Core i5-10500H vs Core i7-9850H

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-10500H vs Core i7-9850H FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-10500H vs Core i7-9850H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-10500H

2020

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 2W instead of 45W, a 44W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9850H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Core i7-9850H

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,862 vs 10,970).
❌2900% higher power demand at 45W vs 1.5W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10500H better than Core i7-9850H?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-9850H is ahead with a 6.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10500H pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10500H is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-10500H still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-10500H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-10500H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-10500H vs Core i7-9850H Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-10500H

The Core i5-10500H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 153 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,970 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-9850H

The Core i7-9850H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,862 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10500H and Core i7-9850H share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-10500H versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-9850H — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-9850H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-10500H uses the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-9850H uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10500H scores 10,970 against the Core i7-9850H's 10,862 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-10500H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,435 vs 1,250, a 13.8% lead for the Core i5-10500H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Core i5-10500H vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9850H.

Feature	Core i5-10500H	Core i7-9850H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.6 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.6 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	12 MB	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	153 kB	256K (per core)+67%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake-H (2020)	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark	10,970	10,862
Geekbench 6 Single	1,435+15%	1,250
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	5,000

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the BGA1440 socket with PCIe 3.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Core i5-10500H versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9850H — the Core i5-10500H supports 10% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM470,QM480,WM490 (Core i5-10500H) and HM370,CM246 (Core i7-9850H).

Feature	Core i5-10500H	Core i7-9850H
Socket	BGA1440	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933+10%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-10500H) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9850H). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-10500H) and Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9850H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10500H targets Performance Laptop, Core i7-9850H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10500H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H.

Feature	Core i5-10500H	Core i7-9850H
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Performance Laptop	High Performance Laptop