Intel Core i3-9350KF vs Intel Core i5-8500T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8500T and Intel Core i3-9350KF are both desktop processors built on Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture, sharing the LGA 1151 socket and a 14 nm manufacturing process. Despite these similarities, the two chips are engineered for very different workloads, as reflected in their core counts, clock speeds, thermal envelopes, and benchmark results. The i5-8500T is a six-core, six-thread part with a 35 W TDP, while the i3-9350KF is a four-core, four-thread part with a 91 W TDP and significantly higher clock speeds. The recorded data from the database shows a clear split: the i5-8500T dominates nearly every multi-threaded and multi-core test, while the i3-9350KF wins decisively in a single-core Geekbench metric. This analysis walks through the head-to-head numbers, the use-case implications, and the architectural details that explain the results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison in the database includes eight benchmark tests, with the Intel Core i5-8500T winning seven of them and the Intel Core i3-9350KF winning only one. The margins vary, but the pattern is consistent across Cinebench versions and Geekbench multicore tests.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-8500T scores 662 points against 640 for the i3-9350KF, a 3.4% advantage. The single-core result in the same test is closer, with the i5-8500T at 93 and the i3-9350KF at 90, a 3.3% edge for the i5. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap stays at 3.4%, with the i5-8500T posting 2759 versus 2667 for the i3. The single-core R20 test shows the i5-8500T ahead by 3.5%, scoring 389 versus 376.

Cinebench R23 follows the same trajectory. In multicore, the i5-8500T reaches 6571, while the i3-9350KF manages 6352, again a 3.4% difference. The single-core R23 result gives the i5-8500T 927 against 896 for the i3, a 3.5% margin. These Cinebench results are remarkably consistent, with the i5-8500T holding a steady 3.3% to 3.5% lead across every iteration of the test.

Geekbench multicore shows the largest win for the i5-8500T in this comparison. The i5 scores 4293, while the i3-9350KF scores 4098, a 4.8% difference. This suggests that the i5-8500T’s additional two cores provide a more pronounced benefit in Geekbench’s multi-threaded workload than in Cinebench’s rendering tasks.

The single exception comes in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-9350KF takes a commanding lead. The i3 scores 1534, versus 1187 for the i5-8500T, a 22.6% advantage for the i3. This is a substantial margin, driven by the i3’s much higher base and boost clocks. The i5-8500T’s single-core score is dragged down by its 2.10 GHz base clock and 3.50 GHz boost, while the i3 operates at 4.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost.

Across the full set of benchmarks, the i5-8500T’s wins are narrow but consistent, ranging from 3.3% to 4.8%. The i3-9350KF’s single win is far larger in percentage terms, but it applies to only one test. The average benchmark scores in the database reflect this overall balance: the i5-8500T has an average score of 2110, while the i3-9350KF averages 2082. Both processors sit in the 46th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating they are closely matched in overall performance despite their different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data points to distinct use cases for each processor. The Intel Core i5-8500T is the clear winner in multi-threaded and multi-core workloads. Every Cinebench multicore test, from R15 to R23, goes to the i5 with a 3.4% margin. Geekbench multicore gives the i5 an even larger 4.8% edge. These results come from the i5’s six cores and six threads, which allow it to handle parallel tasks more effectively than the i3’s four cores and four threads.

For tasks like video rendering, 3D modeling, batch photo processing, or any workload that scales with core count, the i5-8500T is the better choice according to the recorded scores. The Cinebench tests are specifically designed to stress multi-core rendering, and the i5 consistently outperforms the i3 in each version. The Geekbench multicore test, which mixes integer, floating-point, and memory operations across threads, also favors the i5 by a larger margin, suggesting the i5’s extra cores help in a broader range of parallel tasks.

The Intel Core i3-9350KF wins in single-core performance, specifically in Geekbench single-core, where it beats the i5-8500T by 22.6%. This is a decisive victory, driven by the i3’s 4.00 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock, which are substantially higher than the i5’s 2.10 GHz and 3.50 GHz. Single-core performance matters for applications that are lightly threaded, such as older games, certain productivity tools, or workflows that cannot take advantage of multiple cores.

Interestingly, the Cinebench single-core tests do not follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core, the i5-8500T actually wins by 3.3% to 3.5%, despite its lower clocks. This suggests that Cinebench’s single-core workload is less sensitive to raw clock speed than Geekbench’s, or that the i5-8500T’s architecture handles the rendering task more efficiently per clock in this specific test. The i3-9350KF’s single-core advantage is therefore not universal, but it is pronounced in Geekbench.

