Intel Core i5-7600T vs Intel Core i7-5850HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5850HQ and Intel Core i5-7600T represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing: one is a high-end, end-of-life mobile-derived chip with hyper-threading, while the other is a modern, active low-power desktop part. Despite the i5-7600T’s newer Kaby Lake architecture and higher clock speeds, benchmark data shows a consistent and significant performance advantage for the older i7-5850HQ across all measured Cinebench workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-5850HQ wins all six direct comparisons, with no victories for the Intel Core i5-7600T. The margin is remarkably consistent, hovering around 17% in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-5850HQ scores 588 against the i5-7600T’s 500, a 17.6% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a nearly identical gap, with the i7-5850HQ at 82 and the i5-7600T at 70, a 17.1% advantage. This pattern suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-dependent.

Moving to newer Cinebench versions, the results hold steady. In R20 multicore, the i7-5850HQ posts 2451 versus 2086 for the i5-7600T, a 17.5% delta. The R20 single-core test shows 345 against 294, a 17.3% gap. The latest R23 suite confirms the trend: the i7-5850HQ scores 5836 in multicore and 823 in single-core, while the i5-7600T manages 4968 and 701 respectively, yielding deltas of 17.5% and 17.4%. This uniformity across five different benchmark versions indicates a fundamental throughput advantage for the i7-5850HQ, not a quirk of any single test.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The i7-5850HQ averages 1688 points, placing it in the 40th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-3770K, which scores identically at 1688 (0% delta). The i5-7600T averages 1664 points, also in the 40th percentile, with its closest competitor being the Intel Core i7-6700TE at 1666 (-0.1%). While both chips land in the same percentile, the 24-point average gap is consistent with the head-to-head results. Interestingly, the i7-5850HQ’s rival list includes the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H at 1690 (-0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-4690K at 1682 (0.3%), showing it sits in a dense performance cluster. The i5-7600T’s rivals include the Intel Core i7-4770HQ at 1660 (0.3%) and the Intel Core i5-4670K at 1656 (0.5%), a slightly lower tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different physical configurations. The i7-5850HQ is built on Broadwell-H architecture with a 14 nm process node, while the i5-7600T uses Kaby Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel. The i7-5850HQ uses a 182 mm² die, while the i5-7600T’s die size is not specified in the available data.

Core and thread counts are a primary differentiator. The i7-5850HQ offers 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading, whereas the i5-7600T provides 4 cores and 4 threads without hyper-threading. This doubling of threads is the most plausible explanation for the i7-5850HQ’s consistent 17% lead, particularly in multicore workloads where extra threads can be utilized.

Cache configuration is identical on a per-core basis: both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 is also the same at 6 MB. However, the memory interface differs significantly. The i7-5850HQ supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, delivering 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-7600T supports DDR4, also dual-channel, but achieves 38.4 GB/s — a 28% higher theoretical bandwidth. Despite this memory advantage, the i5-7600T still loses in every benchmark, suggesting the thread count advantage outweighs memory throughput in these workloads.

Clock speeds slightly favor the i5-7600T. It has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to the i7-5850HQ’s 2.70 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The i5-7600T also has a significantly lower TDP at 35 watts versus 47 watts for the i7-5850HQ. This makes the i5-7600T the more power-efficient design on paper, yet the i7-5850HQ still outperforms it. The i7-5850HQ uses an Intel BGA 1364 socket, while the i5-7600T uses Intel Socket 1151, reflecting their different intended platforms. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU and locked multipliers.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-5850HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, a more capable GPU, while the i5-7600T has HD 630. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The release dates are 2015-06-01 for the i7-5850HQ and 2017-01-02 for the i5-7600T, making the i5-7600T nearly two years newer. Production status differs as well: the i7-5850HQ is end-of-life, while the i5-7600T remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ scores 5836, which is 17.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-7600T’s 4968.

Q: Does the i5-7600T’s newer architecture help it win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-5850HQ wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with the i5-7600T winning zero.

Q: How do the thread counts affect the performance gap?

A: The i7-5850HQ has 8 threads while the i5-7600T has 4, and the i7-5850HQ leads by 17.1% to 17.6% across all tests, indicating the extra threads provide a substantial boost.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference and does it matter?

A: The i5-7600T supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, versus the i7-5850HQ’s DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s, yet the i7-5850HQ still wins all benchmarks.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The i7-5850HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, while the i5-7600T has a lower TDP of 35 watts.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-7600T has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, compared to the i7-5850HQ’s 3.60 GHz.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i7-5850HQ for raw performance. It outperforms the i5-7600T by roughly 17% in every Cinebench test, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. This is a decisive margin that makes the i7-5850HQ the stronger choice for compute-intensive tasks, despite being older and having a higher TDP. The i7-5850HQ’s 8 threads versus 4 threads is the decisive factor, outweighing the i5-7600T’s higher clocks and faster DDR4 memory.

However, the i5-7600T is not without merit. It offers a newer Kaby Lake architecture, a 35-watt TDP that is 12 watts lower, and a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz. It also supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. For users prioritizing energy efficiency, lower heat output, or a modern socket, the i5-7600T is the more sensible option. Its active production status also means it remains available, whereas the i7-5850HQ is end-of-life. The i5-7600T’s average benchmark score of 1664 is only 24 points behind the i7-5850HQ’s 1688, placing both in the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

The choice depends on priorities. For maximum performance in threaded workloads, the i7-5850HQ is unequivocally superior. For a lower-power, newer platform with competitive (but lower) performance, the i5-7600T is the better fit. The i7-5850HQ’s launch MSRP was $434, though the i5-7600T has no listed launch MSRP in the data. Both have locked multipliers and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, but their sockets are incompatible, sealing their fates for different system builds.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5850HQ | Intel Core i5-7600T |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 47 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1364 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Broadwell-H | Kaby Lake |

| Generation | Core i7 (Broadwell-H) | Core i5 (Kaby Lake) |

| Die Size | 182 mm² | Not specified |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | HD 630 |

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

| Release Date | 2015-06-01 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $434 | Not specified |

| Part Number | SR2BH | SR336 |

| Cinebench R15 Multicore | 588 | 500 |

| Cinebench R15 Singlecore | 82 | 70 |

| Cinebench R20 Multicore | 2451 | 2086 |

| Cinebench R20 Singlecore | 345 | 294 |

| Cinebench R23 Multicore | 5836 | 4968 |

| Cinebench R23 Singlecore | 823 | 701 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1688 | 1664 |

| Geekbench Multicore | Not listed | 3447 |

| Geekbench Singlecore | Not listed | 1246 |