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Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H vs Intel Core i9-12900H: Comparison
9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H vs Core i9-12900H: the l3 cache difference
The gap that matters here is l3 cache: 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H 12 MB against Core i9-12900H 24 MB, which puts Core i9-12900H 50% ahead. They differ on p-core base clock too, 2.6 GHz on the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H versus 2.5 GHz on the Core i9-12900H. There is a split on socket as well, FCBGA1440 on the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H versus FCBGA1744 on the Core i9-12900H. Product line is not the same on both, Core i7 on the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H versus Core on the Core i9-12900H. Release year is not the same on both, 2019 on the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H versus 2022 on the Core i9-12900H.
9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H vs Core i9-12900H: which one fits your build
Take the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H for gaming and creator laptops of its generation wanting solid 6-core Coffee Lake Refresh performance. Avoid it for buyers with access to the later 10th Gen i7-10750H, that chip offers a modest generational improvement on a similar core configuration. The Core i9-12900H suits premium laptops and everyday productivity, though it is the wrong buy for ultra-thin fanless laptops and maximum battery life. Our rating of the Core i9-12900H (8.3/10): the Intel Core i9-12900H is a well-rounded performance mobile chip, suited to premium laptops balancing power and portability.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Performance cores, tdp, integrated graphics, form factor and market segment read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 2 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H and Core i9-12900H differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 6 on the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H versus 14 on the Core i9-12900H.
Is the SMT Enabled the same on the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H and Core i9-12900H?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Core i7
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Core
Form Factor
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Laptop
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Laptop
Model Number
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 9850H
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- i9-12900H
Codename
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Coffee Lake
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 2019
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 2022
TDP
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 45 W
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 45 W
iGPU
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Laptop
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Coffee Lake Refresh, 9th Gen Intel Core
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Alder Lake
Socket
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- FCBGA1440
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- FCBGA1744
Process Node
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 14 nm
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 10 nm
Total Cores
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 6
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 14Best
Performance Cores
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 6
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 0
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 8Best
Total Threads
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 12
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 20Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 2.6 GHz
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 2.5 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 4.6 GHz
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 12 MB-50%
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 24 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- 45 W
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- 45 W
Memory Type
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- DDR4-2666, LPDDR3-2133
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- DDR5 or DDR4Best
Integrated Graphics
- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9850H
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9850H if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose 12900H if you want the higher L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
Verdict
Intel Core i9-12900H
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-12900H is a well-rounded performance mobile chip, suited to premium laptops balancing power and portability.