Core i7-8850H vs Core i3-1215U
Core i7-8850H
Core i3-1215U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i7-8850H is positioned at rank 781 and the Core i3-1215U is on rank 606, so the Core i3-1215U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8850H
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1215U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8850H | Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8850H | Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-8850H and Core i3-1215U
Core i7-8850H
The Core i7-8850H 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 10,074 points. Launch price was $395.
Core i3-1215U
The Core i3-1215U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10 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: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,281 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8850H packs 6 cores / 12 threads, matching the Core i3-1215U's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i7-8850H versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-1215U — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-1215U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i7-8850H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-1215U uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8850H scores 10,074 against the Core i3-1215U's 10,281 — a 2% lead for the Core i3-1215U. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-8850H vs 10 MB (total) on the Core i3-1215U.
| Feature | Core i7-8850H | Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.4 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+117% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+20% | 10 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) | Alder Lake-U (2022) |
| PassMark | 10,074 | 10,281+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,079 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8850H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-1215U uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-8850H | Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | FCBGA1744 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-8850H) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1215U). The Core i3-1215U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU)), while the Core i7-8850H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1215U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-1215U rivals Ryzen 3 5425U.
| Feature | Core i7-8850H | Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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