Intel Core i5-8259U vs Intel Core i5-8500T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8500T and the Intel Core i5-8259U present a fascinating study in contrasting design philosophies from the same Coffee Lake generation. Both are end-of-life 14 nm parts aimed at different physical envelopes—one a low-power desktop chip, the other a high-performance mobile processor—yet their benchmark scores land them in a statistical dead heat. The aggregate data shows the i5-8500T holding an average benchmark score of 2110, while the i5-8259U sits at 2108, a difference of just 0.1%. This near-identical overall performance, achieved through fundamentally different core configurations, makes the choice between them a question of platform and workload rather than raw capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T has a marginally higher average benchmark score of 2110, compared to the Intel Core i5-8259U’s 2108. The delta between them is a negligible 0.1%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-8259U consistently wins in Cinebench multi-core tests, scoring 667 in R15, 2781 in R20, and 6622 in R23. The i5-8500T trails by 0.7% to 0.8% in each respective test, scoring 662, 2759, and 6571.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-8500T comes out ahead?

A: Yes, the i5-8500T wins the Geekbench multi-core test with a score of 4293, which is 3% higher than the i5-8259U’s 4168. This is its only win in the head-to-head comparison.

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

A: The i5-8500T features 6 physical cores and 6 threads, while the i5-8259U has 4 physical cores but 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) difference between the two?

A: The i5-8500T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the i5-8259U has a lower TDP of 28 watts, reflecting its mobile-focused design.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The i5-8259U has a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the i5-8500T’s 3.50 GHz.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and share the Coffee Lake architecture, but they diverge in their specific implementations. The i5-8500T is the desktop variant, socketed into Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-8259U is a mobile part soldered to Intel BGA 1526. This fundamental difference in packaging dictates their respective power envelopes and target systems. The i5-8500T is configured with 6 cores and 6 threads, a classic desktop setup, whereas the i5-8259U uses 4 cores and 8 threads, leveraging Hyper-Threading to maximize throughput within a lower thermal budget.

The cache hierarchy reflects the core count difference. The i5-8500T has a larger shared L3 cache of 9 MB, while the i5-8259U has 6 MB. Both share identical per-core L1 and L2 caches at 64 KB and 256 KB, respectively. The die size is a notable point of differentiation, with the i5-8259U explicitly listed at 126 mm², while the i5-8500T’s die size is not provided in the data. Memory support is similar, with both using DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, but the i5-8500T has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s compared to the i5-8259U’s 38.4 GB/s.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i5-8500T comes with UHD 630, while the i5-8259U is equipped with the more capable Iris Pro Plus 655. Both processors offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and do not support ECC memory. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both were released in early April 2018, just days apart. The i5-8259U carries a launch MSRP of $320, a detail not available for the i5-8500T.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a surprisingly consistent pattern: the i5-8259U wins nearly every test, but by margins so slim they are almost within measurement noise. Across the Cinebench suite, the i5-8259U edges out the i5-8500T in R15 multi-core (667 vs 662, a -0.7% delta), R15 single-core (94 vs 93, -1.1%), R20 multi-core (2781 vs 2759, -0.8%), R20 single-core (392 vs 389, -0.8%), R23 multi-core (6622 vs 6571, -0.8%), and R23 single-core (934 vs 927, -0.7%).

The i5-8259U also wins the Geekbench single-core test (1207 vs 1187, -1.7%). Its only loss comes in the Geekbench multi-core test, where the i5-8500T takes a decisive 3% lead (4293 vs 4168). This single victory is significant because it shows that in certain multi-threaded scenarios, the i5-8500T’s two extra physical cores can overcome the i5-8259U’s Hyper-Threading advantage and higher clock speeds.

The overall win count is lopsided—7 wins for the i5-8259U versus 1 for the i5-8500T—but the magnitude of those wins tells a different story. Almost all of the i5-8259U’s victories are under 1%, which suggests that in real-world applications, the two processors would feel functionally identical. The i5-8500T’s 3% win in Geekbench multi-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison, hinting that its core-count advantage has more headroom in certain workloads.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of two chips that are performance twins with distinct platform identities. The i5-8259U is the default choice for pure benchmark dominance, winning 7 of 8 tests, including all Cinebench variations and single-core Geekbench. Its higher base clock of 2.30 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, combined with Hyper-Threading, allow it to squeeze out slight advantages in rendering and single-threaded tasks. The i5-8500T, however, demonstrates that its 6-core, 6-thread configuration provides a real benefit in Geekbench multi-core, where it leads by 3%.

For a user prioritizing a mobile platform, the i5-8259U is the only viable option given its BGA 1526 socket. For a desktop build, the i5-8500T’s Socket 1151 compatibility is the deciding factor. The i5-8259U also offers a more powerful integrated GPU with Iris Pro Plus 655, which could be relevant for systems without a discrete graphics card. The i5-8500T counters with higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s vs 38.4 GB/s) and a larger L3 cache (9 MB vs 6 MB), which may contribute to its Geekbench multi-core win.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several key specifications. The most obvious difference is core count: the i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i5-8259U has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds also differ, with the i5-8500T running at a 2.10 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, compared to the i5-8259U’s 2.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The TDP is lower on the mobile part at 28 watts, versus 35 watts for the desktop chip.

Socket compatibility is mutually exclusive: the i5-8500T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-8259U uses Intel BGA 1526. The L3 cache is larger on the i5-8500T at 9 MB shared, versus 6 MB shared on the i5-8259U. Memory bandwidth is another differentiator, with the i5-8500T supporting 42.7 GB/s and the i5-8259U supporting 38.4 GB/s. The integrated graphics are different as well, with UHD 630 on the i5-8500T and Iris Pro Plus 655 on the i5-8259U. The die size is listed only for the i5-8259U at 126 mm². Finally, the i5-8259U has a launch MSRP of $320, while no launch MSRP is available for the i5-8500T.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-8259U is the winner in the vast majority of benchmark scenarios. It takes every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. This suggests it is better suited for rendering workloads and tasks that rely on the Cinebench engine. It also wins Geekbench single-core, indicating a slight edge in lightly-threaded applications like web browsing or office productivity. Its lower TDP of 28 watts and integrated Iris Pro Plus 655 graphics make it a compelling choice for compact, power-conscious systems where space for a discrete GPU is limited.

The i5-8500T wins only the Geekbench multi-core test, but it does so by a notable 3% margin. This is a strong signal that its 6 physical cores provide a tangible advantage in workloads that scale well with core count, such as video encoding, code compilation, or multitasking. Its higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and larger 9 MB L3 cache further support this profile, as they reduce bottlenecks in data-intensive multi-threaded operations. The i5-8500T’s desktop socket also means it pairs with a wider range of motherboards, offering more flexibility for system builders. For users who prioritize multi-core throughput in a desktop environment, the i5-8500T is the data-backed pick.