Intel Core i5-7500 vs Intel Core i7-8565U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly close contest between these two processors, with the Intel Core i7-8565U taking 9 of 17 head-to-head wins against the Intel Core i5-7500's 8. The most striking result is in passmark integer math, where the i7-8565U posts a score of 21581 against the i5-7500's 15768, a commanding 36.9% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the entire comparison and highlights the mobile chip's strong showing in integer-heavy workloads.

The i7-8565U also wins every Cinebench test across all three versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 529 versus 517 for the i5-7500, a 2.3% edge. The single-core R15 result shows 74 against 72, a 2.8% margin. Moving to R20, the i7-8565U leads 2208 to 2155 in multicore (2.5%) and 311 to 304 in single-core (2.3%). In R23, the pattern holds: 5258 versus 5133 in multicore (2.4%) and 742 versus 724 in single-core (2.5%). These are consistent, if modest, victories across the entire Cinebench suite.

The data encryption test also favors the i7-8565U, with a score of 1993 against 1817 for the i5-7500, a 9.7% improvement. Random string sorting goes to the i7-8565U as well, though by a razor-thin 0.7% margin: 10200 versus 10134.

The i5-7500, however, claims its own set of wins, some with substantial margins. The passmark extended instructions test is a blowout: the i5-7500 scores 6971 against the i7-8565U's 4770, a 31.6% advantage. Data compression also goes decisively to the desktop chip, 83250 against 75995, an 8.7% lead. In find prime numbers, the i5-7500 wins 28 to 22, a 21.4% margin. Floating point math favors the i5-7500 at 13174 versus 12934, a 1.8% edge. The multithread test goes to the i5-7500 by a hair, 6028 versus 5988, a 0.7% difference. Physics testing shows the i5-7500 ahead at 471 versus 458, a 2.8% margin. Finally, in single-thread performance, the i5-7500 leads 2253 to 2118, a 6% advantage.

The overall average benchmark scores place the i7-8565U at 8665 against the i5-7500's 8208, a difference that puts the mobile chip in the 65th percentile of all CPUs while the desktop chip sits at the 64th percentile. The i7-8565U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900E at 8676 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i5-8365U at 8708 (0.5% higher), the AMD EPYC 7601 at 8619 (0.5% lower), and the Intel Core i7-10510U at 8580 (1% lower). The i5-7500's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5318Y at 8147 (0.7% lower), the AMD EPYC 7302 at 8139 (0.8% lower), the Intel Core i3-8100 at 8123 (1% lower), and the Intel Core i7-1065G7 at 8293 (1% higher).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i7-8565U is built on Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Whiskey Lake) generation. It is a mobile processor released on 2018-09-30 with a launch MSRP of $409. The Intel Core i5-7500 uses Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake codename, belongs to the Core i5 (Kaby Lake) generation, and is a desktop part released on 2017-01-02. Both use the same 14 nm process node from Intel's foundry.

The core configuration differs significantly. Both chips have 4 physical cores, but the i7-8565U supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i5-7500 is limited to 4 threads. This explains some of the multicore performance characteristics, though the i5-7500's higher base clock helps compensate. The i7-8565U has a base clock of 1800 MHz with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the i5-7500 runs at a 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The mobile chip's much lower base clock is typical for a 15 W TDP part, while the desktop i5-7500 carries a 65 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i7-8565U at 8 MB versus 6 MB on the i5-7500. Memory support shows the i7-8565U accepting both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-7500 supports only DDR4. Both run dual-channel memory with identical 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have the same PCIe configuration: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-8565U pairs with UHD Graphics 620, while the i5-7500 uses HD 630. Sockets are entirely different, with the mobile chip using Intel BGA 1528 and the desktop chip using Intel Socket 1151. The i7-8565U is marked end-of-life in production status, while the i5-7500 is listed as active. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SREJPSRFFW for the i7-8565U and SR335 for the i5-7500.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-8565U is the clear choice for integer math workloads. Its 36.9% lead in passmark integer math is the largest margin in any test, and it also wins data encryption by 9.7%. The Cinebench suite, which reflects general rendering and content creation tasks, goes entirely to the mobile chip, with consistent 2.3% to 2.8% margins across all six tests. Users running Cinebench-style workloads will see a measurable, if not dramatic, advantage from the i7-8565U.

The i5-7500 dominates in extended instruction workloads, where its 31.6% lead in passmark extended instructions is the second-largest margin in the comparison. It also wins data compression by 8.7% and find prime numbers by 21.4%, suggesting strength in algorithmically intensive tasks that benefit from higher per-core clock speeds. Single-thread performance favors the desktop chip by 6%, which shows up in the passmark single-thread and singlethread tests, both scoring 2253 against the i7-8565U's 2118.

The multithread test is nearly a tie, with the i5-7500 ahead by just 0.7% (6028 versus 5988). Physics and floating point math also go to the i5-7500, but by slim margins of 2.8% and 1.8% respectively. Random string sorting is essentially even, with the i7-8565U ahead by 0.7%. For users who prioritize integer-heavy computation and Cinebench rendering, the i7-8565U is the stronger part. For those who need extended instruction performance, data compression, or maximum single-thread speed, the i5-7500 holds the advantage. The overall average benchmark score favors the i7-8565U at 8665 versus 8208, though the percentile rankings are nearly identical at 65 and 64.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-8565U has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7500 has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The i7-8565U scores 5258 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i5-7500 scores 5133, giving the i7-8565U a 2.4% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The i5-7500 wins in passmark single-thread tests with a score of 2253 against the i7-8565U's 2118, a 6% margin.

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

A: The largest margin is in passmark integer math, where the i7-8565U leads by 36.9% with a score of 21581 versus 15768 for the i5-7500.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i7-8565U supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-7500 supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The i7-8565U has a TDP of 15 W, while the i5-7500 has a TDP of 65 W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The i7-8565U uses Whiskey Lake architecture with the Whiskey Lake-U codename and belongs to the Core i7 (Whiskey Lake) generation. The i5-7500 uses Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake codename and belongs to the Core i5 (Kaby Lake) generation. The i7-8565U has 8 threads versus 4 threads on the i5-7500. The base clock is 1800 MHz on the i7-8565U and 3.40 GHz on the i5-7500. The boost clock is 4.60 GHz on the i7-8565U and 3.80 GHz on the i5-7500. TDP is 15 W for the i7-8565U and 65 W for the i5-7500.

The socket differs: Intel BGA 1528 for the i7-8565U, Intel Socket 1151 for the i5-7500. L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the i7-8565U and 6 MB shared on the i5-7500. Memory support covers DDR3 and DDR4 on the i7-8565U, while the i5-7500 supports only DDR4. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 620 on the i7-8565U and HD 630 on the i5-7500. The market segment is Mobile for the i7-8565U and Desktop for the i5-7500. Production status is end-of-life for the i7-8565U and active for the i5-7500. The release date is 2018-09-30 for the i7-8565U and 2017-01-02 for the i5-7500. The i7-8565U has a launch MSRP of $409, while the i5-7500 has no launch MSRP listed. The part numbers are SREJPSRFFW for the i7-8565U and SR335 for the i5-7500. Both chips share the same 14 nm process node, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, dual-channel memory bus, 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, no ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and locked multipliers.