Intel Core i7-8700T vs Intel Core i7-9750HF Comparison

Intel Core i7-9750HF and the Intel Core i7-8700T are two six-core, twelve-thread Coffee Lake parts that target different platforms—mobile versus desktop—yet their benchmark results reveal a striking similarity in raw compute performance. The data shows a near-total dead heat in most rendering workloads, with the 9750HF taking a narrow lead in single-core Geekbench while the 8700T counters with a more substantial advantage in Geekbench multi-core. Both processors sit at the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database, making them mid-pack performers with distinct platform trade-offs rather than clear performance winners.

FAQ

Q: How close are the two CPUs in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The difference is negligible. The 8700T scores 8698, while the 9750HF scores 8696, a delta of just -0.1% in favor of the 8700T.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock, and does it matter?

A: The 9750HF has a 4.50 GHz boost clock versus 4.00 GHz for the 8700T. This likely contributes to its 1.6% lead in Geekbench single-core (1365 vs 1343), though in Cinebench R20 single-core both score exactly 515.

Q: Is the 8700T significantly better in multi-threaded workloads?

A: Not in Cinebench, where both are essentially tied (R15: 876 vs 876; R20: 3653 vs 3652; R23: 8698 vs 8696). However, in Geekbench multi-core the 8700T wins decisively by 6.3% (5168 vs 4844).

Q: What are the primary platform differences between these two chips?

A: The 9750HF is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1440 with a 45W TDP and no integrated graphics, while the 8700T is a desktop part on Socket 1151 with a 35W TDP and UHD Graphics 630.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory and PCIe specifications?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3. The 8700T explicitly lists 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 9750HF lists the same generation without a lane count.

Q: Which CPU has more cache?

A: They are identical in cache layout: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same 14 nm process node and Coffee Lake architecture, with the 9750HF using the Coffee Lake-HR codename and the 8700T using the standard Coffee Lake codename. The die sizes are nearly identical at 149 mm² for the 9750HF and 154 mm² for the 8700T, though both are built by Intel.

The core configurations match exactly: six physical cores, twelve threads, with base clocks of 2.60 GHz (9750HF) and 2.40 GHz (8700T). The boost clocks differ more substantially, with the 9750HF reaching 4.50 GHz compared to 4.00 GHz for the 8700T. This clock advantage is offset by the TDP envelope, where the mobile part consumes 45W versus 35W for the desktop chip—a significant difference for sustained workloads in constrained chassis.

Cache hierarchies are identical across both chips, with per-core L1 and L2 allocations and a shared 12 MB L3 pool. Memory support is also the same: dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s theoretical bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, preventing user overclocking.

The socket and market segment are the defining architectural differences. The 9750HF uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile package, and is classified under the Mobile segment. The 8700T uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop socket, and is classified under Desktop. The 8700T also includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the 9750HF lists no integrated graphics at all—a notable feature gap for systems that might need display output without a discrete GPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusual picture: four wins for each processor, but the margins tell the real story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both score exactly 876, producing a zero delta and a nominal win for the 9750HF. The same occurs in Cinebench R15 single-core, where both hit 123. These are perfect ties, providing no differentiation.

Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the 8700T a single-point victory (3653 vs 3652), while single-core R20 is another exact tie at 515. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: the 8700T wins multi-core by two points (8698 vs 8696) and single-core by one point (1228 vs 1227, a -0.1% delta). In these rendering workloads, the two CPUs are functionally interchangeable, with differences well within run-to-run variance.

The Geekbench results break the deadlock. The 8700T takes a commanding 6.3% lead in multi-core, scoring 5168 against the 9750HF's 4844. This is the largest performance gap in the entire comparison and suggests the desktop part handles mixed-threaded workloads more effectively despite its lower boost clock. Conversely, the 9750HF wins Geekbench single-core by 1.6% (1365 vs 1343), aligning with its higher 4.50 GHz boost ceiling.

Netting out, the 9750HF wins four tests and the 8700T wins four tests. However, three of the 9750HF's wins are zero-delta ties, while two of the 8700T's wins are also zero-delta ties. The real differentiators are the 8700T's 6.3% multi-core Geekbench advantage and the 9750HF's 1.6% single-core Geekbench advantage.

The Verdict

The data points to a platform decision rather than a performance decision. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23—both single and multi-core—the two processors produce scores that are either identical or differ by a single point. No rendering workload shows a meaningful advantage for either chip. The 9750HF's higher boost clock does not translate into Cinebench wins, and the 8700T's lower TDP does not hold it back.

The Geekbench results are the only clear signal. The 8700T's 6.3% multi-core lead is substantial and indicates better sustained performance across diverse threaded tasks, likely aided by its desktop power delivery and thermal headroom at 35W. The 9750HF counters with a 1.6% single-core lead, which is modest but consistent with its clock advantage.

For a system builder choosing between these, the 8700T is the stronger choice for mixed workloads and any scenario where Geekbench multi-core correlates with real-world responsiveness. The 9750HF offers a slight single-core edge but requires a mobile platform and brings no integrated graphics, meaning a discrete GPU is mandatory. Given that both chips are end-of-life and occupy the same 50th percentile, the 8700T's Geekbench multi-core performance and desktop socket flexibility make it the data-supported pick for most use cases. The 9750HF is only preferable when the single-core Geekbench lead is prioritized and the mobile BGA package is a required form factor.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9750HF | Intel Core i7-8700T |

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

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45W | 35W |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-HR | Coffee Lake |

| Die Size | 149 mm² | 154 mm² |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 630 |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Release Date | 2019-04-22 | 2018-04-01 |

| Part Number | SRG1T | SR3WX |

All other specifications—cores, threads, cache sizes, memory support, memory bandwidth, ECC support, process node, and unlocked multiplier status—are identical between the two processors. The 9750HF is the newer part by roughly a year, but both are end-of-life in production status.