Core i7-8850H vs Core i5-8600K
Core i7-8850H
Core i5-8600K
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 i5-8600K is on rank 501, so the Core i5-8600K 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 i5-8600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8850H | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8850H | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 i5-8600K
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 i5-8600K
The Core i5-8600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,134 points. Launch price was $257.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8850H packs 6 cores / 12 threads, matching the Core i5-8600K's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i7-8850H versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-8600K — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-8850H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-8600K uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8850H scores 10,074 against the Core i5-8600K's 10,134 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-8600K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-8850H vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8600K.
| Feature | Core i7-8850H | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+33% | 9 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 10,074 | 10,134 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,550 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8850H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-8600K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-8850H | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-8850H) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8600K). The Core i5-8600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-8850H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8600K targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8600K rivals Ryzen 5 2600X.
| Feature | Core i7-8850H | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Desktop |
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