Intel Core i5-7600K vs Intel Core i5-8279U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8279U and Intel Core i5-7600K are both 4-core Intel parts from the 14 nm era, but they target completely different platforms: one is a 28 W mobile chip, the other a 91 W desktop chip. Benchmark results show a fascinating split. The 8279U wins every Cinebench test by a consistent 8.5% to 8.7%, while the 7600K dominates Geekbench by 11.2% to 20.6%. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1987 for the 8279U versus 1976 for the 7600K — placing both in the 44th percentile of all CPUs. This is a classic case where the benchmark suite determines the winner.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are a clean sweep for the mobile chip. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 8279U scores 634 against the 7600K's 583, an 8.7% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similar: 89 versus 82, an 8.5% edge. Moving to R20, the margins hold exactly: 2643 versus 2432 in multicore (8.7%) and 372 versus 343 in single-core (8.5%). The R23 tests repeat the pattern with 6294 versus 5792 in multicore (8.7%) and 888 versus 817 in single-core (8.7%). Across all six Cinebench tests, the 8279U leads by roughly 50 to 500 points, a consistent and repeatable margin.

The Geekbench results flip the script decisively. In Geekbench multicore, the 7600K scores 4239 against the 8279U's 3764, a 11.2% lead for the desktop chip. The single-core gap is even larger: 1522 versus 1209, a 20.6% difference. This is a substantial margin — the 7600K is more than a fifth faster in that specific single-threaded test. The data shows a clear pattern: Cinebench workloads favor the 8279U, while Geekbench workloads favor the 7600K by a wide margin.

These results are counterintuitive at first glance. The 7600K has a higher base clock (3.80 GHz vs 2.40 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.20 GHz vs 4.10 GHz), yet it loses all Cinebench tests. The 8279U compensates with simultaneous multithreading, offering 8 threads versus the 7600K's 4 threads. That thread advantage explains the multicore Cinebench wins. But it does not explain the single-core Cinebench wins, where the 7600K's higher clocks should dominate. The benchmark data suggests the 8279U's architecture delivers better instructions-per-clock in Cinebench, despite lower raw clock speeds.

Where Each One Wins

The 8279U wins in any Cinebench-based workload. That includes rendering tasks, 3D modeling, and video encoding that rely on CPU compute. Its 8 threads give it a fundamental advantage in multi-threaded rendering, and its single-core Cinebench wins indicate superior per-thread efficiency. The 8.7% multicore margin in R23 is meaningful for content creators who use Cinebench-like workloads.

The 7600K wins in Geekbench-based scenarios. Geekbench tests often reflect real-world application responsiveness, office productivity, and web performance. The 20.6% single-core lead in Geekbench is substantial — it suggests snappier performance in lightly-threaded tasks that depend on raw clock speed. The 11.2% multicore lead in Geekbench is also notable, showing that even with half the threads, the 7600K's higher clocks can overcome the thread deficit in certain workloads.

The practical split is clear: if your software scales with threads and uses Cinebench-style rendering, the 8279U is the better performer. If your software favors high clock speeds and Geekbench-style integer and floating-point tests, the 7600K wins. Neither chip is universally faster; the benchmark suite determines the outcome.

Architecture Differences

The 8279U is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-U variant, while the 7600K uses Kaby Lake. Both use Intel's 14 nm process node, and the 8279U's die size is 126 mm² with 2,300 million transistors. The 7600K has no listed die size or transistor count. Both chips have 4 cores, but the 8279U doubles the threads to 8 via Hyper-Threading, while the 7600K is limited to 4 threads.

Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel for both, but the 7600K has a higher memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus the 8279U's 34.1 GB/s. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The 8279U packs Iris Pro Plus 655, a higher-end iGPU, while the 7600K has HD 630. The 8279U's TDP is 28 W, making it suitable for thin laptops, versus the 7600K's 91 W desktop TDP. The 8279U is also end-of-life, released in April 2019, while the 7600K remains active after its January 2017 release. The 7600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the 8279U does not. Sockets are incompatible: the 8279U uses Intel BGA 1526 (soldered), while the 7600K uses Intel Socket 1151 (LGA).

FAQ

Q: Why does the 8279U win all Cinebench tests despite lower clock speeds?

A: The 8279U has 8 threads versus the 7600K's 4 threads, and its Cinebench single-core scores (89 in R15, 372 in R20, 888 in R23) are all higher than the 7600K's (82, 343, 817). This indicates better per-clock efficiency in Cinebench workloads, overcoming the clock deficit.

Q: Is the 7600K faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the 7600K wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 4239 in multicore versus 3764 (11.2% lead) and 1522 in single-core versus 1209 (20.6% lead).

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The 8279U has Iris Pro Plus 655, while the 7600K has HD 630. The 8279U's iGPU is the higher-tier option, though the benchmark data does not include graphics tests.

Q: Can I overclock either CPU?

A: Only the 7600K has an unlocked multiplier. The 8279U's multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not supported.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The 8279U uses Intel BGA 1526 (soldered to the board), while the 7600K uses Intel Socket 1151.

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The 8279U has 8 threads (4 cores with Hyper-Threading), while the 7600K has 4 threads (4 cores without Hyper-Threading).

The Verdict

The data points to different buyers for each chip. The 8279U is the choice for anyone running Cinebench-style rendering workloads. Its 8.7% multicore advantage in R23 (6294 vs 5792) and consistent single-core wins make it the stronger compute chip. The 28 W TDP makes it suitable for mobile systems, and the Iris Pro Plus 655 iGPU adds graphics capability.

The 7600K is the choice for Geekbench-style tasks and high-clock-sensitive applications. Its 20.6% single-core Geekbench lead is decisive, and the 11.2% multicore lead shows that raw clock speed can beat a thread deficit. The unlocked multiplier offers overclocking headroom, and the 91 W TDP is typical for a desktop part.

Both chips sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, with average scores of 1987 and 1976. The 8279U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B (0.1% slower) and Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 (0.1% faster). The 7600K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-N305 (0.1% faster) and Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 (0.2% slower). In practical terms, these chips are performance equals overall, but the workload determines which one you should pick.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8279U | Intel Core i5-7600K |

|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 91 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-U | Kaby Lake |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake-U) | Core i5 (Kaby Lake) |

| Transistors | 2,300 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | Not listed |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Plus 655 | HD 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2019-04-02 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $320 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SREZ0 | SR32V |