Intel Core i7-7820HQ vs Intel Core i7-9850HL Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850HL and Intel Core i7-7820HQ are both end-of-life mobile processors from Intel, but they represent different design philosophies within the same socket. The data shows a consistent performance advantage for the i7-9850HL across every benchmark recorded, though the margin is narrower than the core count difference might suggest. This analysis walks through the benchmark results, architectural differences, and specification gaps to determine which processor is better suited for specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-9850HL wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons. The largest single-core victory comes in Cinebench R15, where the i7-9850HL scores 95 against the i7-7820HQ’s 86, a 10.5% advantage. This pattern repeats across every single-core test, with the i7-9850HL leading by 10.3% in Cinebench R20 (397 vs 360) and 10.4% in Cinebench R23 (947 vs 858). These consistent margins indicate a clock-speed or architectural efficiency advantage, not a workload-specific artifact.

The multi-core results tell a similar story, albeit with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-9850HL scores 676 versus 613, a 10.3% lead. That exact 10.3% delta repeats in both Cinebench R20 (2819 vs 2555) and Cinebench R23 (6712 vs 6084). The uniformity of these deltas across different Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is stable and predictable, rather than scaling with workload intensity.

Notably, the i7-9850HL achieves these wins despite having a lower base clock (1900 MHz vs 2900 MHz) but a higher boost clock (4.10 GHz vs 3.90 GHz). The 10.3-10.5% advantage in both single and multi-threaded tests implies the boost clock advantage dominates the base clock deficit. The i7-9850HL also has two additional cores (6 vs 4) and four additional threads (12 vs 8), yet its multi-core lead is not proportionally larger than its single-core lead. This suggests the i7-7820HQ’s higher base clock helps it scale reasonably well in multi-threaded workloads, even with fewer cores.

Where Each One Wins

Given the i7-9850HL’s sweep of all six benchmarks, the "wins" category is straightforward: it wins everywhere. The single-core victories (95 vs 86 in R15, 397 vs 360 in R20, 947 vs 858 in R23) make it the better choice for lightly-threaded applications like older games, spreadsheet macros, or general desktop responsiveness. The multi-core wins (676 vs 613, 2819 vs 2555, 6712 vs 6084) extend that recommendation to rendering, video encoding, and other parallel workloads.

The i7-7820HQ’s only potential advantage is its higher base clock of 2.90 GHz versus 1.90 GHz. In sustained workloads where boost clocks cannot be maintained due to thermal or power limits, the higher base clock could theoretically provide more consistent performance. However, the benchmark data does not reflect this scenario — the i7-9850HL wins every recorded test, including multi-core Cinebench runs that typically stress sustained performance. The i7-7820HQ’s 45W TDP versus the i7-9850HL’s 25W TDP also suggests it has more thermal headroom, but again, the results show no situation where this translates into a benchmark victory.

For users prioritizing raw performance in any Cinebench-based workload, the i7-9850HL is the clear choice. The i7-7820HQ only makes sense if the system requires its specific feature set, such as DDR3 memory support, which the i7-9850HL lacks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The i7-9850HL uses Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR codename, while the i7-7820HQ uses Kaby Lake with the Kaby Lake-H codename. Both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, so the manufacturing process is identical. The die sizes differ, however: the i7-9850HL measures 149 mm², while the i7-7820HQ is smaller at 126 mm². This larger die accommodates the additional two cores and four threads.

Cache configurations also differ. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is 9 MB shared on the i7-9850HL versus 8 MB shared on the i7-7820HQ. That 1 MB difference is modest, but it aligns with the core count increase. The i7-9850HL also features UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-7820HQ has Intel HD Graphics 630 — both integrated GPUs, but from different generations.

The memory support is a notable architectural split. The i7-9850HL supports only DDR4 memory, while the i7-7820HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The i7-9850HL also has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, whereas the i7-7820HQ has no memory bandwidth figure recorded. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the i7-7820HQ specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-9850HL does not specify lane count.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is core count: the i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-7820HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. This 50% core increase is the primary driver of the multi-core benchmark advantage. Clock speeds differ in both directions: the i7-9850HL has a lower base clock (1900 MHz vs 2900 MHz) but a higher boost clock (4.10 GHz vs 3.90 GHz). The TDP also favors the i7-9850HL at 25W versus 45W, which is remarkable given its higher performance — it achieves better results while drawing less power.

The i7-9850HL has a larger L3 cache (9 MB vs 8 MB) and a larger die (149 mm² vs 126 mm²). Its integrated graphics are newer (UHD Graphics 630 vs HD Graphics 630). Memory support differs as noted: DDR4-only versus DDR3/DDR4. The i7-7820HQ has a recorded launch MSRP of $378, while the i7-9850HL has no launch MSRP listed. Both use the Intel BGA 1440 socket, are unlocked-multiplier-free, and are marked as end-of-life. The i7-9850HL has no release date recorded, while the i7-7820HQ was released on January 2, 2017.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL wins all three single-core Cinebench tests: 95 vs 86 in R15, 397 vs 360 in R20, and 947 vs 858 in R23. The deltas are 10.5%, 10.3%, and 10.4% respectively.

Q: How much better is the i7-9850HL in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-9850HL leads by 10.3% in all three multi-core Cinebench tests: 676 vs 613 in R15, 2819 vs 2555 in R20, and 6712 vs 6084 in R23.

Q: Does the i7-7820HQ have any benchmark wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 6 wins for the i7-9850HL and 0 wins for the i7-7820HQ across all six tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i7-7820HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i7-9850HL supports only DDR4, while the i7-7820HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The i7-9850HL has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i7-7820HQ has no bandwidth figure listed.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i7-9850HL has a TDP of 25W, while the i7-7820HQ has a TDP of 45W. The lower-TDP processor is also the faster one in all benchmarks.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the Intel Core i7-9850HL is the superior processor in every measured category. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, with consistent 10.3-10.5% margins across both single and multi-threaded tests. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration, larger 9 MB L3 cache, and higher 4.10 GHz boost clock combine to deliver better Cinebench scores than the older 4-core/8-thread i7-7820HQ, which peaks at 3.90 GHz.

The i7-9850HL achieves this while drawing nearly half the power — 25W TDP versus 45W — making it the better choice for thermally constrained mobile chassis. Its newer UHD Graphics 630 and 149 mm² die also indicate a more modern design. The i7-7820HQ’s only advantages are its higher base clock (2.90 GHz vs 1.90 GHz), DDR3 memory support, and a recorded launch MSRP of $378. For users who need DDR3 compatibility, the i7-7820HQ is the only option. For everyone else, the i7-9850HL’s benchmark dominance and lower power draw make it the clear pick.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the i7-9850HL scores 1941 versus 1940 for the i7-7820HQ, a 0.1% difference. Both rank in the 43rd-44th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are closely matched in aggregate performance. Yet the head-to-head results show the i7-9850HL winning every specific test, suggesting its advantage is consistent rather than averaged out. The i7-7820HQ’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 and Intel Core i3-10300, which bracket its performance. The i7-9850HL, meanwhile, sits just 0.2% behind the Xeon E3-1535M v5. For mobile users seeking the best Cinebench performance in this socket, the i7-9850HL is the data-backed recommendation.