CPU Comparison

Core i7-5850HQ vs Core i7-940XM

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 Extreme
Core i7-940XM
4C / 8T3.333 GHz55 W
7.5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile Workstation
Mobile High-End
Generation
5th Gen Core i7
Core i7 Extreme (Clarksfield)
Launched
2015
2010
Status
End-of-life
End-of-life
Codename
Broadwell-H
Clarksfield
Series
Core i7
Core i7 Extreme
Family
Broadwell-H
1st Gen Core i7
Predecessor
Crystalwell (4th Gen)
Core i7-920XM
Successor
Skylake-H (6th Gen)
Core i7-2920XM

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
4
Threads
8
8
Base Clock
2.7 GHz
2.133 GHz
Boost Clock
3.6 GHz
3.333 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
6 MB
8 MB
TDP
47 W
55 W
Architecture
Architecture
Broadwell-H
Clarksfield
Process Node
14nm
45nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR3
DDR3
Memory Speed
DDR3-1866
1333 MT/s
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1364
Intel Socket G1
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
Gen 2
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
None
Unlocked
No
Yes

Performance Compared

Productivity

Core i7-5850HQBest50

Solid quad-core performance for 2015 applications.

Core i7-940XM36

Slightly faster than the 920XM but still heavily outclassed by modern CPUs.

Gaming

Core i7-5850HQBest55

Iris Pro handles older games well without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-940XM42

Handles legacy games well but bottlenecks modern GPUs and games.

Virtualization

Core i7-5850HQ40

Handles light VMs but constrained by DDR3 bandwidth.

Core i7-940XMBest46

Adequate for legacy mobile VMs but lacks modern I/O.

Efficiency

Core i7-5850HQBest30

47W TDP generates significant heat in modern usage contexts.

Core i7-940XM20

Power hungry and inefficient by modern standards.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Core i7-5850HQNone
  • No modern AI acceleration hardware
  • eDRAM does not significantly aid modern AI workloads
Core i7-940XMNone
  • No AI hardware support
  • Pure legacy x86 performance

Content Creation

Core i7-5850HQVery Good
Premiere ProAfter EffectsAutoCADSolidWorks
Core i7-940XMLegacy
Legacy Video EditingLegacy 3D ModelingAudio Production

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 i7-940XMLegacy
  • Highest clocks for Socket G1
  • No integrated graphics
  • Bottlenecks modern GPUs

Industry Impact

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

Best CPU by Use Case

Photo Editing
Very Good
Video Editing
Good
Very Good
Gaming (Medium)
Good
CAD
Good
Office Work
Excellent
Mobile Gaming
Excellent (for 2010)
3D Rendering
Good
Basic Productivity
Overkill

Target Audience

Gamers
Targeted
Targeted
Content Creators
Targeted
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Targeted
Targeted
Streamers
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 i7-940XM

Pros

  • Fastest Socket G1 CPU
  • Unlocked multiplier
  • High turbo clock
  • 8MB L3 cache

Cons

  • Extremely power hungry
  • No integrated graphics
  • Obsolete platform
  • Produces excessive heat

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 i7-940XM

  • Intel Core i7-920XM

    Mobile Extreme

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-840QM

    Mobile High-End

    Rival
  • AMD Phenom II X4 Mobile

    Mobile High-End

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-740QM

    Mobile Mid-Range

    Rival
  • Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300

    Legacy Mobile Extreme

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-2820QM
    Alt

    Massive leap in efficiency and performance (Sandy Bridge).

  • AMD A8-3550MX
    Alt

    More efficient, though weaker, alternative.

  • Intel Core i5-2520M
    Alt

    Dual-core but vastly superior efficiency and single-thread speed.

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 i7-940XMSituational

The fastest Clarksfield chip, offering a minor clock speed bump over the 920XM, but equally obsolete today.

Best for: Upgrading an existing high-end 2010 DTR laptop.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Core i7-5850HQ or Core i7-940XM?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-940XM 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.

Which is faster for gaming, Core i7-5850HQ or Core i7-940XM?

For gaming, the Core i7-5850HQ leads with a gaming performance score of 55/100 among Core i7-5850HQ and Core i7-940XM.

Which uses less power?

The Core i7-5850HQ has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i7-5850HQ (47 W), Core i7-940XM (55 W).

Do Core i7-5850HQ and Core i7-940XM use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Core i7-5850HQ: Intel BGA 1364, Core i7-940XM: Intel Socket G1), so each needs a compatible motherboard.