Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900K has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The desktop part also carries a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz versus 5.00 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900K scores 18,895 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i9-11950H scores 17,279. That gives the 10900K an 8.6% lead. The same margin appears across all Cinebench tests, with the desktop chip ahead by 8.5% to 8.6% in both single-core and multi-core runs.

Q: Where does the mobile chip actually win?

A: The i9-11950H wins in PassMark data encryption by a wide margin, scoring 12,658 versus 7,796, a 62.4% advantage. It also wins in PassMark find prime numbers (93 versus 63, a 47.6% lead) and edges out the 10900K in PassMark single-thread performance, 3,141 versus 3,113, a 0.9% margin.

Q: What are the architectural differences between the two?

A: The i9-11950H is built on Tiger Lake-H at a 10 nm process node with a 190 mm² die, while the i9-10900K uses Comet Lake at 14 nm with a 206 mm² die. The mobile chip has a smaller per-core L1 cache (80 KB versus 64 KB) and a much larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), but the desktop chip has more L3 cache per the shared pool: 24 MB on the i9-11950H versus 20 MB on the i9-10900K.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The i9-11950H supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i9-10900K also supports dual-channel DDR4 but at 46.9 GB/s. The mobile part holds a 4.3 GB/s bandwidth advantage despite being a lower-power design.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores and CPU percentiles compare?

A: The i9-11950H has an average benchmark score of 28,332 and sits in the 80th percentile of all CPUs. The i9-10900K has an average score of 27,872 and sits in the 79th percentile. The mobile chip is slightly ahead in aggregate, despite losing most head-to-head tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i9-11950H is a Tiger Lake-H part built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 190 mm². The i9-10900K is a Comet Lake part built on a 14 nm process with a larger die at 206 mm². The smaller process node does not automatically translate into a smaller die, so the physical dimensions alone do not explain the performance gap.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i9-11950H packs 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-10900K offers 10 cores and 20 threads. That extra pair of cores is a major reason why the desktop chip sustains a lead in heavily threaded workloads. The mobile processor compensates with a different cache hierarchy: 80 KB of L1 per core versus 64 KB on the desktop part, and 1.25 MB of L2 per core versus 256 KB. The larger per-core L2 cache on Tiger Lake helps feed the cores with fewer trips to the shared L3 pool. The i9-11950H has 24 MB of shared L3, while the i9-10900K has 20 MB.

Clock behavior also separates the two. The i9-10900K has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, both higher than the i9-11950H's 2.10 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. That higher base clock is typical of a desktop part with a 125 W TDP, whereas the mobile chip is rated at 35 W. The power envelope influences sustained performance, but the benchmark data shows the desktop chip does not always convert its power advantage into a win, particularly in encryption and prime-number workloads.

Platform support differs as well. The i9-11950H uses Intel BGA 1787 and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The i9-10900K uses Intel Socket 1200 and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Both support dual-channel DDR4 memory, but the mobile part has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s. Integrated graphics differ too: the i9-11950H carries UHD Graphics 750, while the i9-10900K carries UHD Graphics 630. The i9-10900K has an unlocked multiplier; the i9-11950H does not. Both are end-of-life products, with the i9-11950H released on May 10, 2021 and the i9-10900K on April 29, 2020.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear split. The Intel Core i9-10900K wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including every Cinebench test and most PassMark workloads. Its 10-core, 20-thread configuration gives it a structural advantage in multithreaded tasks, and its higher boost clock helps in single-threaded Cinebench runs. For users who prioritize rendering, compression, sorting, or general integer and floating-point math, the i9-10900K is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i9-11950H wins only 4 of 17 comparisons, but those wins are meaningful. It crushes the 10900K in data encryption by 62.4%, a result that suggests its newer architecture handles certain cryptographic workloads far more efficiently. It also leads in prime-number finding by 47.6%, and it takes a narrow 0.9% win in PassMark single-thread performance. The mobile chip also has a higher average benchmark score, 28,332 versus 27,872, and a slightly better percentile rank, 80th versus 79th.

The choice depends on workload profile. A desktop user running Cinebench, compression, or math-heavy tasks should pick the i9-10900K. A user whose work involves encryption or prime-number calculations, or who needs the higher aggregate benchmark score, should consider the i9-11950H. The mobile part also offers PCIe Gen 4, higher memory bandwidth, and a much lower TDP, which matters in laptop designs. The i9-10900K offers an unlocked multiplier and a desktop socket, which matters for overclocking. Neither chip is current; both are end-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-11950H | Intel Core i9-10900K |

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

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1787 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake | Comet Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die size | 190 mm² | 206 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 24 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2021-05-10 | 2020-04-29 |

| Launch MSRP | $556 | $547 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i9-10900K dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1,904 against the i9-11950H's 1,741, an 8.6% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the same margin: 268 versus 245, again 8.6%. Cinebench R20 multicore comes in at 7,935 versus 7,257, an 8.5% gap, and R20 single-core is 1,120 versus 1,024, an 8.6% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 18,895 versus 17,279, an 8.6% lead, while R23 single-core is 2,667 versus 2,439, an 8.5% gap. Across every rendering test, the desktop chip holds a consistent near-8.6% advantage.

The PassMark suite paints a more varied picture. Data compression is a major win for the i9-10900K: 375,336 versus 246,195, a 34.4% lead. Extended instructions also favor the desktop part, 24,620 versus 16,361, a 33.5% margin. Random string sorting goes to the 10900K at 46,389 versus 29,375, a 36.7% lead. Floating-point math favors the 10900K at 53,123 versus 44,137, a 16.9% margin. Integer math is closer but still a desktop win: 85,404 versus 74,649, a 12.6% lead. PassMark multithread shows 22,452 versus 20,900, a 6.9% edge. Physics is nearly even, 1,029 versus 1,013, a 1.6% gap.

The i9-11950H takes its wins in specific workloads. Data encryption is its largest victory: 12,658 versus 7,796, a 62.4% margin. That is the single biggest delta in the entire head-to-head set. Find prime numbers also goes to the mobile chip, 93 versus 63, a 47.6% lead. In PassMark single-thread, the i9-11950H scores 3,141 versus 3,113, a 0.9% edge, and the identical score appears for PassMark singlethread, also 0.9%.

The aggregate data reflects a near-tie. The i9-11950H has an average benchmark score of 28,332, while the i9-10900K sits at 27,872. The mobile chip also ranks in the 80th percentile versus the 79th percentile for the desktop part. The nearest rivals for the i9-11950H include the Intel Xeon 6337P at 28,333, the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U at 28,350, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U at 28,379. The nearest rivals for the i9-10900K include the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U at 27,887, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D at 27,896, and the Intel Core i5-12600KF at 27,799. These surrounding scores show both parts landing in the same performance tier, despite very different core counts, power envelopes, and platform targets.