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CPU Comparison

Core i7-5850HQ vs Core i7-5950HQ

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ is a high-end mobile processor released in 2015, engineered for premium laptops and mobile workstations where graphics performance is paramount. Part of the Broadwell-H family, it is built on a 14-nanometer process, offering notable power efficiency improvements over the preceding Haswell architecture. The chip integrates four physical cores and eight threads, handling multi-threaded workloads with competence. Its base clock sits at 2.7 GHz, with the ability to turbo boost up to 3.6 GHz when thermal conditions permit. What sets the 5850HQ apart is the inclusion of Iris Pro Graphics 6200 paired with 128 MB of embedded DRAM (eDRAM). This L4 cache provides exceptional bandwidth for integrated graphics, drastically improving frame rates in games and accelerating media tasks. Operating within a 47-watt TDP, this end-of-life processor remains a fascinating study in Intel's early efforts to bridge the CPU-iGPU performance gap in laptops efficiently.

Intel · Core i7
Core i7-5850HQ
4C / 8T3.6 GHz47 W
7
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Core i7-5950HQ
4C / 8T3.8 GHz47 W
7.5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile Workstation
Mobile Workstation
Generation
5th Gen Core i7
5th Gen Core i7
Launched
2015
2015
Status
End-of-life
End-of-life
Codename
Broadwell-H
Broadwell-H
Series
Core i7
Core i7
Family
Broadwell-H
Broadwell-H
Predecessor
Crystalwell (4th Gen)
Crystalwell (4th Gen)
Successor
Skylake-H (6th Gen)
Skylake-H (6th Gen)

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
4
Threads
8
8
Base Clock
2.7 GHz
2.9 GHz
Boost Clock
3.6 GHz
3.8 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
6 MB
6 MB
TDP
47 W
47 W
Architecture
Architecture
Broadwell-H
Broadwell-H
Process Node
14nm
14nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR3
DDR3
Memory Speed
DDR3-1866
DDR3-1866
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
32 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1364
Intel BGA 1364
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Core i7-5850HQ50

Solid quad-core performance for 2015 applications.

Core i7-5950HQ50

Strong CPU performance for professional workloads in 2015.

Gaming

Core i7-5850HQ55

Iris Pro handles older games well without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-5950HQ55

Iris Pro allowed for 720p/1080p medium gaming without a discrete GPU.

Virtualization

Core i7-5850HQ40

Handles light VMs but constrained by DDR3 bandwidth.

Core i7-5950HQ40

Adequate for light VMs, though limited by DDR3.

Efficiency

Core i7-5850HQ30

47W TDP generates significant heat in modern usage contexts.

Core i7-5950HQ30

The eDRAM and high clocks result in significant heat output.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Core i7-5850HQNone
  • No modern AI acceleration hardware
  • eDRAM does not significantly aid modern AI workloads
Core i7-5950HQNone
  • No AI acceleration
  • eDRAM does not benefit modern AI inference significantly

Content Creation

Core i7-5850HQVery Good
Premiere ProAfter EffectsAutoCADSolidWorks
Core i7-5950HQVery Good
Adobe Premiere ProAutoCADBlenderPhotoshop

Gaming

Core i7-5850HQGood (For iGPU)
  • Can play 2015-era games at 1080p low
  • eDRAM prevents severe memory bottlenecks
  • Not suitable for modern AAA gaming
Core i7-5950HQGood (For iGPU)
  • Comparable to entry-level discrete GPUs of its era
  • Capable of playing older titles at 1080p
  • eDRAM significantly reduces frame drops

Industry Impact

Gaming
Low
Low
Workstations
Moderate
High
Content Creation
Moderate
Moderate
Virtualization
Low
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Photo Editing
Very Good
Video Editing
Good
Good
Gaming (Medium)
Good
Good
CAD
Good
Very Good
Office Work
Excellent
3D Rendering
Good
Programming
Excellent

Target Audience

Gamers
Targeted
Targeted
Content Creators
Targeted
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Targeted
Targeted
Streamers
Targeted
Office / Productivity
Students

Strengths & Weaknesses

Core i7-5850HQ

Pros

  • Iris Pro 6200 with eDRAM is powerful for integrated graphics
  • Good quad-core CPU performance
  • Hardware acceleration for media encoding
  • Suitable for professional CAD work

Cons

  • High 47W TDP
  • DDR3 memory only
  • Soldered BGA socket
  • Obsolete by modern efficiency standards
  • Short market lifespan
Core i7-5950HQ

Pros

  • Iris Pro 6200 is highly capable for integrated graphics
  • 128MB eDRAM provides huge bandwidth
  • Strong single and multi-core clocks
  • Excellent for 2015 mobile workstations

Cons

  • Very expensive at launch
  • 47W TDP limits battery life
  • Soldered to motherboard
  • DDR3 memory is obsolete
  • Thermal throttling is common in thin laptops

Competitors & Alternatives

Core i7-5850HQ

  • AMD FX-7500

    Mobile APU

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-5750HQ

    Mobile Workstation

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-5700HQ

    Mobile Performance

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-6700HQ
    Alt

    Skylake architecture with DDR4 support.

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
    Alt

    Modern alternative with much better efficiency and graphics.

  • Revolutionary leap in mobile CPU and GPU efficiency.

    Compare head-to-head
  • Newer chip with similar eDRAM concepts but better performance.

    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Core i5-8259U
    Alt

    Modern quad-core with Iris Plus graphics.

Core i7-5950HQ

Our Verdict on Each

Core i7-5850HQSituational

A capable Broadwell chip that brought eDRAM-enhanced Iris Pro graphics to high-end laptops, though it runs hot by modern standards.

Best for: Buying a legacy workstation laptop for offline typing or media consumption.

Read the full review
Core i7-5950HQSituational

An innovative processor that pushed the boundaries of integrated graphics with eDRAM, though its high cost and TDP limited its market appeal.

Best for: Buying a used MacBook Pro or mobile workstation for cheap.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Core i7-5850HQ or Core i7-5950HQ?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-5950HQ comes out ahead with a score of 7.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.

Do Core i7-5850HQ and Core i7-5950HQ use the same socket?

Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1364 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.