Intel Core i9-10980HK vs Intel Core i7-10870H

Processor comparisons   24-03-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-10980HK vs Intel Core i7-10870H and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, rendering, video editing, streaming, machine learning. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, Gears 5, PassMark, SuperPi, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, MATLAB, PCMark 10, RealBench, VeraCrypt, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, 7zip.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Rainbow Six Siege
Halo Infinite
Borderlands 3
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Grand Theft Auto V
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Fortnite
DOOM: Eternal
Watch Dogs Legion
Death Stranding
Last Man Standing
Red Dead Redemption 2
Fallout 76
Valorant
Overwatch
Valheim
Cyberpunk 2077
Apex Legends

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-10870H or Intel Core i9-10980HK.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-10980HK

55%

Core i7-10870H

54%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980HK is 1% better than Core i7-10870H. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10980HK

55%

Core i7-10870H

54%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, League of Legends (LOL), Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.2	96.0
Valorant	110.5	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	61.9	61.1
Apex Legends	103.9	102.5
Call of Duty Warzone	82.9	81.8
Overwatch	89.5	88.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.2	75.3
DOOM Eternal	55.2	54.5
Warzone	86.2	85.1
Assassin's Creed	92.8	91.6
Valheim	91.7	90.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10980HK

106%

Core i7-10870H

94%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-10980HK is more energy efficient than the Core i7-10870H as it consumes less power: 45W vs. 45W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i7-10870H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	219	208
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1627	1522
Cinbench 20 Single-core	507	499
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3643	3457
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1136	1167
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11013	11396

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i7-10870H
Single-Core	2913	2734
Multi-Core	16588	15954

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i7-10870H
Single-Core	1437	1271
Multi-Core	9056	7816

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-10980HK	Intel Core i7-10870H
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	October 01, 2020
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1440	FCBGA1440
Core name	Comet Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	10
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	2.4 MHz	2.2 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	16	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2100 millions	6800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	45 W	45 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	16 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-10980HK is 8% better than Core i7-10870H in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980HK is better: 21
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-10870H is better: 5
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-10980HK and Intel Core i7-10870H before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-10980HK - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-10980HK specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-10870H specs and review.