CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-8750H vs Core i7-9750H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-8750H is a dominant mobile processor that revolutionized the gaming laptop market upon its release. As part of the 8th Gen Coffee Lake-H family, it brought six cores and twelve threads to the high-performance mobile segment, a massive upgrade from the previous generation's quad-core designs. Operating at a base clock of 2.2 GHz and boosting up to 4.1 GHz, it delivers workstation-class performance in a portable form factor. With a 45-watt TDP, it is designed for thick gaming laptops and mobile workstations equipped with robust cooling solutions. The processor handles intensive tasks like 4K video editing, 3D rendering, and high-refresh-rate gaming with ease when paired with a discrete GPU. Its introduction marked a paradigm shift in mobile computing, proving that laptops could legitimately rival desktop performance without sacrificing portability. The i7-8750H became the gold standard for gaming laptops, powering countless high-end systems for years.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
12 threads make quick work of rendering and compiling.
Gaming
Handles modern mid-range GPUs (up to RTX 2070) without bottlenecking.
Virtualization
Good for running VMs on a laptop.
Efficiency
45W TDP can get hot and loud in thin laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- 12 threads provide decent CPU inference
No data
Content Creation
No data
Gaming
- Pairs perfectly with GTX 1660 Ti to RTX 2070
- Can struggle to maintain 4.1 GHz in poorly cooled laptops
- Excellent for 1080p high-refresh gaming
No data
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 6 cores / 12 threads
- Excellent gaming performance
- Good multi-threaded capability
- Widely supported in laptops
Cons
- Runs hot in thin laptops
- Soldered to motherboard
- 45W TDP limits battery life
- Older 14nm process
Pros
- Strong 6-core performance
- Excellent single-core boost
- Widely supported in laptop platforms
- Includes Quick Sync for video encoding
Cons
- Runs very hot in thin chassis
- 45W TDP limits battery life
- Soldered to motherboard (BGA)
- Only supports PCIe 3.0
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-8750H
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700HRival
Mobile High Performance
- AMD Ryzen 7 2800HRival
Mobile High Performance
- Intel Core i5-8300HRival
Mobile High Performance
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-8950HKRival
Mobile High Performance
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600HRival
Mobile High Performance
- Intel Core i7-9750HAlt
Successor with higher clocks and better optimization.
- Intel Core i7-10750HAlt
10th Gen alternative with similar core count.
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HAlt
Vastly superior efficiency and 8 cores.
Slightly slower but runs cooler in budget laptops.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAlt
Better budget alternative with modern architecture.
Core i7-9750H
- AMD Ryzen 7 3750HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8750HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-9880HRival
High-End Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Intel Core i5-9300HRival
Mainstream Mobile
- Intel Core i7-9750HFAlt
Same performance but lacks integrated graphics for cheaper laptops.
- Intel Core i7-10750HAlt
Next-gen 6-core with higher clocks.
Our Verdict on Each
A legendary mobile CPU that brought real desktop-class hexa-core performance to laptops, remaining viable for modern gaming.
Best for: Buying a budget used gaming laptop for 1080p gaming.
Read the full reviewThe definitive 2019 gaming laptop CPU, offering excellent 6-core performance, though it runs hot in thin chassis.
Best for: Buying a used 2019 gaming laptop
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-8750H or Core i7-9750H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-8750H comes out ahead with a score of 9/10. 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, Intel Core i7-8750H or Core i7-9750H?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8750H leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Intel Core i7-8750H and Core i7-9750H.
Do Intel Core i7-8750H and Core i7-9750H use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1440 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-8750H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-8750H (13,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.