Intel Core i3-8350K vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database paints a clear split: the Intel Core i7-5950HQ wins six of eight head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i3-8350K takes two. For sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, the i7-5950HQ is the stronger pick, leading by roughly 10.6% to 10.9% across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests. However, the i3-8350K counters decisively in Geekbench, with a 7.8% multi-core advantage and a 13.5% single-core edge. That pattern suggests the i7-5950HQ excels in long-form compute tasks, while the i3-8350K is better suited to shorter, latency-sensitive workloads.

The i7-5950HQ sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2158. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-10200H (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i5-7640X (0.4% behind), the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X (0.5% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-1145G7E (0.7% behind). The i3-8350K lands at the 46th percentile with an average score of 2096, placing it slightly lower overall, though its rivals cluster tightly: the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X is 0.1% ahead, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G is 0.2% behind, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 is 0.5% ahead, and the Intel Core i5-8259U is 0.6% behind.

Given the data, the i7-5950HQ is the choice for rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales across eight threads. The i3-8350K, with its higher clock speed and newer architecture, is the better option for responsiveness in everyday tasks and Geekbench-style mixed workloads. Users who prioritize raw multi-core throughput should ignore the Geekbench discrepancy and pick the i7-5950HQ. Users who need the fastest possible single-core reaction, and who value the unlocked multiplier, should lean toward the i3-8350K.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families. The i7-5950HQ is a Broadwell-H mobile part, built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 182 mm². It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i3-8350K is a Coffee Lake desktop chip, also on 14 nm but with a smaller die at 126 mm². It offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency.

Cache layouts differ meaningfully. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i7-5950HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-8350K has 8 MB of shared L3. That extra L3 capacity on the i3-8350K helps explain its Geekbench advantage. Memory support also diverges: the i7-5950HQ uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i3-8350K uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The higher memory bandwidth on the i3-8350K is a substantial architectural edge.

The i7-5950HQ integrates Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i3-8350K carries UHD Graphics 630. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i7-5950HQ targets the mobile segment with a 47 W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket. The i3-8350K is a desktop part with a 91 W TDP on the Intel Socket 1151. The i3-8350K also has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, whereas the i7-5950HQ is locked. ECC memory support is present on the i3-8350K but absent on the i7-5950HQ.

The release dates place the i7-5950HQ in June 2015, while the i3-8350K arrived in October 2017. Both are end-of-life products. The manufacturing process node is identical at 14 nm, and both come from Intel, but the architectural generation separates them: Broadwell-H versus Coffee Lake.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-5950HQ dominates Cinebench across every version recorded. In R15 multi-core, it scores 656 versus 593, a 10.6% lead. In R15 single-core, it scores 92 versus 83, a 10.8% lead. The pattern holds in R20 multi-core (2736 versus 2471, 10.7% ahead) and R20 single-core (386 versus 348, 10.9% ahead). In R23 multi-core, the i7-5950HQ scores 6516 against 5884, a 10.7% advantage, and in R23 single-core it scores 920 against 830, a 10.8% advantage. These consistent margins indicate that the i7-5950HQ’s extra threads (8 versus 4) provide a measurable edge in rendering workloads, and even in single-core Cinebench tests, the older architecture still outperforms.

The i3-8350K wins the Geekbench tests. In multi-core, it scores 4992 versus 4601, a 7.8% lead. In single-core, it scores 1564 versus 1353, a 13.5% lead. These are not marginal differences. The single-core Geekbench result is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The i3-8350K’s higher base clock (4.00 GHz versus 2.90 GHz) and larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB) likely drive this advantage.

For use-case selection, the data suggests: choose the i7-5950HQ for Cinebench-style rendering, 3D modeling, or video encoding where multi-threaded performance is paramount. Choose the i3-8350K for general desktop responsiveness, web browsing, office productivity, or any task that mirrors Geekbench’s mixed integer and floating-point workload. The i3-8350K’s unlocked multiplier also means it can be pushed further, though the database does not record overclocked scores.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-5950HQ scores 6516, which is 10.7% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8350K’s 5884.

