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.

Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Intel Core i7-8750H
6C / 12T4.1 GHz45 W
9
Full review
Intel · 9th Generation Core i7
Core i7-9750H
6C / 12T4.5 GHz45 W
8.5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile High Performance
High-Performance Mobile
Generation
Core i7 (Coffee Lake-H)
9th Gen
Launched
2018
2019
Status
End-of-life
End-of-life
Codename
Coffee Lake-H
Coffee Lake-HR
Series
Core i7
9th Generation Core i7
Family
8th Generation
Coffee Lake-HR
Predecessor
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Core i7-8750H
Successor
Intel Core i7-9750H
Core i7-10750H

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
6
6
Threads
12
12
Base Clock
2.2 GHz
2.6 GHz
Boost Clock
4.1 GHz
4.5 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
12 MB
12 MB
TDP
45 W
45 W
Architecture
Architecture
Coffee Lake-H
Coffee Lake-HR
Process Node
14nm
14nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR4
DDR4
Memory Speed
2666 MT/s
2666 MT/s
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
128 GB
128 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
Intel BGA 1440
Intel BGA 1440
PCIe Version
Gen 3
PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i7-8750H88

12 threads make quick work of rendering and compiling.

Core i7-9750H

Gaming

Intel Core i7-8750H85

Handles modern mid-range GPUs (up to RTX 2070) without bottlenecking.

Core i7-9750H

Virtualization

Intel Core i7-8750H85

Good for running VMs on a laptop.

Core i7-9750H

Efficiency

Intel Core i7-8750H70

45W TDP can get hot and loud in thin laptops.

Core i7-9750H

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i7-8750HLimited
  • No AI hardware
  • 12 threads provide decent CPU inference
Core i7-9750H

No data

Content Creation

Intel Core i7-8750HVery Good
Premiere ProDaVinci ResolveBlenderUnreal Engine
Core i7-9750H

No data

Gaming

Intel Core i7-8750HVery Good
  • 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
Core i7-9750H

No data

Industry Impact

Gaming
Very High
High
Workstations
High
High
Content Creation
High
High
Virtualization
Moderate
Moderate

Best CPU by Use Case

1080p Gaming
Excellent
4K Video Editing
Very Good
3D Rendering on the go
Good
Programming
Excellent
VR Gaming
Very Good
AAA Gaming
Excellent
Video Editing
Very Good

Target Audience

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i7-8750H

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
Core i7-9750H

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 2700H

    Mobile High Performance

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen 7 2800H

    Mobile High Performance

    Rival
  • Intel Core i5-8300H

    Mobile High Performance

    Rival
  • Intel Core i9-8950HK

    Mobile High Performance

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen 5 2600H

    Mobile High Performance

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-9750H
    Alt

    Successor with higher clocks and better optimization.

  • Intel Core i7-10750H
    Alt

    10th Gen alternative with similar core count.

  • AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
    Alt

    Vastly superior efficiency and 8 cores.

  • Slightly slower but runs cooler in budget laptops.

    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
    Alt

    Better budget alternative with modern architecture.

Core i7-9750H

  • AMD Ryzen 7 3750H

    High-Performance Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-8750H

    High-Performance Mobile

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • Intel Core i9-9880H

    High-End Mobile

    Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen 7 4800H

    High-Performance Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i5-9300H

    Mainstream Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core i7-9750HF
    Alt

    Same performance but lacks integrated graphics for cheaper laptops.

  • Intel Core i7-10750H
    Alt

    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 review
Core i7-9750HRecommended

The 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 review

Frequently 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.