Intel Core i5-8259U vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i7-5950HQ and the Intel Core i5-8259U presents a split decision that depends heavily on the workload. The i5-8259U wins six of the eight recorded tests, while the i7-5950HQ takes the remaining two with substantial margins.

In the Cinebench family of tests, the i5-8259U consistently outperforms the i7-5950HQ, though by narrow margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-8259U scores 667 against 656 for the i7-5950HQ, a delta of only 1.6%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 94 versus 92, a 2.1% advantage for the i5-8259U. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-8259U leads again in multicore with 2781 versus 2736 (1.6% ahead) and in single-core with 392 versus 386 (1.5% ahead). The Cinebench R23 results mirror these margins, with the i5-8259U scoring 6622 versus 6516 in multicore (1.6% ahead) and 934 versus 920 in single-core (1.5% ahead). These are consistent but modest leads, indicating that in pure rendering workloads, the i5-8259U holds a slight but repeatable edge.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. Here, the i7-5950HQ dominates decisively. In Geekbench multicore, the i7-5950HQ scores 4601 against 4168 for the i5-8259U, a commanding 10.4% advantage. The single-core Geekbench test shows an even larger gap: 1353 versus 1207, putting the i7-5950HQ 12.1% ahead. This suggests that the i7-5950HQ excels in the types of integer and floating-point operations that Geekbench emphasizes, while the i5-8259U's architecture is better tuned for the specific rendering tasks in Cinebench.

The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture. The i7-5950HQ has an average benchmark score of 2158, while the i5-8259U sits at 2108. Both processors rank in the lower-middle tier of all CPUs, with the i7-5950HQ at the 47th percentile and the i5-8259U at the 46th percentile. These are close overall standings, but the distribution of wins matters more than the aggregate. The i7-5950HQ's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-10200H (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i5-7640X (0.4% behind), the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X (0.5% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-1145G7E (0.7% behind). The i5-8259U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8500T (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G (0.3% ahead), the Intel Xeon E-2224G (0.4% behind), and the Intel Core i3-8350K (0.6% ahead). Both chips sit in a crowded performance band where small deltas separate them from their peers.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but workload-specific choice. For users whose primary applications resemble the Cinebench rendering suite, the Intel Core i5-8259U is the better pick. It wins every Cinebench test in the database, from R15 through R23, in both multi-core and single-core configurations. The margins are small, ranging from 1.5% to 2.1%, but they are consistent across all six Cinebench measurements. No single test shows the i7-5950HQ ahead in this suite.

For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench's broader mix of compute tasks, the Intel Core i7-5950HQ is the stronger option. Its Geekbench multicore score of 4601 is 10.4% higher than the i5-8259U's 4168, and its Geekbench single-core score of 1353 is 12.1% higher than the i5-8259U's 1207. These are substantial margins, far exceeding the narrow Cinebench differences. The i7-5950HQ also posts a higher average benchmark score (2158 versus 2108), suggesting that its strong Geekbench performance pulls its overall average above the i5-8259U despite losing the Cinebench suite.

The percentile rankings reinforce the closeness of this matchup. The i7-5950HQ sits at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the i5-8259U's 46th percentile. This one-point gap is statistically negligible, but it does indicate that the i7-5950HQ's average performance across the entire benchmark suite edges out the i5-8259U. In practical terms, neither chip is a clear overall winner. The choice depends on which benchmark family better represents the intended use case. Rendering-focused users should favor the i5-8259U, while users running diverse compute workloads should favor the i7-5950HQ.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture families, which explains much of their behavioral divergence. The Intel Core i7-5950HQ is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-H codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Broadwell-H) generation. The Intel Core i5-8259U uses the Coffee Lake architecture, with the Coffee Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i5 (Coffee Lake-U) generation. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node, so the transistor geometry is identical, but the architectural designs differ significantly.

The die sizes reflect this difference. The i7-5950HQ has a die size of 182 mm², while the i5-8259U has a much smaller die at 126 mm². This 56 mm² difference indicates that the Broadwell-H design packs more physical circuitry into its package, consistent with its higher integrated graphics capability and its position as a higher-tier part. The smaller Coffee Lake-U die suggests a more streamlined design optimized for lower power consumption.

