CPU Comparison
Core i7-5850HQ vs Intel Core i7-4870HQ
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.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Solid quad-core performance for 2015 applications.
Adequate for standard office tasks and light content creation.
Gaming
Iris Pro handles older games well without a discrete GPU.
Handles older or less demanding games well, but struggles with modern titles.
Virtualization
Handles light VMs but constrained by DDR3 bandwidth.
Can handle basic VMs but limited by 47W TDP and older architecture.
Efficiency
47W TDP generates significant heat in modern usage contexts.
22nm process is inefficient compared to modern mobile chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No modern AI acceleration hardware
- eDRAM does not significantly aid modern AI workloads
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Slow inference times
Content Creation
Gaming
- Can play 2015-era games at 1080p low
- eDRAM prevents severe memory bottlenecks
- Not suitable for modern AAA gaming
- Good for retro gaming
- Iris Pro eDRAM helps frame rates
- Not suitable for modern AAA games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Strong integrated graphics for its era
- Good multi-threaded performance
- Includes eDRAM cache
Cons
- End-of-life platform
- High TDP for mobile
- Poor efficiency by modern standards
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i7-5850HQ
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-5750HQRival
Mobile Workstation
- Intel Core i7-5700HQRival
Mobile Performance
- Intel Core i7-6700HQAlt
Skylake architecture with DDR4 support.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Modern alternative with much better efficiency and graphics.
- Alt
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 i5-8259UAlt
Modern quad-core with Iris Plus graphics.
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
- AMD A10-5750MRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4700HQRival
Mobile
- AMD FX-7500Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-4200HRival
Mobile
- NVIDIA Tegra K1Rival
Mobile
Vastly superior performance and efficiency in the mobile space.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAlt
More cores, better integrated graphics, and modern architecture.
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Massive leap in single-thread speed and battery life.
- Alt
Revolutionary ARM-based efficiency and performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 5800UAlt
Excellent multi-core scaling and low power consumption.
Our Verdict on Each
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 reviewAn innovative mobile processor for its time, offering strong integrated graphics, though outclassed by modern efficiency standards.
Best for: Buying a used laptop for basic computing or retro gaming at a heavily discounted price. Buying Advice for the Core i7-4870HQ in the modern context is straightforward: it is no longer viable for new builds, and purchasing a used laptop with this processor requires careful consideration. While it still offers respectable performance for basic productivity, web browsing, and media consumption, its age means it lacks support for modern instruction sets and efficiency improvements found in current-generation chips. If you are buying a used laptop heavily discounted, ensure the battery is healthy, as older systems degrade over time. For any serious gaming or content creation, a newer processor—even a budget modern one—will vastly outperform this aging chip. Avoid spending significant money on this platform today.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Core i7-5850HQ or Intel Core i7-4870HQ?
For gaming, the Core i7-5850HQ leads with a gaming performance score of 55/100 among Core i7-5850HQ and Intel Core i7-4870HQ.
Do Core i7-5850HQ and Intel Core i7-4870HQ use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1364 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-4870HQ posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-4870HQ (8,520). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.