Intel Core i5-10500 vs Intel Core i5-8600T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the Intel Core i5-10500 and Intel Core i5-8600T is unusually clear-cut. Across the eight recorded head-to-head tests, the i5-10500 wins six, while the i5-8600T wins two. The pattern is not random: the i5-10500 dominates every Cinebench workload, both single-core and multi-core, while the i5-8600T takes both Geekbench tests.

The Cinebench advantage for the i5-10500 is remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 875 against 784, a margin of 11.6%. The single-core R15 test shows 123 versus 110, a slightly larger 11.8% gap. Moving to R20, the multi-core result is 3648 against 3270 (11.6%), and single-core is 514 versus 461 (11.5%). In R23, the multi-core score reaches 8686 versus 7787 (11.5%), with single-core at 1226 versus 1099 (11.6%). Every Cinebench delta falls between 11.5% and 11.8%, indicating a uniform performance advantage across all rendering and physics workloads, regardless of thread count scaling.

The Geekbench results flip the picture. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-8600T scores 4277 against 3381, a 20.9% advantage for the older chip. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1278 against 1117, a 12.6% win. This is a substantial reversal, and it suggests the two suites are measuring different aspects of processor behavior. Cinebench leans heavily on sustained throughput per core under a rendering-style load, while Geekbench includes a broader mix of integer, floating-point, and memory latency patterns.

The database also places both CPUs at the 48th percentile among all recorded processors, meaning their overall average scores are statistically indistinguishable in rank. The i5-10500 has an average benchmark score of 2446, while the i5-8600T sits at 2383. The nearest rivals for the i5-10500 include the Intel Xeon D-1541 (2447, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (2451, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-8600 (2454, delta -0.3%), and the Intel Xeon D-1540 (2467, delta -0.9%). The i5-8600T's nearest rivals are tighter: the Intel Xeon E-2234 (2374, delta +0.4%), the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 (2398, delta -0.6%), the Intel Xeon E-2226GE (2365, delta +0.8%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X (2361, delta +1%). Both CPUs are clustered within roughly 1% of their immediate competition, so the head-to-head delta is the more informative signal.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different sockets. The i5-10500 is a Comet Lake part, built on the 14 nm process node at Intel, and fits the Intel Socket 1200. The i5-8600T is a Coffee Lake part, also on 14 nm at Intel, but uses the Intel Socket 1151. The die size for the 8600T is recorded as 154 mm², while the 10500's die size is not listed in the database.

Core counts are identical: both have 6 physical cores. The critical architectural split is in threading. The i5-10500 supports 12 threads with Hyper-Threading, while the i5-8600T has 6 threads with no simultaneous multithreading. This doubling of logical cores is the primary reason the i5-10500 pulls ahead in multi-threaded Cinebench tests, though the single-core wins indicate it also has a clock speed advantage.

Base and boost clocks differ substantially. The i5-10500 runs at a 3.10 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The i5-8600T runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The 8600T is a low-power "T" variant with a 35 W TDP, while the 10500 has a 65 W TDP. The higher thermal envelope allows the 10500 to sustain higher frequencies, which explains its consistent single-core lead despite the same 14 nm process.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is not equal. The i5-10500 has 12 MB of shared L3, while the i5-8600T has 9 MB of shared L3. The extra 3 MB of L3 on the newer chip contributes to its higher sustained scores in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is identical in specification: DDR4, dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s for both. Neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are also the same: UHD Graphics 630 on both parts. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status differs. The i5-10500 is listed as Active, while the i5-8600T is End-of-life. Release dates show the 8600T arriving in April 2018, and the 10500 in April 2020. The 8600T has a recorded launch MSRP of $213, while the 10500's launch MSRP is not listed in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple choice for most buyers, with one notable exception. The i5-10500 wins six of eight head-to-head benchmarks and shows a uniform 11.5% to 11.8% advantage across every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, both single-core and multi-core. It also carries a 12 MB L3 cache versus the 8600T's 9 MB, a 4.50 GHz boost clock versus 3.70 GHz, and 12 threads versus 6. If the workload is rendering, physics simulation, video encoding, or any heavily threaded compute task, the i5-10500 is the stronger part by a clear margin.

The i5-8600T is not without merit. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 4277 beats the 10500's 3381 by 20.9%, and its Geekbench single-core score of 1278 beats 1117 by 12.6%. For workloads that mirror the Geekbench mix, which tends to include short bursts, diverse instruction patterns, and memory latency sensitivity, the older chip performs better. The 8600T also operates at a 35 W TDP, which is less than the 10500's 65 W TDP, making it the more thermally restrained option for compact systems or passive cooling designs.

The production status matters. The 8600T is end-of-life, while the 10500 remains active. The 8600T uses Socket 1151, the 10500 uses Socket 1200, so platform compatibility is not interchangeable. Users building on a current Socket 1200 board should choose the 10500 without hesitation. Users with an existing Socket 1151 platform who prioritize the Geekbench patterns and low power draw may find the 8600T adequate, but the data shows it loses every Cinebench test.

The average benchmark scores place both at the 48th percentile, and their nearest rivals are all within roughly 1%, so neither chip is an outlier in the broader database. The head-to-head comparison is more decisive than the percentile rank suggests, and the deciding factor is which benchmark suite matches the user's actual applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-10500 has 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8600T has 6 threads. Both have 6 physical cores.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-8600T scores 4277 against the Intel Core i5-10500's 3381, a 20.9% difference.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-10500 scores 8686, while the Intel Core i5-8600T scores 7787, giving the 10500 an 11.5% lead.

Q: What is the L3 cache size for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-10500 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-8600T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s for both. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-10500 has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-8600T has a 35 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is a clean sweep for the i5-10500. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 10500 scores 875 against the 8600T's 784, an 11.6% margin. The single-core R15 test shows 123 versus 110, an 11.8% win. These are not marginal differences; they represent a consistent performance tier gap between the two chips.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multi-core results are 3648 for the 10500 and 3270 for the 8600T, an 11.6% delta. Single-core is 514 versus 461, an 11.5% delta. The consistency across R15 and R20 suggests the advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

Cinebench R23 is the latest rendering test in the database, and it follows the same trend. Multi-core scores are 8686 for the 10500 and 7787 for the 8600T, an 11.5% gap. Single-core is 1226 versus 1099, an 11.6% gap. The 10500's higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) and 12 MB versus 9 MB L3 cache likely drive this uniform single-core lead, while the doubling of threads from 6 to 12 compounds the multi-core advantage.

The Geekbench results are the counterpoint. In Geekbench multi-core, the 8600T posts 4277, which is 20.9% higher than the 10500's 3381. In Geekbench single-core, the 8600T scores 1278 against 1117, a 12.6% win. This is the mirror image of the Cinebench results. The 8600T's lower power draw (35 W) and older architecture apparently excel in the Geekbench workload mix, which includes memory latency probes and short-duration integer tasks that do not require sustained high clock rates.

The win tally is 6-2 in favor of the i5-10500, and the average benchmark scores reflect the overall balance: 2446 for the 10500 versus 2383 for the 8600T, a difference of roughly 2.6%. The nearest rivals for each chip are tightly clustered, with the 10500's closest competitor (Xeon D-1541) at only 0.1% higher average score, and the 8600T's closest competitor (Xeon E-2234) at 0.4% lower. This confirms that both processors sit in a dense performance band, but the head-to-head tests show the 10500 has a decisive edge in rendering workloads while the 8600T retains an advantage in the Geekbench suite.