Intel Core i7-9700F vs Intel Core i9-10900TE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-10900TE and Intel Core i7-9700F are both 14 nm desktop processors from Intel, yet they target different ends of the performance and efficiency spectrum. The i9-10900TE is a 10-core, 20-thread Comet Lake part with a 35 W TDP, while the i7-9700F is an 8-core, 8-thread Coffee Lake Refresh chip with a 65 W TDP. Benchmark data shows the i9-10900TE winning every head-to-head test, but the margin of victory and the architectural context reveal a more nuanced picture than a simple sweep.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-10900TE takes a clean sweep in the direct Cinebench comparisons, winning all six recorded tests. The largest margin comes in the single-core Cinebench R15 test, where the i9-10900TE scores 171 against the i7-9700F's 158, a delta of 8.2%. This is notable because the i7-9700F actually has a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz vs 4.50 GHz), yet the i9's newer architecture and higher thread count still deliver a single-core advantage.

In multi-core workloads, the i9-10900TE's lead is consistent but narrower in percentage terms. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the i9 at 1213 versus 1126 for the i7, a 7.7% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i9 scores 5058 against 4693, a 7.8% delta. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12045 for the i9 versus 11176 for the i7, again a 7.8% advantage. These results are slightly surprising given the i9-10900TE's much lower TDP (35 W vs 65 W), suggesting that the extra two cores and hyper-threading more than compensate for the thermal headroom difference.

Single-core performance across the newer test suites shows a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i9-10900TE scores 714 versus 662 for the i7-9700F, a 7.9% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1700 against 1577, a 7.8% delta. The consistency of the ~7.8% margin across multi-core and single-core tests indicates that the i9-10900TE's advantage is architectural rather than workload-specific.

Notably, the head-to-head data only includes Cinebench tests. The i7-9700F has additional Geekbench scores in its own benchmark list — 6807 multi-core and 1509 single-core — but the i9-10900TE lacks Geekbench entries, so no direct comparison is possible on that test. The i7-9700F's average benchmark score is 3464, while the i9-10900TE's is 3484, a difference of just 0.6%. Both processors sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically tied in overall standing despite the i9's head-to-head wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900TE wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 1213 in R15, 5058 in R20, and 12045 in R23, versus the i7-9700F's 1126, 4693, and 11176 respectively. The deltas range from 7.7% to 7.8%.

Q: Does the i7-9700F win any single-core tests?

A: No. Despite having a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the i9-10900TE's 4.50 GHz, the i7-9700F loses all three single-core Cinebench tests. The deltas are 8.2% in R15, 7.9% in R20, and 7.8% in R23, all favoring the i9-10900TE.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The i9-10900TE has an average benchmark score of 3484, while the i7-9700F has 3464. This is a difference of just 0.6%, and both sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, indicating near-identical overall performance ratings.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i9-10900TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-9700F has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i9 supports hyper-threading, effectively doubling its thread count, whereas the i7 does not.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the i7-9700F has data but the i9-10900TE does not?

A: Yes. The i7-9700F has Geekbench scores (6807 multi-core, 1509 single-core), but the i9-10900TE does not have Geekbench entries in its benchmark list. Therefore, no head-to-head comparison is possible on that test.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The i9-10900TE has a TDP of 35 W, which is significantly lower than the i7-9700F's 65 W. This makes the i9-10900TE a more power-efficient part despite its higher core count and benchmark performance.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-10900TE wins in every benchmark category where both have data. This includes all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. Its 10 cores and 20 threads give it a clear advantage in heavily threaded rendering workloads, as evidenced by its consistent ~7.8% lead in multi-core tests. Additionally, the i9-10900TE wins in single-core tests, which is notable given its lower boost clock. This makes it the better choice for both productivity applications that scale with cores and everyday tasks that rely on single-threaded performance. The i9-10900TE also has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the i7-9700F has none, which could be a deciding factor for systems without a discrete GPU.

The i7-9700F does have one area where it holds an edge: Geekbench scores. While these cannot be directly compared to the i9-10900TE (which lacks Geekbench data), the i7-9700F's 6807 multi-core and 1509 single-core scores show it is a capable performer in its own right. The i7-9700F also has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 4.50 GHz, which could translate to better performance in lightly threaded workloads that are not captured by the Cinebench suite. However, based on the available head-to-head data, the i7-9700F does not win any of the six direct comparisons. Its average benchmark score of 3464 is within 0.6% of the i9-10900TE's 3484, suggesting that in real-world mixed workloads, the two may be much closer than the Cinebench deltas imply.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i9-10900TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-9700F has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i9-10900TE runs at 1800 MHz, while the i7-9700F runs at 3.00 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the i9-10900TE reaching 4.50 GHz and the i7-9700F reaching 4.70 GHz. The i9-10900TE has a TDP of 35 W, whereas the i7-9700F has a TDP of 65 W.

The socket is another major difference. The i9-10900TE uses Intel Socket 1200, while the i7-9700F uses Intel Socket 1151. This means they are not interchangeable in the same motherboard. The L3 cache differs as well: the i9-10900TE has 20 MB shared, while the i7-9700F has 12 MB shared. The die size is 206 mm² for the i9-10900TE and 180.3 mm² for the i7-9700F. Memory bandwidth is rated at 46.9 GB/s for the i9-10900TE versus 42.7 GB/s for the i7-9700F.

The i9-10900TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the i7-9700F has no integrated graphics. The i9-10900TE was released on 2020-04-29, while the i7-9700F was released on 2019-04-22. The i9-10900TE is marked as "Active" production status, while the i7-9700F is "End-of-life." The launch MSRP for the i9-10900TE is $488, and for the i7-9700F it is $333. Both processors have identical L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (256 KB per core), the same process node (14 nm), the same PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes from CPU), and both support DDR4 dual-channel memory. Neither has unlocked multipliers, and both lack ECC memory support.

Architecture Differences

The i9-10900TE is built on the Comet Lake architecture, also codenamed Comet Lake, representing Intel's Core 10th Gen series. The i7-9700F is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake Refresh, from the Core i7 generation. Both use the same 14 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel, but the architectural generations are distinct.

The core and thread counts reflect the architectural split. The i9-10900TE leverages hyper-threading to deliver 20 threads from 10 cores, while the i7-9700F has 8 cores and 8 threads, indicating no hyper-threading support. This is the most significant architectural difference, as it directly impacts multi-threaded performance. The i9-10900TE also has a larger L3 cache (20 MB shared) compared to the i7-9700F (12 MB shared), which can improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

The i9-10900TE's integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630) is a feature absent from the i7-9700F, which has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the i9-10900TE a more flexible option for systems that may not have a discrete GPU. The die size differs as well, with the i9-10900TE at 206 mm² versus the i7-9700F at 180.3 mm², reflecting the additional cores and cache on the Comet Lake die.

The memory subsystem also differs. The i9-10900TE has a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the i7-9700F has 42.7 GB/s. Both support DDR4 dual-channel memory, but the higher bandwidth on the i9-10900TE is consistent with its higher core count and larger cache. The release dates reflect the generational gap: the i7-9700F launched in April 2019, while the i9-10900TE launched in April 2020. The i9-10900TE remains in active production, while the i7-9700F has been discontinued, indicating a clear succession in Intel's product stack.