Intel Core i7-7800X vs Intel Core i9-9880H Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data shows a clean sweep: the Intel Core i9-9880H wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i7-7800X. The i9-9880H leads by margins ranging from 1.5% to 3.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench tests, with no benchmark favoring the i7-7800X. The i9-9880H achieves this despite being a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, while the i7-7800X is a desktop part rated at 140W.

The database places both processors at the 54th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier. The average benchmark score for the i7-7800X is 3333, while the i9-9880H averages 3433, a 3% gap in aggregate. For a user choosing between these two end-of-life parts, the i9-9880H is the stronger performer in every measured workload, but the i7-7800X offers a desktop socket with quad-channel memory support and an unlocked multiplier, which may matter for specific platform requirements.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture families and target different market segments. The i7-7800X uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process node, built for the desktop segment on Intel Socket 2066. It belongs to the Core i7 X-Series 7th Generation lineup. The i9-9880H uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR variant, also on a 14 nm node, but it is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1440, belonging to the Core i9 Coffee Lake-HR generation.

Core counts differ significantly. The i7-7800X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads. This two-core advantage for the mobile chip explains part of its multi-threaded lead. Clock speeds tell a more complex story: the i7-7800X has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz compared to 2.30 GHz for the i9-9880H, but the i9-9880H boosts higher at 4.80 GHz versus 4.00 GHz for the desktop chip. The higher boost clock helps the mobile processor overcome its lower base frequency in single-threaded workloads.

Cache layouts differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 1 MB per core on the i7-7800X versus 256 KB per core on the i9-9880H. The shared L3 cache is 8.25 MB on the i7-7800X and 16 MB on the i9-9880H. The i9-9880H also has a smaller die size at 149 mm², while the i7-7800X has no recorded die size. Memory support diverges: the i7-7800X uses quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the i9-9880H uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. The i7-7800X has 28 PCIe Gen 3 lanes on the CPU, while the i9-9880H has Gen 3 PCIe with no lane count recorded. The i9-9880H includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, while the i7-7800X has no integrated graphics. The i7-7800X has an unlocked multiplier, the i9-9880H does not. Neither supports ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows the i9-9880H winning every test, so the practical question is where the i7-7800X retains platform advantages rather than raw performance. The i7-7800X offers quad-channel memory, which provides 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 42.7 GB/s for the i9-9880H. Workloads that are highly sensitive to memory bandwidth, such as certain scientific computing or data processing tasks, may benefit from the desktop platform despite the CPU's lower core count and benchmark scores.

The i7-7800X also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the i9-9880H is locked. Overclocking could narrow or eliminate the performance gap in scenarios where the user can push the 140W desktop part beyond its stock 4.00 GHz boost clock. The i7-7800X uses a desktop socket (Intel Socket 2066), which allows for upgrade paths and custom cooling solutions, whereas the i9-9880H is soldered to a mobile board.

The i9-9880H wins on raw compute in every recorded benchmark. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration with a 4.80 GHz boost clock delivers 3.4% higher multi-core scores and 3.4 to 3.7% higher single-core scores in Cinebench tests. For users who need maximum CPU performance in a mobile form factor with a 45W TDP, the i9-9880H is the clear choice. It also includes integrated graphics, making it a more self-contained solution, while the i7-7800X requires a discrete GPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-7800X has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The i7-7800X has a TDP of 140W, while the i9-9880H has a TDP of 45W.

Q: Does the i7-7800X support overclocking?

A: Yes, the i7-7800X has an unlocked multiplier. The i9-9880H does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The i7-7800X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the i9-9880H supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The i9-9880H includes UHD 630 integrated graphics. The i7-7800X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The i7-7800X has an average benchmark score of 3333, and the i9-9880H has an average benchmark score of 3433.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-9880H wins all eight head-to-head tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-9880H scores 1152 against 1113 for the i7-7800X, a 3.4% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i9-9880H scores 162 versus 156, a 3.7% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test shows 4803 for the i9-9880H against 4638 for the i7-7800X, again a 3.4% difference. The R20 single-core test shows 677 versus 654, a 3.4% gap.

Cinebench R23 continues the pattern: multi-core scores are 11437 for the i9-9880H and 11044 for the i7-7800X, a 3.4% lead, while single-core scores are 1614 versus 1559, also 3.4%. Geekbench multi-core shows 6248 for the i9-9880H and 6144 for the i7-7800X, a 1.7% margin, which is the smallest difference in the dataset. Geekbench single-core shows 1372 versus 1352, a 1.5% gap, the narrowest of all tests.

The consistency of the margins is notable. The Cinebench tests all show 3.4% or 3.7% differences, while Geekbench tests show smaller gaps of 1.5% and 1.7%. This suggests the i9-9880H's advantage is most pronounced in Cinebench's rendering workloads, while the Geekbench tests, which include a broader mix of tasks, narrow the gap. The i7-7800X's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz may help it stay competitive in certain Geekbench sub-scores, but it is not enough to win any test.

The i9-9880H's 8-core configuration with 16 MB of L3 cache appears to provide a structural advantage over the i7-7800X's 6-core setup with 8.25 MB L3. Even with the desktop chip's higher base clock and quad-channel memory, the mobile chip's additional cores and larger shared cache produce consistent wins. The i9-9880H's 4.80 GHz boost clock also edges out the i7-7800X's 4.00 GHz boost, contributing to its single-core victories.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. Core count: 6 for the i7-7800X versus 8 for the i9-9880H. Threads: 12 versus 16. Base clock: 3.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz. Boost clock: 4.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. TDP: 140W versus 45W. Socket: Intel Socket 2066 versus Intel BGA 1440. Architecture: Skylake versus Coffee Lake. Codename: Skylake-X versus Coffee Lake-HR. Generation: Core i7 X-Series 7th Gen versus Core i9 Coffee Lake-HR.

Process node is identical at 14 nm from Intel for both. L1 cache is the same at 64 KB per core. L2 cache differs: 1 MB per core on the i7-7800X, 256 KB per core on the i9-9880H. L3 cache: 8.25 MB shared versus 16 MB shared. Die size: no record for the i7-7800X, 149 mm² for the i9-9880H. Memory bus: quad-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 76.8 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. PCIe: Gen 3 with 28 lanes on the i7-7800X, Gen 3 with no lane count recorded on the i9-9880H.

Integrated graphics: none on the i7-7800X, UHD 630 on the i9-9880H. Market segment: Desktop versus Mobile. Production status: both are end-of-life. Release dates: 2017-06-25 for the i7-7800X, 2019-04-22 for the i9-9880H. The i7-7800X has a launch MSRP of $383, while the i9-9880H has no recorded launch MSRP. Multiplier: unlocked on the i7-7800X, locked on the i9-9880H. Part numbers: SR3L4 for the i7-7800X, SRFD1 for the i9-9880H. Both support DDR4 memory and neither supports ECC. Both are manufactured by Intel.