Intel Core i5-7640X vs Intel Core i5-8500T Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a split decision. The Intel Core i5-8500T wins six of the eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-7640X takes the remaining two. In the Cinebench suite, which spans R15, R20, and R23 across both multi-core and single-core tests, the i5-8500T consistently leads by margins between 8.2% and 8.6%. Conversely, the i5-7640X dominates Geekbench, leading by 19.7% in multi-core and a substantial 46.3% in single-core.

Users who prioritize Geekbench performance, particularly single-threaded workloads, should select the i5-7640X. Its 46.3% advantage in Geekbench single-core is the largest delta recorded in the entire head-to-head set. For those whose workflows align more closely with Cinebench rendering tasks, the i5-8500T is the clear choice, offering a consistent 8.2% uplift across all multi-core Cinebench iterations.

The overall database percentiles are nearly identical: the i5-7640X sits at the 47th percentile while the i5-8500T sits at the 46th. Their average benchmark scores also align closely, with the i5-7640X at 2167 and the i5-8500T at 2110, a difference of only 2.7%. The i5-7640X's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-1145G7E, scores 2174, a mere 0.3% difference, while the i5-8500T's closest competitor, the Intel Core i5-8259U, scores 2108, a 0.1% difference. These figures indicate that, on average, both processors deliver similar overall performance despite their distinct strengths in specific benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and platform strategies. The i5-7640X is built on Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-X variant, and belongs to the Core i5 X-Series 7th Generation. It uses a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The i5-8500T is a Coffee Lake part, also on a 14 nm process, but represents the mainstream desktop line rather than the high-end desktop X-Series.

Core configuration differs significantly. The i5-7640X has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-8500T offers 6 cores and 6 threads. This gives the i5-8500T a 50% advantage in both core and thread count. Cache hierarchies also differ: the i5-7640X has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-8500T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache. Both share the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes of 64 KB and 256 KB, respectively.

The sockets are incompatible. The i5-7640X uses Intel Socket 2066, while the i5-8500T uses Intel Socket 1151. Memory channels also differ: the i5-7640X supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, while the i5-8500T supports dual-channel DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i5-8500T includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD 630, whereas the i5-7640X has no integrated graphics. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Clock speeds show a stark contrast. The i5-7640X has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The i5-8500T has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Thermal design power also diverges widely: the i5-7640X is rated at 112 W, while the i5-8500T is rated at 35 W. The i5-7640X has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-8500T does not. Release dates differ by about nine months, with the i5-7640X releasing in June 2017 and the i5-8500T in April 2018. The i5-8500T is marked as end-of-life in production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons in the head-to-head data?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T wins 6 of the 8 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-7640X wins 2.

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

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i5-7640X leads the Intel Core i5-8500T by 46.3%.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T scores 6571, while the Intel Core i5-7640X scores 6031, giving the i5-8500T an 8.2% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, both the Intel Core i5-7640X and the Intel Core i5-8500T do not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-7640X has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T includes UHD 630 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-7640X does not have integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

The database records the following specification differences between the two processors:

• Cores: 4 for the i5-7640X versus 6 for the i5-8500T.
• Threads: 4 for the i5-7640X versus 6 for the i5-8500T.
• Base Clock: 3.90 GHz for the i5-7640X versus 2.10 GHz for the i5-8500T.
• Boost Clock: 4.30 GHz for the i5-7640X versus 3.50 GHz for the i5-8500T.
• TDP: 112 W for the i5-7640X versus 35 W for the i5-8500T.
• Socket: Intel Socket 2066 for the i5-7640X versus Intel Socket 1151 for the i5-8500T.
• Architecture: Kaby Lake for the i5-7640X versus Coffee Lake for the i5-8500T.
• Codename: Kaby Lake-X for the i5-7640X versus Coffee Lake for the i5-8500T.
• Generation: Core i5 X-Series 7th Gen for the i5-7640X versus Core i5 Coffee Lake for the i5-8500T.
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared for the i5-7640X versus 9 MB shared for the i5-8500T.
• Memory Bus: Quad-channel for the i5-7640X versus Dual-channel for the i5-8500T.
• Memory Bandwidth: Not recorded for the i5-7640X versus 42.7 GB/s for the i5-8500T.
• Integrated Graphics: None for the i5-7640X versus UHD 630 for the i5-8500T.
• PCIe: Gen 3 for the i5-7640X versus Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) for the i5-8500T.
• Production Status: Not recorded for the i5-7640X versus End-of-life for the i5-8500T.
• Release Date: 2017-06-25 for the i5-7640X versus 2018-04-01 for the i5-8500T.
• Multiplier Unlocked: True for the i5-7640X versus False for the i5-8500T.
• Part Number: Not recorded for the i5-7640X versus SR3XD for the i5-8500T.

Both processors share the same process node at 14 nm, the same foundry at Intel, and the same memory support type of DDR4. Both have identical per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results consistently favor the i5-8500T. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8500T scores 662 against the i5-7640X's 607, a delta of 8.3%. The single-core R15 result shows 93 versus 85, a delta of 8.6%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 2759 for the i5-8500T and 2533 for the i5-7640X, an 8.2% difference. The R20 single-core scores are 389 versus 357, again 8.2%. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 6571 versus 6031, an 8.2% lead, and R23 single-core shows 927 versus 851, also 8.2%. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i5-8500T maintains a narrow but consistent edge, which aligns with its higher core count of 6 against 4.

The Geekbench results tell the opposite story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-7640X scores 5137 while the i5-8500T scores 4293, giving the i5-7640X a 19.7% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result is even more pronounced: 1736 for the i5-7640X versus 1187 for the i5-8500T, a 46.3% lead. This single-core Geekbench delta is the standout figure in the dataset. The i5-7640X's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz, compared to 3.50 GHz for the i5-8500T, likely contributes to this result, though the database does not explicitly attribute causality.

The win tally is decisive in volume: the i5-8500T takes 6 wins to the i5-7640X's 2. However, the magnitude of the i5-7640X's Geekbench wins, particularly the 46.3% single-core gap, is far larger than any single Cinebench delta. The average benchmark scores reflect a near tie: the i5-7640X averages 2167 while the i5-8500T averages 2110. The i5-7640X's percentile ranking of 47 versus the i5-8500T's 46 underscores how closely matched these parts are in the broader database, despite their divergent benchmark-specific profiles.