Cache hierarchies are identical in structure. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory support differs, however. The i7-5950HQ supports DDR3 memory, while the i5-8259U supports DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth is not the same: the i7-5950HQ delivers 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-8259U delivers 38.4 GB/s. The newer DDR4 standard gives the i5-8259U a 28.4% bandwidth advantage, which may contribute to its Cinebench wins.

The integrated graphics solutions also differ. The i7-5950HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i5-8259U features Iris Pro Plus 655. Both are Intel integrated graphics parts, but they are distinct implementations tied to their respective architectures. The PCIe configuration is the same for both: Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several key differences beyond architecture. The base clock speeds differ: the i7-5950HQ runs at 2.90 GHz, while the i5-8259U runs at 2.30 GHz. This 0.60 GHz base clock advantage for the i7-5950HQ is notable, as it means the older chip starts from a higher frequency. The boost clocks are identical at 3.80 GHz for both processors, so the maximum single-core frequency is the same.

The thermal design power (TDP) ratings differ substantially. The i7-5950HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, while the i5-8259U has a TDP of 28 watts. This 19 watt difference indicates that the i7-5950HQ is designed for a higher power envelope, which typically allows sustained performance at higher frequencies. The i5-8259U's lower TDP suggests it is intended for thinner, lighter laptops where heat dissipation is more constrained.

The sockets are different. The i7-5950HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, while the i5-8259U uses Intel BGA 1526. These are physically incompatible sockets, meaning the two processors cannot be swapped between motherboards designed for the other. The part numbers also differ: SR2BJ for the i7-5950HQ and SRCKBSRCUU for the i5-8259U.

The release dates are separated by nearly three years. The i7-5950HQ was released on 2015-06-01, while the i5-8259U was released on 2018-04-04. Both are now end-of-life products, meaning Intel has discontinued production of both parts. The launch MSRP for the i7-5950HQ was $623, while the i5-8259U launched at $320. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the thread count is identical.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-5950HQ has a base clock of 2.90 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-8259U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz. The i7-5950HQ is 0.60 GHz higher at base.

Q: Do both processors have the same boost clock?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-5950HQ and the Intel Core i5-8259U have a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-5950HQ has an average benchmark score of 2158, while the Intel Core i5-8259U has an average score of 2108. The i7-5950HQ is 50 points higher.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-5950HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, while the Intel Core i5-8259U has a TDP of 28 watts. The i7-5950HQ consumes 19 watts more.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core i5-8259U supports DDR4 memory and delivers 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-5950HQ supports DDR3 memory and delivers 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: How do the Geekbench scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-5950HQ scores 4601 in Geekbench multicore and 1353 in Geekbench singlecore. The Intel Core i5-8259U scores 4168 in multicore and 1207 in singlecore. The i7-5950HQ leads by 10.4% in multicore and 12.1% in singlecore.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-8259U is the winner in rendering workloads. It takes the top spot in all six Cinebench tests, from R15 multicore (667 versus 656) through R23 single-core (934 versus 920). The margins are narrow, between 1.5% and 2.1%, but they are uniform across every Cinebench variant. This processor also offers significantly higher memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s, which may explain its edge in memory-intensive rendering tasks. Its lower TDP of 28 watts makes it suitable for thinner mobile chassis, and its smaller die size of 126 mm² suggests a more efficient design for constrained thermal environments.

The Intel Core i7-5950HQ is the winner in general-purpose compute workloads. Its Geekbench scores are decisively higher, with a 10.4% multicore advantage and a 12.1% single-core advantage. These are the largest deltas in the entire head-to-head comparison, far exceeding the narrow Cinebench margins. The i7-5950HQ also holds a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, which may benefit workloads that rely on sustained frequency rather than burst performance. Its larger die size of 182 mm² and higher TDP of 47 watts indicate a design that can push more power into sustained compute tasks. For users running diverse applications that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point workloads, the i7-5950HQ delivers the stronger performance profile.

The overall average benchmark scores point in the same direction. The i7-5950HQ averages 2158 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i5-8259U averages 2108. The i7-5950HQ also sits one percentile point higher in the global ranking (47th versus 46th). Users who prioritize raw compute diversity should choose the i7-5950HQ, while users who prioritize rendering efficiency should choose the i5-8259U.