Intel Core i5-7600 vs Intel Core i7-8706G Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8706G outperforms the Intel Core i5-7600 in every single test recorded, with a consistent 12.2% margin across all Cinebench workloads. Despite the i5-7600 holding a negligible 0.1% lead in average benchmark score (1844 vs 1842), that figure is misleading—the i7-8706G wins all six head-to-head comparisons. The i5-7600 is a desktop part with a higher base clock, while the i7-8706G is a mobile processor with hyper-threading and a more capable integrated GPU. For any workload captured in these benchmarks, the i7-8706G is the faster chip, but the i5-7600 offers the only path to a desktop socket and standard PCIe lanes.

The Verdict

The i7-8706G is the clear performance winner based on the head-to-head data. It beats the i5-7600 by 12.2% in every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test, both single-core and multi-core. The multi-core advantage stems directly from its 8 threads versus the i5-7600's 4 threads, while the single-core win at the same 4.10 GHz boost clock indicates architectural efficiency from the newer Kaby Lake-G variant. The i5-7600 is the choice only if you require a desktop Socket 1151 platform with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes—the i7-8706G uses BGA 2270 and has no listed PCIe configuration. For raw compute, the data favors the i7-8706G in every measured scenario. Both chips sit at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, making them comparable mid-range performers, but the i7-8706G delivers more of that performance in every recorded test.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Kaby Lake architecture and 14 nm process node from Intel, but they diverge significantly beyond that. The i5-7600 is a desktop part with 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-8706G is a mobile part with 4 cores and 8 threads—hyper-threading is the single biggest architectural differentiator. The i7-8706G uses the Kaby Lake G codename, a variant distinct from the i5-7600's plain Kaby Lake. Cache configurations differ: both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i7-8706G has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i5-7600. The i7-8706G integrates a Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU, which is a significant departure from the i5-7600's HD 630. The i5-7600 uses Socket 1151 and supports Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes, while the i7-8706G uses BGA 2270 with no PCIe information provided. Both support DDR4 memory, but only the i5-7600 lists dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the i7-8706G leaves memory bus and bandwidth unspecified.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-8706G wins everywhere that computing performance is measured. In Cinebench R15, it scores 641 multi-core versus 563 for the i5-7600, and 90 single-core versus 79. That 12.2% gap repeats exactly in R20 (2674 vs 2348 multi-core, 377 vs 331 single-core) and R23 (6368 vs 5591 multi-core, 899 vs 789 single-core). The i5-7600's only advantages are structural, not performance-based: it fits a desktop Socket 1151, offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and specifies dual-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8706G's integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics are more capable than the HD 630 on the i5-7600, though no gaming benchmarks are in the data to quantify that. In pure CPU workloads, the i7-8706G is the winner across the board. The i5-7600 wins zero head-to-head benchmarks in this dataset.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-7600 has an average benchmark score of 1844, which is 0.1% higher than the i7-8706G's 1842. However, this aggregate figure masks the i7-8706G's consistent lead in every individual head-to-head test.

Q: How much faster is the i7-8706G in multi-core workloads?

A: The i7-8706G is 12.2% faster than the i5-7600 in all three multi-core Cinebench tests: R15 (641 vs 563), R20 (2674 vs 2348), and R23 (6368 vs 5591).

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. The i7-8706G has 8 threads (4 cores with hyper-threading), while the i5-7600 has only 4 threads (no hyper-threading).

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: Both processors boost to 4.10 GHz. The base clocks differ: the i5-7600 has a 3.50 GHz base, while the i7-8706G has a 3.10 GHz base.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both list ECC memory support as false.

Q: Are these processors from the same generation?

A: Both use the Kaby Lake architecture and 14 nm process node, but they are listed under different generations: the i5-7600 is "Core i5 (Kaby Lake)" and the i7-8706G is "Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G)".

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-8706G wins all six recorded head-to-head benchmarks, each by exactly 12.2%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8706G scores 641 against the i5-7600's 563—a 78-point gap that reflects the benefit of 8 threads over 4. The single-core R15 result shows 90 vs 79, an 11-point lead for the i7-8706G despite identical 4.10 GHz boost clocks. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 2674 vs 2348, a 326-point difference; single-core is 377 vs 331, a 46-point gap. In Cinebench R23, the i7-8706G reaches 6368 multi-core versus 5591, a 777-point margin, and 899 single-core versus 789, a 110-point lead. The consistency of the 12.2% delta across all tests, from R15 through R23, indicates a uniform performance advantage rather than workload-specific behavior. The i5-7600's Geekbench scores (3704 multi-core, 1344 single-core) have no direct i7-8706G counterpart in the data, so they cannot be compared. The i7-8706G's wins are broad and systematic, not narrow or situational.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. The i5-7600 has 4 threads, while the i7-8706G has 8 threads—a direct result of hyper-threading support. Base clocks differ: 3.50 GHz for the i5-7600 versus 3.10 GHz for the i7-8706G, though both boost to 4.10 GHz. The i5-7600 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-8706G uses Intel BGA 2270. Cache sizes differ in L3: the i5-7600 has 6 MB shared, the i7-8706G has 8 MB shared. The integrated graphics are HD 630 on the i5-7600 versus Radeon RX Vega M GL on the i7-8706G. The i5-7600 specifies 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, dual-channel memory, and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i7-8706G lists no PCIe configuration, memory bus, or bandwidth. The i5-7600 is a Desktop market segment part, while the i7-8706G is Mobile. Release dates differ: the i5-7600 launched in January 2017, the i7-8706G in January 2018. Both have 65 W TDP, 4 cores, 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, DDR4 memory support, no ECC support, locked multipliers, and the same 42nd percentile ranking among all CPUs. The i5-7600 has a part number (SR334), while the i7-8706G does not list one.