Core i7-1195G7 vs Core i9-8950HK

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-1195G7

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 45W, a 17W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU), while Core i9-8950HK needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i9-8950HK

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,373 vs 10,472).
❌60.7% higher power demand at 45W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1195G7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-1195G7

2021

Core i9-8950HK

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 45W, a 17W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU), while Core i9-8950HK needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,373 vs 10,472).
❌60.7% higher power demand at 45W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1195G7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-1195G7 better than Core i9-8950HK?

Yes. Core i7-1195G7 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-1195G7 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-1195G7 is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-1195G7 still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i7-1195G7 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i7-1195G7 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2018) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-1195G7 Benchmark Check

Core i9-8950HK Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-1195G7	Core i9-8950HK
1080p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	247 FPS	246 FPS
high	207 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	239 FPS	239 FPS
medium	191 FPS	194 FPS
high	155 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	167 FPS	167 FPS
medium	135 FPS	138 FPS
high	104 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i7-1195G7 Open Core i9-8950HK

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-1195G7	Core i9-8950HK
1080p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	239 FPS	259 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	254 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	245 FPS
4K
low	251 FPS	259 FPS
medium	211 FPS	259 FPS
high	180 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	146 FPS	200 FPS

Open Core i7-1195G7 Open Core i9-8950HK

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-1195G7	Core i9-8950HK
1080p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	259 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	259 FPS
4K
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	259 FPS

Open Core i7-1195G7 Open Core i9-8950HK

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-1195G7	Core i9-8950HK
1080p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	259 FPS
1440p
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	259 FPS
4K
low	262 FPS	259 FPS
medium	262 FPS	259 FPS
high	262 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	259 FPS

Open Core i7-1195G7 Open Core i9-8950HK

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1195G7 and Core i9-8950HK

Core i7-1195G7

The Core i7-1195G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1449. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,472 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i9-8950HK

The Core i9-8950HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 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: 10,373 points. Launch price was $583.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-1195G7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i9-8950HK offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-8950HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-1195G7 versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-8950HK — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-1195G7 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-1195G7 uses the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i9-8950HK uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1195G7 scores 10,472 against the Core i9-8950HK's 10,373 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-1195G7. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-1195G7	Core i9-8950HK
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+4%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021)	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)
PassMark	10,472	10,373
Cinebench R23 Multi	6,806	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,930	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,426	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1195G7 uses the FCBGA1449 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-8950HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-1195G7	Core i9-8950HK
Socket	FCBGA1449	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-1195G7) / not specified (Core i9-8950HK). The Core i7-1195G7 includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU)), while the Core i9-8950HK requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1195G7 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-1195G7 rivals Ryzen 7 5700U.