Intel Core i7-8850H vs Intel Core i9-8950HK Comparison

Both processors are six-core, twelve-thread Coffee Lake-H mobile parts on the Intel BGA 1440 socket, built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a 149 mm² die. The Core i9-8950HK is the unlocked, higher-clocked sibling of the Core i7-8850H, carrying a 95 W TDP versus 45 W. Benchmark data shows a narrow but consistent victory for the i9 in most CPU-bound tests, while the i7 counters with a single notable win in Geekbench multi-core. Both CPUs sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 2641 for the i9 and 2604 for the i7.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-8950HK boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8850H reaches 4.30 GHz. The i9 also starts from a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz compared to the i7’s 2.70 GHz.

Q: Are both chips built on the same architecture and process node?

A: Yes. Both are Coffee Lake-H parts on Intel’s 14 nm process, with the same 149 mm² die size. They share the same L1 cache of 64 KB per core, L2 cache of 256 KB per core, and a 12 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for the Core i7-8850H?

A: The i7 wins Geekbench multi-core by a margin of 3.9%, scoring 4765 versus the i9’s 4577. This is the only benchmark out of eight where the i7 comes out ahead.

Q: How consistent is the Core i9-8950HK’s lead in Cinebench tests?

A: The i9 wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 3.1% to 3.3%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9 scores 8777 against the i7’s 8511, a 3.1% advantage.

Q: Do the two processors differ in their integrated graphics or memory support?

A: No. Both feature the UHD 630 integrated GPU and support DDR4 memory. Neither supports ECC memory, and both share the same Intel BGA 1440 socket.

Q: Is the Core i9-8950HK multiplier unlocked?

A: Yes, the i9-8950HK has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Core i7-8850H does not. This makes the i9 the overclockable option between the two.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if modest, overall win for the Intel Core i9-8950HK. It takes 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, plus Geekbench single-core. Its average benchmark score of 2641 is 1.4% higher than the i7’s 2604. For users running Cinebench-style workloads—rendering, multi-threaded productivity, or single-thread-heavy tasks—the i9 is the better pick.

The Intel Core i7-8850H is not without merit. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 4765 beats the i9 by 3.9%, suggesting that in certain synthetic multi-threaded scenarios, the i7’s lower TDP (45 W versus 95 W) may allow for more sustained performance under thermal constraints. That said, the i7 loses every other test, including Geekbench single-core by 1.4%. Users who prioritize Geekbench multi-core results or prefer a lower-power part might lean toward the i7, but the i9’s broader benchmark sweep makes it the default recommendation for maximum performance.

Neither chip can claim a dominant position in the broader market—both sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs. The i9’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-5820K, scores 2642, a 0% delta, while the i7-8850H’s closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE, scores 2596, putting the i7 0.3% ahead. The practical difference between these two Intel parts is small, but the i9’s consistent wins give it the edge.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i9-8950HK’s strongest showing comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 124 against the i7’s 120, a 3.3% lead. That pattern repeats across all Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 hits 884 versus 857, a 3.2% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 3686 for the i9 and 3574 for the i7, a 3.1% gap, and R20 single-core repeats that 3.2% margin with scores of 520 and 504. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the i9 8777 and the i7 8511, a 3.1% win, while R23 single-core shows 1239 versus 1201, another 3.2% margin.

Geekbench results tell a split story. In single-core, the i9 wins narrowly with 1318 against 1300, a 1.4% lead. But in multi-core, the tables turn decisively: the i7 scores 4765, beating the i9’s 4577 by 3.9%. This is the only benchmark where the i7 outperforms the i9, and it is the largest margin in either direction across all eight tests.

The pattern suggests that the i9’s higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.30 GHz) gives it an edge in short, single-threaded bursts and in Cinebench’s rendering workloads. The i7’s Geekbench multi-core victory, however, hints that the 45 W part may sustain multi-threaded throughput better in some scenarios, possibly due to thermal headroom or workload characteristics. The delta is small—just a few percent—but it is consistent and non-trivial for users chasing maximum scores.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in exactly four specification fields: base clock, boost clock, TDP, and multiplier lock. The Core i9-8950HK runs at a 2.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, while the Core i7-8850H runs at 2.70 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. This 0.20 GHz base-clock gap and 0.40 GHz boost-clock gap align with the i9’s benchmark advantages in most tests.

TDP is the most significant practical difference: the i9 is rated at 95 W, more than double the i7’s 45 W. This explains why the i9 can sustain higher clocks but also implies greater cooling requirements. The i9 also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the i7 is locked.

All other specifications are identical. Both have 6 cores and 12 threads, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 12 MB shared L3, DDR4 memory support, UHD 630 graphics, and the same Intel BGA 1440 socket. Both are end-of-life products released on the same date, share a 14 nm process and 149 mm² die, and lack ECC support. The part numbers differ (SRCKN for the i9, SR3YZ for the i7), but the underlying silicon is otherwise the same design.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are the same chip. Both use Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-H codename, and are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry. The die size is 149 mm² for both, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Neither has 3D V-Cache.

The only architectural distinction is the binning and feature set derived from it. The i9-8950HK is the higher-binned part, with a 4.70 GHz boost clock and an unlocked multiplier, positioning it as the enthusiast option. The i7-8850H is the lower-clocked, locked version, capped at 4.30 GHz. Both integrate the same UHD 630 graphics and support DDR4 memory.

Because the architecture, process node, and cache are identical, performance differences come entirely from clock speeds and power delivery. The i9’s 95 W TDP allows it to push higher clocks, while the i7’s 45 W TDP limits its ceiling. The Geekbench multi-core anomaly, where the i7 wins by 3.9%, cannot be explained by architecture—it likely reflects workload-specific thermal or power management behavior, but the data does not specify the cause.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-8950HK wins in every Cinebench test, including R15 multi-core (884 vs 857), R15 single-core (124 vs 120), R20 multi-core (3686 vs 3574), R20 single-core (520 vs 504), R23 multi-core (8777 vs 8511), and R23 single-core (1239 vs 1201). It also wins Geekbench single-core (1318 vs 1300). If your workload resembles Cinebench—CPU rendering, video encoding, or other multi-threaded compute—the i9 is the stronger choice, with margins of roughly 3% across the board.

The Intel Core i7-8850H wins exactly one benchmark: Geekbench multi-core, with a 4765 score versus 4577, a 3.9% advantage. This makes the i7 the surprising pick for users whose primary benchmark is Geekbench multi-core, or for those who value the 45 W TDP for thermal and battery considerations in a mobile chassis. The i7’s lower power draw could also make it easier to cool in thin laptops, though the data does not quantify this.

For single-threaded performance, the i9 is consistently ahead, albeit narrowly—1.4% in Geekbench and 3.2-3.3% in Cinebench. The i9’s unlocked multiplier adds overclocking potential, which could widen these gaps further, though no overclocked results are in the data. The i7’s only win is a statistical outlier in an otherwise uniform pattern, making the i9 the safer bet for most users. The i9 wins 7 of 8 tests, and its average score of 2641 exceeds the i7’s 2604, reinforcing its overall performance lead.