Core i7-8850H vs FX-9590

Core i7-8850H vs FX-9590 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-8850H

6 / 12

10,074

0.0%

10,194

+1.2%

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

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.

Core i7-8850H vs FX-9590 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 i7-8850H vs FX-9590: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-8850H

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 220W, a 175W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than FX-9590 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (10,074 vs 10,194).

FX-9590

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $350 MSRP, while Core i7-8850H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌388.9% higher power demand at 220W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is FX-9590 better than Core i7-8850H?

Yes. FX-9590 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 11.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, FX-9590 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 11.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, FX-9590 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

FX-9590 is the better buy right now. FX-9590 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $350 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 11.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (29.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i7-8850H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-8850H vs FX-9590 Technical Specifications

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

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.

FX-9590

The FX-9590 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 July 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 220 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,194 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-8850H packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the FX-9590 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-9590 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i7-8850H versus 5 GHz on the FX-9590 — a 15.1% clock advantage for the FX-9590 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Core i7-8850H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the FX-9590 uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8850H scores 10,074 against the FX-9590's 10,194 — a 1.2% lead for the FX-9590.

Feature	Core i7-8850H	FX-9590
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 8+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	4.7 GHz+81%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	8192 kB+3100%
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Vishera (2012−2015)
PassMark	10,074	10,194+1%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-8850H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-9590 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.