Intel Core i5-10200H vs Intel Core i5-8500T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear pattern: the Intel Core i5-10200H wins seven of the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the only exception being Geekbench multi-core. The Cinebench suite, which stresses rendering workloads, consistently favors the mobile chip. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10200H scores 684 against 662 for the i5-8500T, a 3.3% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 96 versus 93, a 3.2% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap widens slightly to 3.4% (2853 vs 2759), while the single-core margin sits at 3.3% (402 vs 389). In Cinebench R23, the i5-10200H posts 6795 multi-core and 959 single-core, compared to 6571 and 927 for the i5-8500T, translating to deltas of 3.4% and 3.5% respectively.

The largest single-core victory for the i5-10200H appears in Geekbench single-core, where it records 1347 against 1187 for the i5-8500T. That is a 13.5% margin, the most decisive result in the entire comparison. The i5-8500T's only win comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 4293 versus 4096 for the i5-10200H, a 4.6% difference in favor of the desktop part. This single reversal is notable because it contradicts the Cinebench multi-core results, where the i5-10200H consistently leads by roughly 3.4%. The Geekbench workload likely distributes tasks differently across the available threads, and the i5-8500T's two additional physical cores may be more beneficial there.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the narrow overall gap: the i5-10200H averages 2154, while the i5-8500T averages 2110. That difference of 44 points, roughly 2.1%, falls within the range of run-to-run variation seen in many workloads. The percentile rankings are close as well, with the i5-10200H at the 47th percentile of all CPUs and the i5-8500T at the 46th percentile. Neither chip is positioned near the top of the performance distribution, but the mobile part edges ahead in most measured tests.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-10200H dominates in every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, across R15, R20, and R23. That consistency suggests its higher boost clock, listed at 4.10 GHz versus 3.50 GHz for the i5-8500T, plays a decisive role in rendering workloads that respond to clock speed. The single-core Geekbench result, where the i5-10200H leads by 13.5%, further supports this interpretation. Applications that rely on per-thread performance, such as lightly threaded productivity tools, older games, or scripting workloads, should favor the i5-10200H based on these numbers.

The i5-8500T's sole win comes in Geekbench multi-core. With six physical cores versus four, the desktop chip can process more threads simultaneously, and the Geekbench multi-core test appears to exploit that parallelism effectively. The 4.6% margin in that test indicates that workloads with high thread counts and moderate per-thread demands may see better throughput on the i5-8500T. The i5-8500T also has a larger L3 cache, 9 MB shared versus 6 MB shared, which could aid in data-heavy parallel tasks where repeated cache accesses occur.

For users prioritizing rendering performance, the i5-10200H is the clear choice from the data. For users running heavily threaded benchmarks or applications that scale well beyond eight threads, the i5-8500T offers a measurable advantage in Geekbench multi-core. The rest of the recorded benchmarks, however, point to the i5-10200H as the faster part in most scenarios.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, but they belong to different architectural generations. The i5-10200H uses the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-H variant, while the i5-8500T uses the older Coffee Lake architecture. The i5-10200H is a mobile processor with an Intel BGA 1440 socket, whereas the i5-8500T is a desktop processor with an Intel Socket 1151. This socket difference means they are not interchangeable in any system.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i5-10200H has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading, while the i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads with no Hyper-Threading. The i5-8500T thus has more physical cores but fewer total threads. The i5-10200H compensates with a higher base clock of 2.40 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.50 GHz. Thermal design power also differs, with the i5-10200H rated at 45 W and the i5-8500T at 35 W.

Cache configurations follow the core counts. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs: 6 MB for the i5-10200H and 9 MB for the i5-8500T. Memory support also varies. The i5-10200H supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-8500T supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the i5-10200H has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the i5-8500T. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-10200H includes UHD Graphics (the generic naming), while the i5-8500T includes UHD 630. Both support PCIe Gen 3, though the i5-8500T lists 16 lanes on the CPU only, while the i5-10200H does not specify a lane count in the recorded data. The production statuses also diverge: the i5-10200H is listed as active, while the i5-8500T is end-of-life. Release dates confirm the generational gap, with the i5-10200H released in September 2020 and the i5-8500T in April 2018. The part numbers are SRK3X for the i5-10200H and SR3XD for the i5-8500T.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-10200H is the faster processor in seven of eight head-to-head comparisons. Its wins in all Cinebench tests, plus a 13.5% margin in Geekbench single-core, make it the recommended choice for rendering, single-threaded applications, and most general-purpose workloads. The consistent 3.2% to 3.5% leads in Cinebench indicate a modest but reliable performance advantage across different rendering versions. The i5-10200H also benefits from a newer architecture, a higher boost clock, and active production status, which may matter for availability.

The Intel Core i5-8500T, however, retains a specific niche. Its 4.6% win in Geekbench multi-core shows that its six physical cores can outperform the i5-10200H's four cores with Hyper-Threading in certain parallel workloads. The larger 9 MB L3 cache and desktop socket may also be relevant for users building or upgrading desktop systems with Socket 1151. The 35 W TDP makes it a lower-power option, though the i5-10200H's 45 W TDP is still within mobile norms.

For users who must choose between these two, the i5-10200H is the safer bet for most tasks, especially those that are latency-sensitive or clock-bound. The i5-8500T is worth considering only if the workload profile heavily favors multi-threaded Geekbench-style tests and the system platform requires a desktop socket. The average benchmark scores place the i5-10200H at 2154 versus 2110 for the i5-8500T, a small but consistent overall edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-10200H wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i5-8500T wins only 1, in Geekbench multi-core.

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

A: The i5-10200H scores 1347 in Geekbench single-core, while the i5-8500T scores 1187. That is a 13.5% advantage for the i5-10200H, the largest margin in any recorded test.

Q: Does the i5-8500T ever beat the i5-10200H?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multi-core, the i5-8500T scores 4293 versus 4096 for the i5-10200H, a 4.6% difference in favor of the i5-8500T.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each CPU?

A: The i5-10200H has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-10200H has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to 3.50 GHz for the i5-8500T.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The i5-10200H has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-8500T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-10200H | Intel Core i5-8500T |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Generation | Core i5 (Comet Lake-H) | Core i5 (Coffee Lake) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | UHD 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2020-09-16 | 2018-04-01 |

| Part Number | SRK3X | SR3XD |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| ECC Memory | No | No |