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i3-8350K scores 1564, beating the Intel Core i7-5950HQ’s 1353 by 13.5%.

Q: Does the i7-5950HQ have more threads than the i3-8350K?

A: Yes, the i7-5950HQ has 8 threads, while the i3-8350K has 4.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i3-8350K has a TDP of 91 W, while the Intel Core i7-5950HQ has a TDP of 47 W.

Q: Are both CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the Intel Core i3-8350K has an unlocked multiplier, but the Intel Core i7-5950HQ does not.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-8350K supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-5950HQ does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i7-5950HQ comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 386 against the i3-8350K’s 348, a 10.9% margin. The smallest win for the i7-5950HQ is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 656 versus 593, a 10.6% difference. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-5950HQ’s lead hovers tightly between 10.6% and 10.9%, showing remarkable consistency. This is not a case of one benchmark favoring a specific architecture quirk; the i7-5950HQ simply outpaces the i3-8350K in every Cinebench iteration recorded.

The i3-8350K’s wins are equally consistent, though larger in single-core. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-8350K scores 4992 versus 4601, a 7.8% lead. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1564 versus 1353, a 13.5% lead. The single-core delta is the most pronounced performance gap in the entire comparison, nearly double the multi-core margin. This suggests the i3-8350K’s architectural strengths are most visible when the workload is short and single-threaded.

It is importantly the i7-5950HQ’s average benchmark score of 2158 is higher than the i3-8350K’s 2096, despite the i3-8350K winning two head-to-head tests. The i7-5950HQ’s percentile ranking of 47 versus the i3-8350K’s 46 also reflects this slight overall edge. The database’s nearest rival data for the i7-5950HQ includes the Intel Core i5-10200H at 0.2% ahead and the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X at 0.5% ahead, while the i3-8350K’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X at 0.1% ahead. These comparisons place both CPUs in a crowded mid-range field, but the i7-5950HQ holds a small average-score advantage.

The Geekbench results for the i3-8350K are notable because they invert the Cinebench trend. The i3-8350K’s higher memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s) and larger L3 cache likely contribute to this. The i7-5950HQ’s advantage in Cinebench is likely tied to its 8 threads, which Cinebench leverages more aggressively. Users should interpret the Geekbench wins as evidence that the i3-8350K handles mixed workloads with lower latency, while the Cinebench wins show the i7-5950HQ sustains throughput under heavy multi-threaded load.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specification fields. The i7-5950HQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i3-8350K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz with no boost clock listed. The i7-5950HQ has 8 threads, the i3-8350K has 4. The i7-5950HQ’s TDP is 47 W, the i3-8350K’s is 91 W. The sockets differ: Intel BGA 1364 for the i7-5950HQ, Intel Socket 1151 for the i3-8350K.

Architecture and codename differ: the i7-5950HQ is Broadwell with the Broadwell-H codename, while the i3-8350K is Coffee Lake with the same codename. The die sizes are 182 mm² for the i7-5950HQ and 126 mm² for the i3-8350K. L3 cache differs: 6 MB shared on the i7-5950HQ versus 8 MB shared on the i3-8350K. Memory support differs: DDR3 for the i7-5950HQ, DDR4 for the i3-8350K. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s for the i7-5950HQ and 38.4 GB/s for the i3-8350K.

ECC memory support is false for the i7-5950HQ and true for the i3-8350K. Integrated graphics differ: Iris Pro Graphics 6200 on the i7-5950HQ, UHD Graphics 630 on the i3-8350K. The market segment differs: mobile for the i7-5950HQ, desktop for the i3-8350K. The multiplier is locked on the i7-5950HQ but unlocked on the i3-8350K. Release dates differ: June 2015 for the i7-5950HQ, October 2017 for the i3-8350K. The launch MSRP is $623 for the i7-5950HQ and $168 for the i3-8350K. Both use the same 14 nm process node, and both have 4 cores, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.