Intel Core i9-10900TE vs Intel Core i9-9880H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a clear, though narrow, sweep for the Intel Core i9-10900TE across every Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison. The 10900TE wins all six benchmark comparisons, with the 9880H failing to secure a single victory in these specific workloads. The margins, however, are consistently tight, ranging from a 5.3% to 5.6% advantage for the desktop part. This suggests a steady, uniform performance gap rather than a dramatic one, which is compelling given the differences in their design targets.

Looking at multi-core performance first, the 10900TE posts a 1213 score in Cinebench R15 multi-core against 1152 for the 9880H, a delta of 5.3%. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the 10900TE scores 5058 versus 4803, again a 5.3% lead. In the more demanding Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the 10900TE reaches 12045, while the 9880H manages 11437, maintaining that exact 5.3% margin. This consistency across three different rendering workloads indicates that the 10900TE's additional two cores and four threads translate into a predictable multi-threaded advantage, even as the 9880H operates with a higher base clock and a higher boost clock.

The single-core results tell a similar story, but with slightly larger percentage gaps. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 10900TE scores 171 compared to 162 for the 9880H, a 5.6% lead. The R20 single-core test shows 714 versus 677, a 5.5% difference. Finally, in R23 single-core, the 10900TE posts 1700 against 1614, reverting to a 5.3% delta. The fact that the 10900TE wins single-core tests despite its lower base clock (1.80 GHz versus 2.30 GHz) is notable. Its boost clock of 4.50 GHz is lower than the 9880H's 4.80 GHz, yet the benchmark results show the 10900TE consistently ahead. This implies architectural efficiencies or thermal headroom in the desktop part that allow it to sustain higher effective clocks during these short bursts.

When placed against the wider database, both processors sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are close: 3484 for the 10900TE and 3433 for the 9880H. The nearest rivals for the 10900TE include the Intel Xeon D-1732TE with an average score of 3486, a 0% delta, and the Intel Xeon E-2246G at 3492, a -0.2% delta. The 9880H's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-10875H with an average score of 3432, also a 0% delta, followed by the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G at 3441, a -0.2% delta. This positioning shows that while the 10900TE edges out the 9880H in direct comparison, both are firmly mid-pack performers in the broader CPU landscape.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900TE wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i9-9880H records zero wins in these comparisons.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is 5.6%, achieved by the 10900TE in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, with scores of 171 against 162.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The 10900TE scores 1700, while the 9880H scores 1614. This represents a 5.3% advantage for the 10900TE.

Q: Are both processors ranked similarly in the global database?

A: Yes, both the 10900TE and the 9880H sit at the 54th percentile among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are 3484 and 3433, respectively.

Q: Does the 9880H win any benchmark against the 10900TE?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark table, the 9880H does not win any of the six listed tests. The database also records zero wins for it in this comparison.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The 10900TE has an average benchmark score of 3484, while the 9880H has an average score of 3433. The difference is 51 points.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i9-10900TE as the stronger performer in every measured Cinebench workload. It holds a consistent 5.3% to 5.6% lead over the 9880H across both single-core and multi-core tests. For any workload that relies on CPU rendering, encoding, or other multi-threaded tasks, the 10900TE's two additional cores and four additional threads provide a tangible, if modest, benefit. The 9880H, despite its higher base and boost clocks, cannot overcome this core-count deficit in the recorded benchmarks.

The 10900TE appears to be the clear choice for a desktop user seeking the best raw CPU performance based on this data. Its status as an active production part, with a launch MSRP of $488, also indicates ongoing availability. The 9880H, marked as end-of-life, is a mobile processor that trails in all comparisons here. Given that both sit at the same 54th percentile, the overall class of performance is similar, but the 10900TE is definitively ahead within this pairing. A user selecting between these two, strictly on benchmark evidence, should pick the 10900TE for every scenario where processing speed is the priority.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several fundamental specifications. The 10900TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the 9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the 10900TE runs at 1.80 GHz, while the 9880H runs at 2.30 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with the 10900TE reaching 4.50 GHz and the 9880H reaching 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is another key split: the 10900TE is rated at 35 watts, while the 9880H is rated at 45 watts.

The socket types are entirely different. The 10900TE uses Intel Socket 1200, a desktop platform, while the 9880H uses Intel BGA 1440, a mobile soldered platform. Their market segments reflect this: the 10900TE is a desktop part, and the 9880H is a mobile part. The 10900TE has a larger die size of 206 mm², whereas the 9880H has a die size of 149 mm². The 10900TE supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 9880H also supports PCIe Gen 3 but without a specified lane count. Memory bandwidth is higher on the 10900TE at 46.9 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s on the 9880H. The 10900TE was released on 2020-04-29, while the 9880H was released on 2019-04-22. The 10900TE has a launch MSRP of $488; the 9880H has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is between Comet Lake and Coffee Lake. The 10900TE uses the Comet Lake architecture with the codename Comet Lake, belonging to the Core i9 (Comet Lake) generation. The 9880H uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the codename Coffee Lake-HR, belonging to the Core i9 (Coffee Lake-HR) generation. Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process node and fabricated by Intel, but their cache configurations differ.

The 10900TE includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, identical to the 9880H. However, the L3 cache is larger on the 10900TE: 20 MB shared versus 16 MB shared on the 9880H. This 4 MB difference in shared L3 cache likely contributes to the 10900TE's performance edge, especially in workloads that benefit from larger pooled data. Both processors support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics also differ slightly in naming: the 10900TE has UHD Graphics 630, while the 9880H has UHD 630. The 10900TE's production status is Active, while the 9880H is End-of-life. The part numbers are SRJFC for the 10900TE and SRFD1 for the 9880H.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10900TE wins in all six recorded benchmark categories. This includes every multi-core and single-core test across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The multi-core wins are attributable to its higher core and thread count, as well as its larger 20 MB L3 cache. The single-core wins are more surprising given the 9880H's higher clocks, but the data shows the 10900TE ahead by 5.3% to 5.6% in those tests as well. The 10900TE is also the only processor in this comparison with an active production status, making it the more forward-looking choice for new system builds.

The Intel Core i9-9880H has zero wins in the head-to-head benchmark data. It does not outperform the 10900TE in any recorded test. Its higher base clock of 2.30 GHz and higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz do not translate into benchmark victories. The 9880H does have a lower TDP relative to its performance class, but the 10900TE's 35-watt TDP is actually lower still. The 9880H's only remaining distinctions are its mobile form factor, its earlier release date of 2019-04-22, and its end-of-life status, none of which constitute a performance win. The data is unambiguous: for every benchmark measured, the 10900TE is the winner.