CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-8750H vs Intel Core i9-11900H
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.
Capable in content creation and professional apps, with competitive single-core and solid multi-thread performance for an 8-core mobile CPU in 2021, but newer designs pull ahead in sustained workloads.
Gaming
Handles modern mid-range GPUs (up to RTX 2070) without bottlenecking.
Strong for 1080p gaming at high refresh rates when paired with a midrange or better discrete GPU. Modern 12th/13th-gen Intel and Ryzen 6000/7000 mobile CPUs tend to edge it out in CPU-heavy titles and efficiency.
Virtualization
Good for running VMs on a laptop.
Good for running several VMs or containers on a laptop, but limited by 8 cores and typical laptop power limits compared to modern HX-series parts.
Efficiency
45W TDP can get hot and loud in thin laptops.
Performance-per-watt is decent but not class-leading; AMD’s Ryzen 5000/6000 and Intel’s Alder Lake/Raptor Lake are notably more efficient under many workloads.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- 12 threads provide decent CPU inference
- No dedicated NPU; relies on CPU AVX-512 and GNA 2.0 for AI workloads
- Suitable for light local inference and on-device ML, not serious training or large models
- Intel Deep Learning Boost (AVX-512 VNNI) helps some quantized inference tasks
Content Creation
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
- High single-core turbo (up to 4.9 GHz) benefits CPU-bound games
- Performance highly dependent on laptop cooling and power limits
- Competitive with Ryzen 7 5800H in many games at similar power
- Newer Intel/AMD mobile CPUs often deliver higher FPS at lower power
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
- 8 high-performance Willow Cove cores with strong single-thread speed
- 20 PCIe 4.0 CPU lanes for GPU and NVMe
- DDR4-3200 dual-channel with good bandwidth
- Configurable 35–45 W TDP fits both thin and thick designs
- Integrated UHD Graphics with Quick Sync for video encode/decode
- AVX-512 and DL Boost for specialized workloads
Cons
- Older 10 nm SuperFin process is less efficient than Intel 7 and TSMC 7 nm/6 nm
- No DDR5 or PCIe 5.0 support; platform feels dated in 2026
- Locked multiplier limits overclocking headroom
- Power-hungry under sustained multi-thread vs modern competitors
- Now discontinued; no long-term platform upgrade path
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.
Intel Core i9-11900H
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800HRival
High-End Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11800HRival
High-End Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HXRival
Enthusiast Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-10885HRival
High-End Mobile (Previous Gen)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-12700HRival
High-End Mobile (Next Gen)
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HSAlt
More efficient Zen 3+ with RDNA 2 iGPU and better battery life in many designs.
- Intel Core i9-12900HAlt
14-core Alder Lake-H with higher single- and multi-thread performance and DDR5 support on newer platforms.
If you don’t need 8 cores, a newer 12th-gen i5 can be faster and more efficient while costing less.
Compare head-to-head
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 reviewA fast 8-core mobile CPU in its day, with strong single-thread performance and PCIe 4.0, but now outclassed by 12th/13th-gen Intel and Ryzen 6000/7000 in efficiency and multi-core performance.
Best for: Buying a discounted 2021-era gaming or workstation laptop where the i9-11900H is already installed, and you prioritize GPU and thermals over CPU generation.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-8750H or Intel Core i9-11900H?
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 Intel Core i9-11900H?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8750H leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Intel Core i7-8750H and Intel Core i9-11900H.
Do Intel Core i7-8750H and Intel Core i9-11900H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i7-8750H: Intel BGA 1440, Intel Core i9-11900H: FCBGA1787), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i9-11900H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i7-8750H (6 cores), Intel Core i9-11900H (8 cores).
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), Intel Core i9-11900H (12,345). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.