Intel Core i3-8300T vs Intel Core i7-8560U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U scores 5641 points versus 4656 points for the Intel Core i3-8300T, a 21.2% advantage.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R20?

A: The i7-8560U scores 334 points compared to 275 points for the i3-8300T, which is a 21.5% lead.

Q: How many threads does each processor support?

A: The i7-8560U has 8 threads, while the i3-8300T has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings for these two chips?

A: The i7-8560U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i3-8300T has a TDP of 35 watts.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-8300T supports ECC memory, while the i7-8560U does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-8300T has a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i7-8560U has a base clock of 1.80 GHz. The i7-8560U compensates with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-8560U and Intel Core i3-8300T both ship on Intel's 14 nm process node, but they belong to different architectural families. The i7-8560U is a Whiskey Lake part, codenamed Whiskey Lake-U, while the i3-8300T is a Coffee Lake processor. This architectural split maps directly to their intended market segments: the i7-8560U is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1528 socket, whereas the i3-8300T is a desktop chip on the Intel Socket 1151 platform.

Both processors feature 4 physical cores and share the same cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The critical difference lies in threading. The i7-8560U supports Hyper-Threading, enabling 8 threads, while the i3-8300T is limited to 4 threads. This gives the mobile chip a substantial advantage in workloads that scale with thread count.

Clock speeds tell a story of different design philosophies. The i3-8300T runs at a fixed 3.20 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed, prioritizing sustained throughput in a desktop environment with a 35-watt TDP. The i7-8560U, in contrast, has a modest 1.80 GHz base clock but a high 4.60 GHz boost clock, designed to burst to high frequencies when needed while staying within a 15-watt TDP.

Memory support also differs. The i7-8560U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3-8300T supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i3-8300T includes ECC memory support, a feature absent on the i7-8560U.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-8560U carries UHD Graphics 620, while the i3-8300T includes the higher-tier UHD Graphics 630. Both connect via PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the CPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent: the i7-8560U wins every single recorded test. Across six Cinebench benchmarks, the i7-8560U maintains a lead of roughly 21% in almost every category.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8560U scores 568 points versus 469 points for the i3-8300T, a 21.1% margin. The single-core test shows a similar pattern: 80 points versus 66 points, a 21.2% advantage. This consistency suggests the i7-8560U's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental performance edge.

Cinebench R20 results reinforce the trend. The i7-8560U scores 2369 points in multi-core against 1955 points for the i3-8300T, again a 21.2% gap. In single-core, the i7-8560U posts 334 points versus 275 points, which is the largest margin of any test at 21.5%.

Cinebench R23 continues the pattern. The i7-8560U achieves 5641 points in multi-core versus 4656 points for the i3-8300T, and 796 points in single-core versus 657 points. Both deltas sit at 21.2%.

The fact that the single-core deltas are nearly identical to the multi-core deltas is notable. This indicates that the i7-8560U's advantage is not primarily driven by its additional threads. The per-core performance is clearly superior, likely due to the higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i3-8300T, with its fixed 3.20 GHz clock, simply cannot match the single-thread performance of the i7-8560U.

Interestingly, the i3-8300T does have additional benchmark data in the database that the i7-8560U lacks. In Geekbench, the i3-8300T scores 3436 points in multi-core and 1171 points in single-core. This data is recorded for the desktop chip but not for the mobile part, so no direct comparison is possible for that benchmark suite.

The overall average benchmark score places the i7-8560U at 1631 points, while the i3-8300T sits at 1586 points. That is a 2.8% gap in average performance, though the head-to-head Cinebench results show a much larger spread.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the Intel Core i7-8560U outperforms the Intel Core i3-8300T in every benchmark recorded in the database. The mobile chip wins all six head-to-head tests, with consistent margins around 21%. This is a substantial advantage that holds across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

For users prioritizing raw performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the i7-8560U is the clear choice. Its combination of 8 threads, a 4.60 GHz boost clock, and efficient 15-watt TDP delivers results that the i3-8300T cannot match. The i3-8300T's fixed 3.20 GHz clock, while respectable for a desktop part, simply does not offer the same peak performance.

The i3-8300T does have some advantages worth noting. It supports ECC memory, which is important for certain workstation and server applications where data integrity is critical. Its desktop socket, Intel Socket 1151, makes it easier to integrate into a standard desktop motherboard. The i7-8560U, in contrast, uses the BGA 1528 socket, which is typically soldered and not upgradeable.

The i3-8300T also includes the UHD Graphics 630, which is a higher-tier integrated GPU compared to the UHD Graphics 620 in the i7-8560U. For users relying on integrated graphics without a discrete GPU, the i3-8300T may offer better visual performance.

However, for most users, the performance data is decisive. The i7-8560U's 21% lead across all Cinebench tests, combined with its lower 15-watt TDP, makes it a more compelling processor for compute-heavy tasks. The i3-8300T's higher 35-watt TDP suggests it consumes more power while delivering less performance.

Both processors are end-of-life products, so the choice is likely limited to refurbished or existing systems. Within that context, the i7-8560U is the superior performer. The i3-8300T is only preferable in scenarios where ECC memory support is mandatory or where a socketed desktop CPU is required for system design.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8560U | Intel Core i3-8300T |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | Not listed |

| TDP | 15 watts | 35 watts |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1528 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Whiskey Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Whiskey Lake-U | Coffee Lake |

| Die Size | Not listed | 126 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 only |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 620 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2018-09-30 | 2018-04-01 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $138 |

| Part Number | SRGML | SR3Y1 |

Both processors share identical core counts (4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (8 MB shared), memory bus (dual-channel), memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s), PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes), process node (14 nm), and lack of unlocked multiplier. The i7-8560U's mobile design pairs a low base clock with a high boost clock and lower TDP, while the i3-8300T's desktop design offers a higher sustained clock with a higher power envelope. The i3-8300T additionally supports ECC memory and has a larger integrated GPU, while the i7-8560U offers broader memory compatibility with DDR3 support.