: The 7740X has a 4.30 GHz base clock versus 2.60 GHz on the 9750HF, and a 112 W TDP allows sustained high frequencies. This results in a 7.7% multi-core lead and a 15.7% single-core lead in Geekbench.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable overall?

A: Yes. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 2662 for the 9750HF and 2648 for the 7740X. Both rank at the 50th percentile among all CPUs. The differences are entirely workload-specific.

Q: Which CPU is better for gaming?

A: The data does not include gaming benchmarks. However, the 7740X's 15.7% single-core advantage in Geekbench suggests it may handle frame-time-sensitive tasks better, but this cannot be confirmed from the available test results.

Q: Can the i7-7740X be overclocked?

A: Yes. The multiplier is unlocked on the 7740X. The 9750HF has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the traditional sense.

Q: Which CPU uses less power?

A: The 9750HF has a 45 W TDP, while the 7740X is rated at 112 W. The mobile chip draws less than half the power, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems.

The Verdict

Pick the i7-9750HF if your work is dominated by multi-threaded rendering and content creation. The data shows a steady 5.4% lead across all Cinebench versions, which translates to faster exports, quicker previews, and shorter render times in Cinema 4D and similar software. The 45 W TDP also means it can run in a laptop or a low-profile chassis without demanding a large cooler. Its end-of-life status is a concern for new builds, but the performance is proven.

Pick the i7-7740X if you prioritize general responsiveness and single-threaded applications. The 15.7% Geekbench single-core win is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and the 7.7% multi-core Geekbench win shows it is no slouch in parallel tasks that fit within its 4-core/8-thread design. The unlocked multiplier and active production status make it more future-proof for overclocking. The 112 W TDP requires a capable cooling solution, but for a desktop workstation, that is a minor consideration.

Do not pick either if your workloads are evenly split between rendering and general productivity—the average scores are too close to make a meaningful difference. The 0.5% average score gap is negligible. Instead, choose based on platform: the 9750HF is for mobile or compact systems on BGA 1440, while the 7740X is for socket 2066 desktops with quad-channel memory support. Let the motherboard and chassis dictate the decision.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9750HF | Intel Core i7-7740X |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 112 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-HR | Kaby Lake-X |

| Generation | Core i7 (Coffee Lake-HR) | Core i7 (X-Series 7th Gen) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 149 mm² | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | Not listed |

| Multplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | April 2019 | June 2017 |

| Part Number | SRG1T | Not listed |