Intel Core i7-9750H

The Intel Core i7-9750H is a 6-core, 12-thread mobile processor built on Intel’s 14 nm Coffee Lake-HR architecture. It operates with a 2.60 GHz base clock and a 4.50 GHz boost clock, placing it in the high-performance laptop segment. The processor carries a 45 W TDP, a 12 MB shared L3 cache, and integrates UHD 630 graphics. With an average benchmark score of 14877, it ranks in the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating solid mainstream performance for its generation. The chip is end-of-life, having been released on 2019-04-22, and supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus.

Platform and Compatibility

The Core i7-9750H uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, which is a ball-grid array package designed for direct soldering onto laptop motherboards. This means the processor is not user-upgradeable or replaceable in a conventional sense; the platform is fixed at the time of laptop purchase. The architecture is Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR revision, which is part of Intel’s 14 nm process generation. The die size is 149 mm², and the chip was fabricated by Intel.

Memory support is limited to DDR4, operating on a dual-channel bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported, which aligns with its consumer mobile positioning. For expansion, the processor provides PCIe Gen 3 lanes, though the exact lane count is not specified in the data. The integrated graphics solution is the UHD 630, which handles display output and basic acceleration tasks without a discrete GPU.

Upgrade path considerations are minimal for this part. Because it is BGA-mounted and end-of-life, there is no forward or backward compatibility with other sockets. The platform is wholly defined by the laptop design, so the only relevant upgrade is system-level replacement. The lack of an unlocked multiplier further restricts any overclocking potential, cementing this as a fixed-performance mobile part.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark data reveals a clear performance split between single-thread and multi-thread workloads. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 1280, while the multi-core score reaches 9069, a ratio of roughly 7.1:1 across 12 threads. This indicates strong scaling for threaded applications, though the per-core efficiency is moderate by modern standards. The single-thread scores across other tests — 128 in Cinebench R15, 537 in R20, 1361 in Geekbench — show consistent performance on lightly threaded tasks.

For real workloads, this split matters. Single-thread performance drives responsiveness in everyday applications like web browsing, office productivity, and legacy software that relies on one or two cores. The 4.50 GHz boost clock is the key enabler here, allowing the chip to reach competitive single-thread results despite its older architecture. Multi-thread performance, meanwhile, benefits from the 6-core/12-thread configuration, which allows substantial parallel processing in video encoding, 3D rendering, and scientific computations. The PassMark multithread score of 10671, compared against a single-thread score of 2404, reinforces this pattern.

The gap between single-thread and multi-thread results is not extreme, suggesting a balanced design. Some processors sacrifice single-core speed for many cores, or vice versa; the 9750H sits in the middle, delivering respectable performance in both domains. This makes it suitable for a laptop that must handle both interactive tasks and occasional heavy workloads, without excelling at either extreme.

Power and Thermals

The Core i7-9750H carries a TDP of 45 W, which is the standard envelope for high-performance mobile processors in larger laptops. This TDP class requires a capable cooling solution — typically dual heat pipes and multiple fans — to sustain boost clocks under load. The 14 nm process node is less power-efficient than newer nodes, so thermals can become a constraint in thin-and-light chassis designs.

The data does not provide specific thermal limits or sustained power draw figures, but the 45 W TDP implies a certain cooling tier. Laptops with this processor generally need thicker profiles with adequate airflow to prevent thermal throttling during prolonged multi-thread workloads. The integrated UHD 630 graphics share the same power envelope, so discrete GPUs will add to the overall system thermal load, but that is outside the processor’s own TDP specification.

For users, this means the 9750H is not suited to ultra-portable designs; it belongs in desktop-replacement or gaming laptops with robust cooling. The end-of-life status also means no future firmware optimizations from Intel, so thermals are fixed at their original design point. The 45 W TDP is a middle ground — lower than high-core-count desktop parts, but higher than the 15 W ultra-low-voltage chips found in thin notebooks.

How It Compares

Intel Core i3-10320: This rival is nearly identical in average score at 14852, with a delta of 0.2% in favor of the 9750H. The i3-10320 is a desktop part, which likely has higher clock speeds per core, but the 9750H matches it in overall average performance despite being a mobile chip. The comparison shows that the 9750H holds its own against a newer desktop i3, though the i3 may excel in single-thread tasks.

AMD EPYC 74F3: The EPYC 74F3 is a server processor with an average score of 14915, placing it 0.3% ahead of the 9750H. This is a negligible difference, but the EPYC is designed for massively parallel enterprise workloads with far more cores. The fact that a mobile chip comes within 0.3% of a server part in average score indicates that the 9750H’s per-core performance is competitive, while the EPYC’s advantage lies in thread count and memory bandwidth, not raw single-thread speed.

Intel Core i5-9500: This desktop i5 has an average score of 14697, which is 1.2% behind the 9750H. The i5-9500 is a 6-core part without hyper-threading, so the 9750H’s 12 threads provide a slight edge in multi-thread workloads. The delta is small, but it favors the mobile chip, showing that the 9750H’s hyper-threading gives it a measurable advantage over a similarly clocked desktop i5.

Intel Core i3-1315U: The i3-1315U is a newer, low-power mobile chip with an average score of 15059, putting it 1.2% ahead of the 9750H. This is notable because the 1315U likely has a much lower TDP, yet it edges out the older 45 W part in average performance. The result suggests that architectural improvements in newer generations offset the 9750H’s higher power budget and boost clock.

Benchmark Performance

In Cinebench R23, the 9750H scores 9069 multi-core and 1280 single-core. Compared to the i3-10320, which has a near-identical average score, the multi-core result is strong for a mobile part. The R20 multi-core score of 3808 and single-core of 537 follow a similar trend, with the multi-thread result being roughly 7.1 times the single-thread score. Geekbench reports 4981 multi-core and 1361 single-core, which is a 3.7:1 ratio across 6 cores, reflecting the hyper-threading benefit.

PassMark results provide a broader view. The multithread score is 10671, while single-thread is 2404, a ratio of 4.4:1. Integer math scores 37822, floating-point math scores 23343, and extended instructions score 9187, indicating that the chip handles integer-heavy tasks better than floating-point or SIMD workloads. Data compression scores 150443, while data encryption is much lower at 3756, and find prime numbers is notably weak at 32. Random string sorting scores 19862, and physics scores 670.

Against the AMD EPYC 74F3, which is 0.3% ahead in average score, the 9750H likely loses in multi-thread scaling but may win in single-thread tests. The i3-1315U, 1.2% ahead, probably achieves this through higher per-core efficiency rather than raw core count. The i5-9500, 1.2% behind, is the closest in architecture, and the 9750H’s 12 threads give it a clear multi-core advantage. Overall, the 9750H sits in a tight cluster of competitors, with all four rivals within a 1.2% delta, making it a balanced performer for its era.

FAQ

Q: What is the socket type for the Intel Core i7-9750H?

A: The processor uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, which is a soldered mobile package not intended for user replacement.

Q: How much L3 cache does the 9750H have?

A: It has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.

Q: Does the 9750H support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The chip only supports standard DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor?

A: The TDP is 45 W, which requires a capable cooling solution in a laptop chassis to maintain sustained performance.

Q: Is the 9750H overclockable?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, and the processor does not support overclocking. Its boost clock of 4.50 GHz is the maximum achievable frequency.

Q: How does the 9750H compare in average score to the Intel Core i3-1315U?

A: The i3-1315U has an average score of 15059, which is 1.2% higher than the 9750H’s 14877, despite the i3 being a lower-power mobile chip.