Intel Core i5-1038NG7 vs Intel Core i5-8500B Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8500B and Intel Core i5-1038NG7 are two end-of-life processors that land in the same performance tier despite coming from different eras and market segments. Benchmark results show the i5-8500B winning all eight head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are surprisingly narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8500B scores 753 against 750 for the i5-1038NG7, a lead of just 0.4%. The single-core R15 result is 106 versus 105, a 1% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 3141 and 3125 (0.5% delta), and single-core is 443 against 441 (0.5% delta). The pattern continues in Cinebench R23, where the i5-8500B posts 7480 multi-core and 1056 single-core, versus 7441 and 1050 for the i5-1038NG7, representing 0.5% and 0.6% leads respectively.

The most substantial difference appears in Geekbench. The i5-8500B scores 4998 multi-core and 1407 single-core, while the i5-1038NG7 manages 4919 and 1354. That translates to a 1.6% multi-core advantage and a 3.9% single-core advantage for the older chip. These are real wins, but they are incremental. The average benchmark score for the i5-8500B is 2423, and it sits at the 48th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-1038NG7 averages 2398, also at the 48th percentile. Their nearest rivals tell the same story: the i5-8500B is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-9850HE, while the i5-1038NG7 is 0.5% behind the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 and 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U. Neither chip has a decisive edge over the other, but the i5-8500B is consistently ahead in every measured workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-8500B sweeps the benchmark suite, but the victories are narrow enough that real-world differences would be difficult to perceive. The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-8500B leads by 3.9% (1407 versus 1354). This is notable because single-core performance often dictates responsiveness in everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications. The Geekbench multi-core gap of 1.6% (4998 versus 4919) is the second-largest delta, suggesting the i5-8500B has a slight edge in mixed workloads that scale across cores.

In the Cinebench tests, the results are tightly clustered. The R15 multi-core delta is just 0.4% (753 versus 750), and R15 single-core is 1% (106 versus 105). R20 multi-core shows a 0.5% difference (3141 versus 3125), and R20 single-core is also 0.5% (443 versus 441). R23 multi-core is 0.5% apart (7480 versus 7441), and R23 single-core is 0.6% apart (1056 versus 1050). The data indicates that for sustained rendering workloads, both processors deliver nearly identical throughput. The i5-8500B wins all eight tests, but a user upgrading from one to the other would not notice a performance jump.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The i5-8500B is built on Coffee Lake, using Intel's 14 nm process, while the i5-1038NG7 is an Ice Lake-U part on the 10 nm node. The i5-8500B has a die size of 154 mm², whereas the i5-1038NG7 is smaller at 123 mm². Core counts differ: the i5-8500B has 6 physical cores and 6 threads, while the i5-1038NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. Cache layouts also diverge. The i5-8500B carries 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The i5-1038NG7 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 6 MB of shared L3.

Clock speeds favor the i5-8500B. Its base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost of 4.10 GHz, while the i5-1038NG7 operates at a 2.00 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The TDP disparity is significant: the i5-8500B is rated at 65 W versus 28 W for the i5-1038NG7. The i5-8500B uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, and the i5-1038NG7 uses Intel BGA 1344. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i5-8500B featuring UHD Graphics 630 and the i5-1038NG7 equipped with Iris Plus. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-1038NG7 at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the i5-8500B, though both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode. The i5-8500B lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-1038NG7 simply lists PCIe Gen 3 without specifying lane count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500B boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two chips?

A: The i5-8500B has 6 cores and 6 threads, whereas the i5-1038NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-8500B is rated at 65 W, and the i5-1038NG7 is rated at 28 W.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-8500B has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1038NG7 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: Yes, the i5-8500B uses UHD Graphics 630, and the i5-1038NG7 uses Iris Plus.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The i5-1038NG7 has a higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s, compared to 42.7 GB/s for the i5-8500B.

Specification Differences

The specifications that differ between the two processors are clear. The i5-8500B offers 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i5-1038NG7 offers 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.10 GHz versus 3.80 GHz. TDP is 65 W versus 28 W. The socket changes from BGA 1440 to BGA 1344. Architecture is Coffee Lake versus Ice Lake, with process nodes of 14 nm versus 10 nm. Die size is 154 mm² versus 123 mm². L1 cache per core is 64 KB versus 80 KB, and L3 cache is 9 MB versus 6 MB. Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 3 with no lane count specified. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 versus Iris Plus. The market segment is Desktop versus Mobile. Release dates are April 2018 versus May 2020. Launch MSRP is $192 for the i5-8500B and $320 for the i5-1038NG7. Part numbers are SRCX3 versus SRG0V.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear, if narrow, winner: the Intel Core i5-8500B. It wins all eight head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 0.4% to 3.9%. The Geekbench single-core result is the most compelling argument for the i5-8500B, as a 3.9% lead suggests better per-thread performance that could translate to snappier application launches and better performance in lightly-threaded games. The multi-core scores are nearly identical, so users running heavily threaded workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering will see essentially no difference between the two. The i5-8500B also has a higher boost clock (4.10 GHz versus 3.80 GHz) and more physical cores (6 versus 4), which explains its consistent edge despite the i5-1038NG7's newer 10 nm process and Hyper-Threading.

However, the i5-1038NG7 is not without merit. It consumes less than half the power (28 W versus 65 W), which makes it suitable for compact or thermally constrained systems. It also has higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s) and a smaller die size (123 mm² versus 154 mm²). The newer architecture brings a larger L1 cache per core (80 KB versus 64 KB). But in raw compute benchmarks, the i5-8500B is the stronger part. A builder choosing between the two should prioritize the i5-8500B for performance, especially if single-core responsiveness matters, and only consider the i5-1038NG7 if power efficiency is the dominant concern.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-8500B wins in every benchmark category, but the magnitude of its victories varies. Its largest win is in Geekbench single-core (3.9% ahead), indicating a clear advantage in tasks that rely on one or two threads, such as legacy software, certain game engines, and everyday desktop responsiveness. It also leads in Geekbench multi-core (1.6% ahead), which covers mixed workloads like web browsing with many tabs, office productivity, and light content creation. In Cinebench tests, the i5-8500B is ahead by 0.4% to 1%, meaning that for sustained all-core rendering workloads, the two processors are effectively tied. The i5-8500B's higher boost clock and additional physical cores give it the edge in scenarios where peak single-thread speed matters.

The i5-1038NG7 wins on efficiency and platform traits. Its 28 W TDP makes it the better choice for thin-and-light laptops or mini PCs where cooling is limited. The higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s suggests it can feed data to the CPU faster, which could benefit memory-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark results do not show a performance advantage from this. The newer 10 nm process and smaller die size indicate a more modern manufacturing approach, and the Iris Plus graphics are a step up from UHD Graphics 630, making the i5-1038NG7 more capable for casual gaming without a discrete GPU. For a user prioritizing raw compute, the i5-8500B is the pick. For a user prioritizing low power draw and integrated graphics quality, the i5-1038NG7 is the sensible alternative.