CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-8750H vs Intel Core i9-8950HK
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.
Multi-threaded productivity workloads benefit significantly from the six cores, making it competitive for 2018-era content creation and professional applications.
Gaming
Handles modern mid-range GPUs (up to RTX 2070) without bottlenecking.
Delivers strong gaming performance for its generation, capable of high-refresh-rate play in most titles, but modern mobile CPUs often match or beat it with better efficiency.
Virtualization
Good for running VMs on a laptop.
Good for light to moderate virtualization on a laptop, though memory and platform constraints limit scaling compared to desktop or workstation CPUs.
Efficiency
45W TDP can get hot and loud in thin laptops.
High power consumption for a mobile part, requiring robust cooling and limiting battery life under load compared to newer 10nm and later mobile designs.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- 12 threads provide decent CPU inference
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware; AI workloads run on CPU cores.
- Suitable for light CPU-based inference and small models, but not for serious training or large-scale inference.
- Modern mobile CPUs with NPUs or strong integrated GPUs are far better for AI 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
- Strong single-core clocks up to 4.8 GHz help maintain high FPS in CPU-limited titles.
- 6 cores provide headroom for modern games that scale beyond four threads.
- Bottlenecked more by GPU and memory bandwidth than by CPU in many laptop configurations.
- Newer mobile CPUs often deliver similar or better gaming performance with 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
- Six cores and twelve threads for strong multi-threaded performance
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking on capable laptops
- High single-core boost up to 4.8 GHz via Thermal Velocity Boost
- Integrated UHD Graphics 630 for basic display and quick-sync encoding
- Established platform with mature drivers and firmware
Cons
- High power consumption and heat output for a mobile CPU
- End-of-life platform with no upgrade path beyond the laptop itself
- 14nm++ process is less efficient than newer 10nm and refined nodes
- Integrated graphics are only suitable for light workloads and older games
- Limited by laptop power delivery and cooling; real-world performance varies widely between designs
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 i9-8950HK
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8850HRival
High-End Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8750HRival
High-End Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-9880HRival
High-End Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700URival
Thin & Light Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 3750HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Intel Core i7-9750HAlt
Similar or better performance with improved efficiency and platform features.
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HXAlt
Much better efficiency and modern features in a newer high-end laptop.
Hybrid architecture with significantly higher performance and efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- Apple M1 Pro/MaxAlt
Far superior performance-per-watt for macOS users doing creative workloads.
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 powerful unlocked mobile hexa-core CPU in its heyday, offering strong multi-threaded performance and overclocking headroom, but with high power demand and limited efficiency compared to newer mobile designs.
Best for: Used or clearance high-end laptop where the CPU is already installed and the price is low.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-8750H or Intel Core i9-8950HK?
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 i9-8950HK?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8750H leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Intel Core i7-8750H and Intel Core i9-8950HK.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i7-8750H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i7-8750H (45 W), Intel Core i9-8950HK (95 W).
Do Intel Core i7-8750H and Intel Core i9-8950HK 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), Intel Core i9-8950HK (10,200). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.