Intel Core 7 350 vs Intel Core i7-8700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between two very different processor designs. The Intel Core 7 350 wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-8700 takes 5. However, the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Starting with multi-core rendering, the results are surprisingly inconsistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 7 350 scores 1220 against the i7-8700's 1091, a 10.6% advantage. The gap widens in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Core 7 350 leads 5373 to 4548, a 15.4% margin. Yet in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the older i7-8700 reverses the trend decisively, scoring 10829 versus 8030, a 34.9% win. This reversal likely reflects different workload scaling characteristics between the two architectures across benchmark versions.

Single-core performance is where the Core 7 350 establishes its most commanding leads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 292 versus 153, a 47.6% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 15.4% lead (758 to 641), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 25.3% lead (2046 to 1528). The PassMark single-thread test reinforces this pattern, with the Core 7 350 scoring 4100 against 2629, a 35.9% margin.

The PassMark suite reveals distinct strengths for each processor. The i7-8700 dominates in data compression, scoring 187009 against 143123, a 30.7% lead. It also wins integer math by 33% (44881 to 33734) and random string sorting by 39% (23963 to 17238). The extended instructions test is close, with the i7-8700 ahead by only 3.2% (12432 to 12045).

The Core 7 350 counters with massive wins in several specialized tests. Data encryption shows a 58.9% advantage (10933 to 4488). Find prime numbers yields a 67.3% lead (107 to 35). Floating point math favors the Core 7 350 by 35% (42809 to 27839). Physics simulation shows a 37.6% edge (1173 to 732). The multithread PassMark test gives the Core 7 350 a 15.9% win (15170 to 12756).

Looking at overall standing, the i7-8700 holds a 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18223. The Core 7 350 sits at the 71st percentile with an average score of 17779. The nearest rivals for the i7-8700 include the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E (average score 18230, 0% delta), the AMD EPYC 9274F (18189, 0.2% delta), and the Intel Core i7-9700 (18180, 0.2% delta). The Core 7 350's closest competitors are the Intel Core 5 221TE (17860, -0.5% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891, -0.6% delta), and the Intel Core 5 120U (17898, -0.7% delta).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons overall?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-8700 wins 5.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R15?

A: The Core 7 350 scores 292 in Cinebench R15 single-core, which is 47.6% higher than the i7-8700's score of 153.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i7-8700 achieve its largest margin of victory?

A: The i7-8700's biggest win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 10829 against the Core 7 350's 8030, a 34.9% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in PassMark data encryption performance?

A: The Core 7 350 scores 10933 in PassMark data encryption, which is 58.9% higher than the i7-8700's score of 4488.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall CPU percentile ranking?

A: The i7-8700 ranks at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 7 350 ranks at the 71st percentile, a difference of one percentile point.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-8700 has an average benchmark score of 18223, while the Core 7 350 has an average score of 17779, a difference of 444 points in favor of the i7-8700.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design generations and market segments. The i7-8700 is built on Intel's 14 nm process node with the Coffee Lake architecture, while the Core 7 350 uses a 3 nm process node with the Wildcat Lake codename. This process node difference explains much of the performance and efficiency gap between them.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. Both processors have 6 physical cores, but the i7-8700 supports 12 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the Core 7 350 has 6 threads with no hyper-threading support. This explains why the i7-8700 can win in certain multi-threaded workloads despite the Core 7 350's superior single-core performance.

Clock speeds show a trade-off between power and peak performance. The i7-8700 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core 7 350 has a much lower base clock of 1.50 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power reflects this difference dramatically: the i7-8700 has a 65 W TDP, while the Core 7 350 operates at just 15 W.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The i7-8700 uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 350 uses 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches in the Core 7 350 likely contribute to its single-core advantage.

Memory support diverges completely. The i7-8700 supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 7 350 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. Despite having fewer channels, the newer memory standard provides higher bandwidth.

PCI Express capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The i7-8700 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 7 350 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The socket types also differ: the i7-8700 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Core 7 350 uses Intel BGA 1516.

Integrated graphics are from different generations. The i7-8700 includes UHD Graphics 630, while the Core 7 350 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core 7 350's newer graphics architecture reflects its mobile-focused design.

Production status and release timing differ substantially. The i7-8700 was released in 2017 and is now end-of-life, while the Core 7 350 was released in 2026 and remains active. The i7-8700's die size is 154 mm², while the Core 7 350's die size is not recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that these processors serve different primary use cases despite sharing the same core count. The Core 7 350 is the clear choice for single-threaded performance and power-sensitive applications. Its 47.6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 35.9% lead in PassMark single-thread performance demonstrate a significant generational advantage in per-core efficiency.

The i7-8700 retains advantages in specific multi-threaded workloads. Its 34.9% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 33% lead in PassMark integer math suggest that its 12 threads provide meaningful benefits in certain parallel workloads. The 30.7% advantage in data compression further supports this pattern.

The Core 7 350 excels in encryption, prime number finding, and floating point workloads. Its 58.9% lead in data encryption and 67.3% lead in prime number finding are the largest margins in either direction across all benchmarks. The 35% advantage in floating point math indicates strong numerical processing capabilities.

For users prioritizing raw single-core speed, modern instruction set efficiency, and low power consumption, the Core 7 350 is the data-supported choice. For users running heavily multi-threaded workloads that scale with thread count, particularly those involving integer math or data compression, the i7-8700's 12 threads provide a measurable benefit.

The overall average benchmark scores are close: the i7-8700 averages 18223 versus the Core 7 350's 17779. The percentile rankings are equally close at 72 versus 71. This suggests that in aggregate, the two processors deliver similar overall performance, but with very different performance profiles across workload types.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8700 | Intel Core 7 350 |

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

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 3 nm |

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

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

| 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 (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| 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 | $469 |

| Part Number | SR3QS | SAE3F |

The specification table highlights the fundamental design differences. The i7-8700 offers more threads, a higher base clock, a larger shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and more PCIe lanes. The Core 7 350 offers a higher boost clock, dramatically lower TDP, newer process node, larger per-core caches, faster memory bandwidth, and newer PCIe generation. The i7-8700 uses a desktop socket, while the Core 7 350 uses a mobile BGA package.