For users prioritizing raw single-thread speed, the i3-9350KF is the pick based on Geekbench, but the Cinebench results complicate that picture. In practical terms, the i3’s higher clocks will benefit any software that heavily relies on a single thread, but the i5-8500T is not far behind in Cinebench single-core and is markedly better in multi-threaded scenarios.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i5-8500T is the better overall processor, winning seven out of eight benchmark tests and holding a higher average score. The i5’s wins are narrow, between 3.3% and 4.8%, but they are consistent across all Cinebench versions and Geekbench multicore. The i3-9350KF’s only victory, Geekbench single-core, is large at 22.6%, but it is confined to a single test.

For users who run multi-threaded applications, the i5-8500T is the obvious choice. Its six cores provide a measurable advantage in rendering, encoding, and other parallel workloads. The i5 also wins in Cinebench single-core, so it is not strictly inferior in lightly threaded tasks, despite its lower clock speeds. The i5-8500T’s 35 W TDP also indicates it is far more power-efficient than the i3-9350KF’s 91 W TDP, though the database does not include direct power consumption measurements.

The i3-9350KF is the pick for users who specifically need maximum single-thread performance in Geekbench-like workloads. The 22.6% lead in that test is substantial, and the i3’s 4.60 GHz boost clock is the highest among the two. However, the i3 loses in every Cinebench single-core test, so its advantage is not universal. The i3 also has a lower average score, 2082 versus 2110, and both processors sit at the 46th percentile overall.

In a head-to-head comparison, the i5-8500T is the recommended processor for general use, content creation, and any multi-threaded workload. The i3-9350KF is a niche option for users who know their software is single-threaded and clock-hungry, and who can accept the trade-off in multi-core performance. The data does not support the i3 as a well-rounded choice, but it does excel in one specific metric.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i3-9350KF has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the single-core Geekbench score difference?

A: The i3-9350KF scores 1534 in Geekbench single-core, while the i5-8500T scores 1187, giving the i3 a 22.6% advantage in that test.

Q: Does the i5-8500T win in all Cinebench tests?

A: Yes, the i5-8500T wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and single-core. The margins range from 3.3% to 3.5% across these six tests.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i5-8500T has an average benchmark score of 2110, while the i3-9350KF has an average score of 2082.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use the Intel Socket 1151 and are based on the Coffee Lake architecture, though the i3-9350KF is part of a Coffee Lake Refresh generation.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i3-9350KF has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, compared to the i5-8500T’s 3.50 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the Coffee Lake architecture and the 14 nm manufacturing process from Intel, but they diverge in several key specifications.

The core configuration is the most significant difference. The i5-8500T offers 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i3-9350KF has 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither chip supports Hyper-Threading, so thread counts equal core counts. The i5’s additional cores directly explain its multi-threaded benchmark wins.

Clock speeds are reversed in importance. The i5-8500T has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, which are low for a desktop processor. The i3-9350KF operates at 4.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost, giving it a significant clock advantage that shows up in Geekbench single-core.

Thermal design power, or TDP, differs dramatically. The i5-8500T is rated at 35 W, making it a low-power part suitable for compact or thermally constrained systems. The i3-9350KF is rated at 91 W, nearly three times higher, reflecting its higher clocks and lack of integrated graphics.

Cache sizes also differ. The i5-8500T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-9350KF has 8 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i5’s larger L3 cache may contribute to its consistent Cinebench wins, even in single-core tests where clock speed should favor the i3.

Memory support is similar, with both supporting DDR4 and dual-channel memory buses. The i5-8500T has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i3-9350KF has 38.4 GB/s. The i5’s higher bandwidth is likely tied to its larger cache and additional cores.

The i5-8500T includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel UHD 630, while the i3-9350KF has no integrated graphics. The i3’s lack of an iGPU means it requires a discrete graphics card for any display output. The i5 also supports ECC memory as false, while the i3-9350KF supports ECC memory as true, a notable difference for stability-sensitive workloads.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, so expansion options are identical. The i5-8500T has a die size of 126 mm², while the i5-8500T’s die size is not listed in the database. The i3-9350KF was released in January 2019, while the i5-8500T was released in April 2018, and both are marked as end-of-life. The i3-9350KF has a launch MSRP of $173, while the i5-8500T has no listed launch MSRP in the database.

In summary, the i5-8500T leverages more cores, a larger L3 cache, and higher memory bandwidth to win multi-threaded tests, while the i3-9350KF uses its much higher clock speeds to win Geekbench single-core. The architecture differences explain the benchmark outcomes, and the data shows the i5-8500T as the more capable processor in the majority of tests.