Intel Core i5-8350U vs Intel Core i7-8565U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8350U and Intel Core i7-8565U are both 15-watt mobile processors with four cores and eight threads, but the recorded benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The i7-8565U dominates in rendering and raw single-thread workloads, while the i5-8350U consistently outperforms it in PassMark data processing and math tasks. The head-to-head results show the i7 wins 10 of the 17 recorded tests, yet the i5 claims a 5% advantage in data compression and a 9.9% lead in extended instructions, making the choice heavily dependent on the intended workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8565U is the clear winner in all Cinebench tests. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i7 takes both single-core and multi-core runs with consistent deltas of 1.4% to 1.6%. The largest margin in this group is a 1.6% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where it scores 2208 against 2172. The i7 also wins in PassMark single-thread performance with a 5.8% advantage, scoring 2118 versus 1996, and it leads in PassMark physics with a 6.6% edge (458 to 428). The most extreme single-test victory for the i7 is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it beats the i5 by 13.6% (22 vs 19).

The Intel Core i5-8350U wins the majority of PassMark throughput tests despite being the lower-tier part. It takes data compression by 5% (79781 vs 75995), data encryption by 4.1% (2075 vs 1993), extended instructions by 9.9% (5243 vs 4770), floating point math by 3.8% (13422 vs 12934), integer math by 3.1% (22244 vs 21581), multithread by 2.4% (6129 vs 5988), and random string sorting by 4.4% (10651 vs 10200). This pattern suggests the i5-8350U delivers better sustained throughput in memory-heavy or instruction-heavy tasks, while the i7-8565U excels in bursty single-thread and rendering workloads.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-8565U scores 5258 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-8350U scores 5173. The i7 leads by 1.6%.

Q: Does the i5-8350U win any benchmark against the i7-8565U?

A: Yes. The i5-8350U wins 7 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, including data compression (79781 vs 75995), data encryption (2075 vs 1993), extended instructions (5243 vs 4770), floating point math (13422 vs 12934), integer math (22244 vs 21581), multithread (6129 vs 5988), and random string sorting (10651 vs 10200).

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The i7-8565U leads in PassMark single-thread with a score of 2118 versus 1996, a delta of 5.8%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7 scores 742 against 730, a 1.6% lead.

Q: What is the biggest percentage difference in any benchmark?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the i7-8565U wins by 13.6% (22 vs 19). The second largest is the i5-8350U's 9.9% lead in PassMark extended instructions.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share a 14 nm process node and a 15-watt TDP, though they use different sockets and cache sizes.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-8350U has a higher average benchmark score of 8998 compared to 8665 for the i7-8565U, despite the i7 winning more individual head-to-head tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a uniform victory for the i7-8565U. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 529 against 521, a 1.5% margin. The single-core R15 result is 74 against 73, a 1.4% lead. Moving to R20, the i7 takes multi-core at 2208 versus 2172 (1.6%) and single-core at 311 versus 306 (1.6%). In R23, the i7 repeats with 5258 versus 5173 in multi-core and 742 versus 730 in single-core, both at 1.6%. These are narrow but consistent margins, indicating the i7's higher boost clock translates directly into rendering performance.

The PassMark suite tells a different story. The i5-8350U wins data compression by a 5% margin with a score of 79781, which is the largest PassMark win for the i5. It also takes extended instructions by 9.9% (5243 vs 4770), the second-largest delta in the entire comparison. Floating point math goes to the i5 at 13422 versus 12934 (3.8%), and integer math follows at 22244 versus 21581 (3.1%). The i5 wins multithread at 6129 versus 5988 (2.4%) and random string sorting at 10651 versus 10200 (4.4%). Data encryption is another i5 win at 2075 versus 1993 (4.1%).

The i7-8565U counters in PassMark with a dominant 13.6% win in find prime numbers (22 vs 19), a 5.8% lead in single-thread (2118 vs 1996), and a 6.6% lead in physics (458 vs 428). The prime number test is the largest margin anywhere in the dataset, showing a significant advantage for the i7 in integer-heavy iterative workloads. The physics result is notable because it is a multi-threaded test where the i7 wins despite losing the multithread benchmark overall. This suggests the i7's advantage is workload-specific rather than a blanket superiority.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications beyond their names. The i5-8350U has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the i7-8565U has a base clock of 1800 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i7's 1 GHz higher boost clock aligns with its Cinebench and single-thread wins. The i5-8350U uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket, while the i7-8565U uses Intel BGA 1528, meaning they are not drop-in compatible.

Cache allocation also differs. The i5-8350U has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-8565U has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The i7-8565U supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with dual-channel operation and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-8350U lists only DDR4 support with no memory bus or bandwidth details in the database. The i7 also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 has no PCIe specification recorded.

The i5-8350U has a die size of 123 mm², while the i7-8565U has no die size listed. The i5-8350U carries the part number SR3L9, and the i7-8565U carries SREJPSRFFW. The i7-8565U has a recorded launch MSRP of $409, which is the only pricing information in the database. Production status also differs: the i5-8350U is listed as Active, while the i7-8565U is End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node and share the same integrated graphics solution, UHD 620 for the i5-8350U and UHD Graphics 620 for the i7-8565U. The core architecture differs, however. The i5-8350U is based on Kaby Lake, with the codename Kaby Lake-R and the generation listed as Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh). The i7-8565U is based on Whiskey Lake, with the codename Whiskey Lake-U and the generation listed as Core i7 (Whiskey Lake).

The release dates reflect this generational gap. The i5-8350U was released on 2017-08-20, while the i7-8565U came over a year later on 2018-09-30. The architectural update from Kaby Lake to Whiskey Lake brings the larger 8 MB L3 cache on the i7, compared to 6 MB on the i5. Both use the same 4-core, 8-thread layout, but the Whiskey Lake design enables the higher 4.60 GHz boost clock. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The i7-8565U lists a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 16 lanes, while the i5-8350U has no PCIe information recorded. The i5-8350U's die size of 123 mm² is listed, but the i7-8565U's die size is absent from the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple rule: choose the i7-8565U for Cinebench rendering or single-thread responsiveness, and choose the i5-8350U for PassMark throughput tasks. The i7 wins all six Cinebench tests with margins of 1.4% to 1.6%, and it takes PassMark single-thread by 5.8% and physics by 6.6%. For users running rendering workloads or applications sensitive to single-thread speed, the i7-8565U is the stronger part.

The i5-8350U wins seven tests, and its margins in data compression (5%), extended instructions (9.9%), and floating point math (3.8%) are larger than the i7's Cinebench margins. The i5 also has a higher average benchmark score of 8998 versus 8665, and it sits at the 65th percentile among all CPUs, the same percentile as the i7. The i5's active production status contrasts with the i7's end-of-life status, which may matter for long-term availability. Ultimately, the i7-8565U is the better choice for rendering and single-thread performance, while the i5-8350U is the better choice for data processing, encryption, and math-heavy workloads.