CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8700 and the Intel Core 5 315 occupy the same overall performance tier, but they achieve it through radically different designs. The 8700 is an older 14nm desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the 315 is a modern 3nm mobile chip with 6 cores and 6 threads. The data shows the Core 5 315 wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, often by large margins, yet the i7-8700 claims three specific workload victories where its older architecture and higher thread count prove decisive. The verdict is straightforward: if you need raw single-threaded speed, encryption, or floating-point muscle, the Core 5 315 is the clear choice; if your work involves data compression, integer math, or random string sorting, the i7-8700’s 12 threads deliver better results. The i7-8700 is end-of-life, whereas the Core 5 315 is an active product, but both sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs with near-identical average benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. The Intel Core 5 315 is the better processor for most users. It beats the i7-8700 in every Cinebench test, all three rendering workloads, and the majority of PassMark tests. Its single-core advantage is massive: it scores 4021 in PassMark single-thread versus 2629 for the 8700, a 34.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it posts 1832 against 1528, a 16.6% gap. This translates directly to snappier everyday use and faster performance in lightly-threaded applications.

The Intel Core i7-8700 remains relevant only for a narrow set of tasks. Its 12 threads give it a 41.6% lead in PassMark integer math (44881 vs 31690) and a 28% lead in data compression (187009 vs 146143). It also wins random string sorting by 36.5% (23963 vs 17551). If your workflow is dominated by these specific operations, the older chip is the data-backed pick. However, the 315’s wins are more numerous and more general-purpose, making it the better default recommendation.

For a desktop builder with an existing LGA 1151 board, the 8700 could be a drop-in upgrade. For anyone buying new, the 315’s performance profile, despite being a mobile part, makes it the stronger choice in most scenarios. The 315 is also an active product, while the 8700 is end-of-life, which matters for long-term availability and support.

Architecture Differences

The two chips could not be more different under the hood. The i7-8700 uses Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture on a 14nm process, with a die size of 154 mm². It runs at a 3.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.60 GHz, with a TDP of 65W. The Core 5 315 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3nm process, with a 1.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost, all within a 15W TDP. This is a mobile part, socketed as BGA 1516, versus the 8700’s Socket 1151.

The core configurations differ critically: the 8700 has 6 cores and 12 threads (Hyper-Threading enabled), while the 315 has 6 cores and 6 threads (no Hyper-Threading). Cache layouts are also distinct. The 8700 offers 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 12 MB shared L3. The 315 has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support diverges: the 8700 uses DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth; the 315 uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode with a higher 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The 315’s PCIe is newer (Gen 4, 6 lanes) versus the 8700’s Gen 3, 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the 8700 has UHD Graphics 630, while the 315 packs Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). Both lack ECC memory support and have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 315 dominates the rendering suite. In Cinebench R15, it scores 1308 multicore versus 1091 for the 8700, a 16.6% win. The single-core R15 result is 184 vs 153, a 16.8% lead. R20 multicore shows 5452 vs 4548, again a 16.6% gap, and single-core is 769 vs 641. The pattern holds in R23: multicore is 12981 vs 10829 (16.6%), and single-core is 1832 vs 1528 (16.6%). These consistent deltas suggest a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage for the 3nm part.

The 315 also wins PassMark’s multithread test, scoring 15272 versus 12756, a 16.5% margin. Its physics score is 1163 versus 732, a 37.1% blowout. Floating-point math goes to the 315 by 34.4% (42441 vs 27839). Data encryption is a huge win for the 315: 11119 vs 4488, a 59.6% advantage. Prime number finding shows the 315 at 112 vs 35, a 68.7% lead. Extended instructions favor the 315 modestly (13143 vs 12432, 5.4%).

The i7-8700’s three wins are all in integer-heavy or compression tasks. Its data compression score of 187009 beats the 315’s 146143 by 28%. Integer math shows 44881 vs 31690, a 41.6% lead for the 8700. Random string sorting is 23963 vs 17551, a 36.5% win. These are the only areas where the older chip’s extra threads overcome the 315’s architectural efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 315 is decisively ahead. It scores 4021 in PassMark single-thread versus 2629 for the i7-8700, a 34.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it wins 1832 vs 1528, a 16.6% margin.

Q: Is the i7-8700 better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: No. Despite having 12 threads versus 6, the 8700 loses PassMark multithread (12756 vs 15272) and all three Cinebench multicore tests. The 315’s higher efficiency per core overcomes the thread count disadvantage.

Q: What workloads favor the i7-8700?

A: The data shows three specific wins: data compression (187009 vs 146143, +28%), integer math (44881 vs 31690, +41.6%), and random string sorting (23963 vs 17551, +36.5%). If your software relies on these operations, the 8700 is faster.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The i7-8700 has an average benchmark score of 18223, while the Core 5 315 scores 18188. Both sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival for both is the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, with the 8700 at a 0% delta and the 315 at a 0.2% delta.

Q: What are the memory differences?

A: The i7-8700 supports DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 5 315 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode but achieves a higher 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The 315’s newer memory type provides more bandwidth despite fewer channels.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The Core 5 315 features Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe), which is a newer architecture than the i7-8700’s UHD Graphics 630. The benchmark database does not provide benchmark scores for either iGPU, so no quantitative comparison is available.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 315 is the winner for general-purpose computing, rendering, and most productivity tasks. It dominates Cinebench across all three versions (R15, R20, R23) in both single and multicore, with consistent 16.6% margins. It also wins PassMark’s multithread, physics, floating-point math, encryption, prime finding, and extended instructions tests. The 34.6% single-thread lead makes it the better choice for everyday responsiveness, office work, and any application that is not heavily threaded. Its 15W TDP also makes it suitable for mobile platforms, whereas the 8700’s 65W TDP is desktop-bound.

The Intel Core i7-8700 wins only where its 12 threads can be fully utilized in specific integer operations. It excels in data compression, integer math, and random string sorting, with leads of 28%, 41.6%, and 36.5% respectively. These three wins represent a narrow but real advantage for archival tools, certain database operations, and compression-heavy workflows. If your primary software spends time in these functions, the 8700 will complete those tasks faster, even though it loses every other benchmark.

In practical terms, the 315 is the better all-rounder. The 8700 is a specialist tool for a niche set of workloads. Given that the 315 is active while the 8700 is end-of-life, the newer part also has a longer expected support horizon.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8700 | Intel Core 5 315 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 15W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 14nm | 3nm |

| Die Size | 154 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (total) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2.5 MB (total) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 6 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2017-10-04 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $303 | $340 |

| Part Number | SR3QS | SAEFC |