Core i7-1365U vs Core i9-9980HK

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 i7-1365U vs Core i9-9980HK 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 i7-1365U vs Core i9-9980HK: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-1365U

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,890 vs 13,966).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Core i9-9980HK

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i7-1365U moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-1365U better than Core i9-9980HK?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-1365U is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980HK pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Core i9-9980HK also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980HK is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-1365U still makes the most sense overall. Core i7-1365U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i7-1365U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-1365U vs Core i9-9980HK Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-1365U

The Core i7-1365U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 13,890 points. Launch price was $426.

Core i9-9980HK

The Core i9-9980HK 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 13,966 points. Launch price was $583.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-1365U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-9980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-1365U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-1365U versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9980HK — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-1365U (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-1365U uses the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-9980HK uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1365U scores 13,890 against the Core i9-9980HK's 13,966 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-9980HK. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1365U vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980HK.

Feature	Core i7-1365U	Core i9-9980HK
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+25%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+4%	5 GHz
Base Clock	1.8 GHz	2.4 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-U (2023)	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark	13,890	13,966

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1365U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-9980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.