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The Intel Core i9-8950HK runs fastest on this laptop

The Intel Core i9-8950HK runs fastest on this laptop (Image source: Aorus)
The Intel Core i9-8950HK runs fastest on this laptop (Image source: Aorus)
Looking for a laptop with the Core i9-8950HK CPU? Then either Aorus or MSI would be your best bet if you want to get the most that the pricey Intel CPU can offer. We compare 9 different laptops equipped with the same Core i9 CPU to see which comes out on top or bottom.

So far, we've tested 9 different laptops equipped with the vaunted Intel Core i9-8950HK CPU. By running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a continuous loop, we can not only compare the CPU performance of these laptops but also the throttling behavior of each. Our graph below shows a clear trend of how these OEMs implement the same processor across a wide range of sizes and designs.

First, let's start with the top two performers. As shown by the graph, the Aorus X9 DT and MSI GT75 are the fastest consumer laptops with the i9-8950HK at stock settings. Aorus takes the lead over MSI by a margin of just 2 percent, but each is still 15 to 30 percent faster than all other i9-8950HK laptops on the list and with better Turbo Boost sustainability as well.

Moving one step down is where the majority of i9-8950HK laptops can be found. These systems stabilize in the 1030 to 1140 points range to ultimately offer an extremely slim benefit over a base Core i7-8750H. The average i7-8750H in our database, for example, has a CineBench R15 Multi-Thread score of 1100 points. Two noteworthy models are the Asus Chimera G703 and Dell XPS 15 9570 as each are able to benefit more from higher Turbo Boost clock rates. The very high clock rates are temporary, however, and performance eventually drops.

The slowest implementation of the i9-8950HK we've seen thus far is on the ultrathin Eurocom Q8 based on the Clevo PA71 chassis. The system starts off relatively strong with a CineBench R15 Multi-Thread score of 1099 points, but it suffers from throttling more heavily over time and so its score eventually settles at around 950 points only.

Is the Core i9-8950HK worth the investment? The answer is certainly down to user preference, but there's no doubt that some i9 laptops are faster than others.

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Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1095 (1008.45-1230.43)
Dell Precision 7530 Quadro P3200, i9-8950HK, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1123 (1110.46-1192.57)
Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-51-93LS GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Liteon CA1-8D512; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1126 (1080-1148)
Alienware 15 R4 GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1064 (1038.8-1083)
Eurocom Q8 GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø953 (859.29-1099)
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1039 (1027.64-1112.59)
Asus Chimera G703GI GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Intel 760p 512 GB + 1x Samsung SM961 512 GB (RAID); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1117 (1099.93-1311.78)
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0); CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1353 (1323.32-1378.12)
Aorus X9 DT GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Transcend TS1TMTE850; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø1376 (1345.8-1391.16)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Asus Chimera G703GI
Intel Core i9-8950HK
206 Points
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
205 Points
Eurocom Q8
Intel Core i9-8950HK
202 Points
Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-51-93LS
Intel Core i9-8950HK
198 Points
Alienware 15 R4
Intel Core i9-8950HK
197 Points
Average Intel Core i9-8950HK
  (185 - 206, n=14)
195.9 Points
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
Intel Core i9-8950HK
191 Points
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
Intel Core i9-8950HK
190 Points
Dell Precision 7530
Intel Core i9-8950HK
187 Points
Aorus X9 DT
Intel Core i9-8950HK
185 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad P52 20MAS03N00
Intel Core i7-8750H
175 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Aorus X9 DT
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1391 Points
MSI GT75 8RG-090 Titan
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1378 Points
Asus Chimera G703GI
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1312 Points
Dell XPS 15 9570 Core i9 UHD
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1230 Points
Average Intel Core i9-8950HK
  (1051 - 1391, n=14)
1220 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad P52 20MAS03N00
Intel Core i7-8750H
1217 Points
Dell Precision 7530
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1193 Points
Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-51-93LS
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1148 Points
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1113 Points
Eurocom Q8
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1099 Points
Alienware 15 R4
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1083 Points

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Allen Ngo, 2018-11-11 (Update: 2018-11-11)