Intel Core i5-8350U vs Intel Core i5-8365U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8350U and Intel Core i5-8365U are both 15-watt mobile processors aimed at ultraportable laptops, yet benchmark results reveal a clear and consistent split in their performance profiles. The data shows the i5-8350U holds a decisive lead across nearly every multi-threaded and memory-intensive workload, while the i5-8365U counters with a single significant advantage in single-threaded PassMark testing. This head-to-head analysis quantifies those differences, examines the architectural choices behind them, and clarifies which workloads favor each part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across the 17 benchmark comparisons provided, the Intel Core i5-8350U wins 15, while the Intel Core i5-8365U wins 2. The i5-8350U’s victories are not marginal; they are consistent and often substantial. In Cinebench testing, the i5-8350U leads by 2.4% in R15 multi-core (521 vs. 509), 2.8% in R15 single-core (73 vs. 71), 2.4% in R20 multi-core (2172 vs. 2121), 2.3% in R20 single-core (306 vs. 299), and 2.4% in both R23 multi-core (5173 vs. 5050) and R23 single-core (730 vs. 713). These results indicate that despite the i5-8365U’s higher boost clock, the i5-8350U delivers superior performance in both single-threaded and all-core rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reinforces the i5-8350U’s dominance in multi-threaded tasks, but the margins vary by workload type. The largest single delta is in data compression, where the i5-8350U scores 79781 against the i5-8365U’s 76239, a 4.6% advantage. Random string sorting follows closely, with the i5-8350U ahead by 3.9% (10651 vs. 10256). Data encryption shows a 3.4% lead (2075 vs. 2006), and extended instructions favor the i5-8350U by 3.3% (5243 vs. 5074). Floating-point math results show a 2.4% gap (13422 vs. 13110), while integer math is a tighter 1% difference (22244 vs. 22021). The multithread benchmark gives the i5-8350U a 2.6% edge (6129 vs. 5976), and physics testing shows a 1.4% lead (428 vs. 422). Prime number finding is a dead heat at 19 points for both.

The i5-8365U’s only wins come in the identical PassMark single-thread tests, where it scores 2073 against the i5-8350U’s 1996, a 3.7% advantage. This is a notable reversal, as the i5-8350U wins every Cinebench single-core test by roughly 2.3–2.8%. The data suggests that PassMark’s single-thread workload responds differently to the i5-8365U’s architecture, but this does not translate to wins in other single-threaded benchmarks. Overall, the i5-8350U’s average benchmark score is 8998, compared to the i5-8365U’s 8708, a difference of 290 points. Both processors sit at the 65th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy a similar overall performance tier, but the i5-8350U is consistently ahead within that tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a core design foundation but differ in architectural generation and implementation details. The Intel Core i5-8350U is built on the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically the Kaby Lake-R codename, while the Intel Core i5-8365U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture under the Whiskey Lake-U codename. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node, and both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-8350U has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz; the i5-8365U has a lower base clock of 1600 MHz but a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This clock configuration explains the i5-8365U’s single-thread PassMark win, but the i5-8350U’s higher base clock and architectural tuning appear to benefit sustained multi-threaded performance.

Cache hierarchies are identical: both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is also the same, with both supporting DDR4 and neither offering ECC memory. However, the i5-8365U specifies a dual-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-8350U’s memory bus and bandwidth are not listed in the data. The i5-8365U also explicitly supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), a detail absent from the i5-8350U’s specification. Both integrate the same UHD 620 graphics (the i5-8365U lists it as UHD Graphics 620), so integrated GPU capability is not a differentiator.

The socket and packaging differ: the i5-8350U uses Intel BGA 1356, while the i5-8365U uses Intel BGA 1528. This is a critical physical incompatibility, meaning the two chips cannot be swapped into the same motherboard. The i5-8350U has a die size of 123 mm², while the i5-8365U’s die size is not provided. Production status also differs: the i5-8350U is listed as Active, while the i5-8365U is End-of-life. The i5-8350U was released on 2017-08-20, and the i5-8365U followed on 2019-04-15. The i5-8350U has a part number of SR3L9, and the i5-8365U is SRF9Z.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-8350U is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity and content-creation workloads. Its advantages in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, ranging from 2.4% to 2.4%, make it the better choice for rendering, video encoding, and other fully-threaded tasks. The data compression and random string sorting benchmarks, where it leads by 4.6% and 3.9% respectively, indicate strong performance in file archiving and database-style string manipulation. Encryption workloads also favor the i5-8350U by 3.4%, which matters for VPN and disk-encryption scenarios. For extended instruction sets (e.g., AVX-heavy workloads), the i5-8350U holds a 3.3% edge, and in floating-point math it is 2.4% ahead. The multithread and physics benchmarks further confirm its lead at 2.6% and 1.4%. For users running sustained all-core loads, the i5-8350U is the superior part.

The Intel Core i5-8365U wins specifically in PassMark’s single-thread test, where it outperforms the i5-8350U by 3.7% (2073 vs. 1996). This indicates an advantage in lightly-threaded, latency-sensitive applications that rely on a single core and benefit from the higher 4.10 GHz boost clock. However, this win does not extend to Cinebench single-core tests, where the i5-8350U leads by 2.3–2.8%. Therefore, the i5-8365U’s single-thread advantage is workload-specific rather than universal. Given its end-of-life status and lower average benchmark score (8708 vs. 8998), the i5-8365U is harder to recommend for general use, but for users whose primary application matches PassMark’s single-thread profile, it offers a measurable edge.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, according to the data. The base clock is 1700 MHz for the i5-8350U and 1600 MHz for the i5-8365U. The boost clock is 3.60 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. The socket is Intel BGA 1356 for the i5-8350U and Intel BGA 1528 for the i5-8365U. The architecture differs: Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-R) for the i5-8350U and Whiskey Lake (Whiskey Lake-U) for the i5-8365U. The die size is 123 mm² for the i5-8350U, with no value listed for the i5-8365U. Memory bus and bandwidth are listed only for the i5-8365U: dual-channel and 38.4 GB/s. PCIe support is listed only for the i5-8365U: Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only). Production status is Active for the i5-8350U and End-of-life for the i5-8365U. Release dates are 2017-08-20 for the i5-8350U and 2019-04-15 for the i5-8365U. The launch MSRP for the i5-8365U was $297; no launch MSRP is listed for the i5-8350U. Part numbers are SR3L9 and SRF9Z, respectively. All other specifications—cores, threads, TDP, process node, cache sizes, memory type, ECC support, integrated graphics, and unlocked multiplier status—are identical.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-8350U has an average benchmark score of 8998, while the Intel Core i5-8365U scores 8708.

Q: How many benchmarks does each processor win in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i5-8350U wins 15 benchmarks, and the Intel Core i5-8365U wins 2.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-8365U beat the i5-8350U?

A: The i5-8365U wins the PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, scoring 2073 to the i5-8350U’s 1996, a 3.7% advantage.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark data compression, where the i5-8350U scores 79781 versus 76239 for the i5-8365U, a 4.6% difference.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes, both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the production statuses of the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-8350U is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i5-8365U is listed as End-of-life.