Intel Core i5-7500T vs Intel Core i7-8665U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8665U and Intel Core i5-7500T are both 14 nm quad-core Intel parts, but they target different market segments and deliver markedly different performance profiles. Benchmark data shows a consistent winner across every tested workload, with the mobile i7-8665U outperforming the desktop i5-7500T by a nearly uniform margin. Both CPUs share the same 38th percentile ranking among all CPUs, yet their average benchmark scores and rival positions tell a story of separation in raw execution capability, despite similar overall standing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665U has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-7500T has a boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

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

A: The i7-8665U scores 5232 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 17.5% higher than the i5-7500T’s score of 4454.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i7-8665U and the Intel Core i5-7500T do not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in thread count between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665U has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7500T has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Which CPU has a larger shared L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core i5-7500T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-8665U is a Mobile processor, while the Intel Core i5-7500T is a Desktop processor.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two CPUs is defined by their target platforms and generation. The Intel Core i7-8665U is built on the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Whiskey Lake) generation. The Intel Core i5-7500T uses the Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake codename, part of the Core i5 (Kaby Lake) generation. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but the design priorities diverge sharply.

The i7-8665U is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP and an Intel BGA 1528 socket, indicating a soldered, power-efficient design for laptops. In contrast, the i5-7500T is a desktop processor with a 35 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1151, allowing for a more traditional replaceable CPU installation. This TDP difference is significant: the i7-8665U operates at a lower thermal envelope yet delivers higher performance, according to the benchmarks.

In terms of core technology, both have 4 physical cores, but the i7-8665U supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-7500T is limited to 4 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ: each core has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache on both chips, but the shared L3 cache is 8 MB on the i7-8665U versus 6 MB on the i5-7500T. Memory support is another differentiator, with the i7-8665U supporting both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-7500T only supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory with identical 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-8665U features UHD Graphics 620, while the i5-7500T includes HD 630. The release dates show the i5-7500T launched earlier on 2017-01-02, while the i7-8665U came later on 2018-09-30. Production status also varies, with the i7-8665U marked as end-of-life and the i5-7500T still active. The i7-8665U has a launch MSRP of $409, while no launch MSRP is listed for the i5-7500T.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-8665U is the clear performance winner. It wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a 17.5% lead in most tests and a 17.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The i7-8665U achieves this dominance despite a 15 W TDP, which is less than half the 35 W TDP of the i5-7500T. This makes the i7-8665U the superior choice for any workload measured by these Cinebench tests, particularly for users who need high performance in a mobile form factor.

The i5-7500T, however, is not without merit. It is a desktop processor with a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz compared to the i7-8665U’s 1.90 GHz, and it remains an active production part. For users building a desktop system on Socket 1151 who do not require the extra threads or the higher boost clock, the i5-7500T offers a lower-clocked but functional quad-core experience. That said, the data does not support choosing the i5-7500T for raw compute performance, as the i7-8665U leads in every single benchmark category recorded.

The decision should hinge on platform and form factor. If the requirement is a mobile or low-power embedded solution with maximized performance, the i7-8665U is the only logical pick from this data. If the requirement is a desktop part with an active production status and a higher base clock, the i5-7500T fits that niche, but it will cede performance to the i7-8665U in all tested scenarios. The percentile ranking is identical at 38, and the average benchmark scores are close (1513 for the i7-8665U versus 1483 for the i5-7500T), but the head-to-head deltas show a consistent edge for the mobile chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The most obvious difference is in thread count: the i7-8665U has 8 threads, while the i5-7500T has 4 threads. Base clocks vary significantly, with the i5-7500T running at 2.70 GHz versus the i7-8665U’s 1.90 GHz. The boost clock reverses this trend, as the i7-8665U reaches 4.80 GHz compared to the i5-7500T’s 3.30 GHz. Thermal design power is another differentiator, with the i7-8665U at 15 W and the i5-7500T at 35 W.

The socket and market segment differ: the i7-8665U uses Intel BGA 1528 and targets Mobile, while the i5-7500T uses Intel Socket 1151 and targets Desktop. Architecture names are distinct, with Whiskey Lake for the i7-8665U and Kaby Lake for the i5-7500T. Cache sizes differ in L3, with 8 MB on the i7-8665U and 6 MB on the i5-7500T. Memory support is broader on the i7-8665U, which accepts DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-7500T only accepts DDR4.

Integrated graphics differ, featuring UHD Graphics 620 on the i7-8665U and HD 630 on the i5-7500T. Production status also diverges, with the i7-8665U listed as end-of-life and the i5-7500T as active. Release dates are different, with the i5-7500T launching on 2017-01-02 and the i7-8665U on 2018-09-30. The i7-8665U has a part number of SRF9W and a launch MSRP of $409, while the i5-7500T has a part number of SR337 and no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are remarkably consistent, showing a uniform performance advantage for the Intel Core i7-8665U across all Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8665U scores 527 versus the i5-7500T’s 448, a delta of 17.6%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the scores are 74 and 63 respectively, a delta of 17.5%. This near-identical percentage in both multi-core and single-core tests suggests the i7-8665U’s advantage stems from architectural efficiency and higher boost clocks rather than thread scaling alone.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-8665U scores 2197 in multi-core and 309 in single-core, while the i5-7500T scores 1870 and 263. Both deltas are exactly 17.5%. The pattern continues in Cinebench R23, where the i7-8665U achieves 5232 multi-core and 738 single-core, against the i5-7500T’s 4454 and 628, again with a 17.5% delta. This consistency across three different benchmark versions indicates a stable performance gap that does not fluctuate with workload intensity.

The biggest single win for the i7-8665U is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 17.6% delta is slightly larger than the 17.5% seen elsewhere. For the i5-7500T, there are no wins in any benchmark category; it trails by the same margin in every test. The data also includes Geekbench scores for the i5-7500T only, with 3062 multi-core and 1078 single-core, but no comparable Geekbench results are listed for the i7-8665U, so a direct comparison in that test is not possible from the provided facts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8665U wins in every benchmark category where both CPUs have data. This includes all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests. The i7-8665U’s wins are characterized by a 17.5% to 17.6% margin, making it the outright performer for compute-intensive tasks like rendering, as simulated by Cinebench. Its 8 threads and 4.80 GHz boost clock likely drive this advantage, though the data does not explicitly break down the cause. The i7-8665U also wins on paper specifications that support performance, such as larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB) and a higher boost clock.

The Intel Core i5-7500T has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. However, it wins in the field of platform suitability and operational characteristics. It has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz, which could provide more consistent performance in lightly threaded tasks that do not trigger boost behavior, though no benchmark data confirms this. The i5-7500T is also a desktop processor on Socket 1151 with an active production status, making it a more accessible option for standard desktop builds where the soldered BGA 1528 mobile chip is not compatible. Its 35 W TDP, while higher than the i7-8665U’s 15 W, is typical for desktop parts and may pair with simpler cooling solutions in a desktop chassis.

For users prioritizing benchmark performance, the i7-8665U is the clear winner in all six head-to-head tests. For users prioritizing a desktop socket, active production status, and a higher base clock, the i5-7500T offers those specific attributes, but it will sacrifice the 17.5% performance margin seen in the Cinebench suite. The i7-8665U also holds the edge in memory flexibility with DDR3 and DDR4 support, whereas the i5-7500T is limited to DDR4. Ultimately, the performance data points to the i7-8665U as the superior compute option, while the i5-7500T’s strengths lie in its platform and availability.