Intel Core i5-8500 vs Intel Core i7-1250U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1250U and Intel Core i5-8500 represent two distinct design philosophies from different eras of Intel’s lineup. The i7-1250U is a modern, low-power mobile processor built for thin-and-light laptops, while the i5-8500 is a higher-power desktop chip from an older generation. Benchmark results show a clear split: the i7-1250U dominates in single-threaded tasks and most multi-threaded workloads, while the i5-8500 holds specific advantages in sustained rendering and special instruction sets. The data reveals that the mobile chip wins 15 of the 19 head-to-head tests, but the four wins for the desktop chip come in areas that matter for specific professional workflows.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1250U is the clear winner in productivity and general-purpose computing. Its single-core performance is decisively ahead, with a 98.2% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and a 38.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. This translates to faster response times in everyday applications and lighter workloads. The i7-1250U also excels in encryption and integer math, showing a 152.5% advantage in PassMark data encryption and a 51.9% lead in PassMark integer math. These are strong indicators for tasks like file compression, database operations, and general code execution.

The Intel Core i5-8500, despite being older and having fewer threads, takes the crown in sustained multi-core rendering and specific data manipulation tasks. Its most significant win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 8079 against the i7-1250U’s 7069, a 12.5% margin. This suggests better sustained performance under heavy, prolonged loads. The i5-8500 also wins in PassMark data compression (134673 vs 119280), PassMark extended instructions (11480 vs 6497), and PassMark random string sorting (16294 vs 13593). These wins point to strengths in archive management, cryptographic hashing, and sorting algorithms that benefit from the desktop chip’s higher sustained clock speeds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U wins every single-core benchmark in the data. It leads by 98.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 17.6% in Cinebench R20 single-core, 38.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core, 23.8% in Geekbench single-core, and 10.7% in PassMark single-thread.

Q: Does the desktop i5-8500 win any multi-core tests?

A: Yes, the i5-8500 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 8079 compared to the i7-1250U’s 7069, a 12.5% advantage. However, the i7-1250U wins all other multi-core tests, including Cinebench R15 multi-core (44.1% lead) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (17.4% lead).

Q: How do they compare in security-related workloads?

A: The i7-1250U is vastly superior in encryption. It scores 7642 in PassMark data encryption compared to the i5-8500’s 3027, representing a 152.5% advantage. For extended instructions, the i5-8500 wins with a 43.4% lead, which covers some cryptographic and SIMD operations.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i7-1250U has a TDP of 9 watts, while the i5-8500 has a TDP of 65 watts. This makes the mobile chip dramatically more power-efficient, which is consistent with its mobile market segment versus the desktop segment of the i5-8500.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-1250U features Iris Xe 96EU graphics, while the i5-8500 uses UHD Graphics 630. The benchmark data does not include graphics tests, but the specification difference indicates a more capable integrated GPU on the mobile chip.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The i7-1250U is listed as Active, while the i5-8500 is listed as End-of-life. The i5-8500 was released on 2018-02-13, and the i7-1250U was released on 2022-02-22.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-1250U scores 226 against the i5-8500’s 114, an 98.2% improvement. This near-doubling of performance is the largest single-core delta in the dataset. The i7-1250U’s boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the i5-8500’s 4.10 GHz partially explains this, but the architectural efficiency of the newer Alder Lake design is the primary factor.

In encryption, the i7-1250U delivers a 152.5% advantage in PassMark data encryption, scoring 7642 versus 3027. This is the largest overall win for either chip. The i7-1250U also shows a strong 61.1% lead in PassMark find prime numbers (58 vs 36) and a 51.9% lead in PassMark integer math (40328 vs 26551).

The i5-8500’s biggest win is in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 11480 against the i7-1250U’s 6497, a 43.4% margin. This is followed by a 16.6% lead in PassMark random string sorting (16294 vs 13593) and an 11.4% lead in PassMark data compression (134673 vs 119280). The i5-8500 also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 8079 vs 7069, a 12.5% margin.

For balanced performance, the i7-1250U leads in PassMark multi-thread by 18.9% (11329 vs 9532) and in Geekbench multi-core by 21.6% (5777 vs 4752). The i7-1250U also wins PassMark physics by 40.3% (881 vs 628) and PassMark floating point math by 18.4% (26625 vs 22489). Overall, the i7-1250U wins 15 tests, while the i5-8500 wins 4.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ significantly: the i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i5-8500 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The i7-1250U operates at a base clock of 1100 MHz with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, whereas the i5-8500 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: the i7-1250U is rated at 9 watts, while the i5-8500 is rated at 65 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the i7-1250U uses Intel BGA 1781, and the i5-8500 uses Intel Socket 1151. Memory support also differs, with the i7-1250U supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-8500 supports only DDR4. The i5-8500 has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-1250U has no bandwidth figure in the data. PCIe support shows the i7-1250U with Gen 4, while the i5-8500 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The i5-8500 has a die size of 154 mm², while the i7-1250U does not have a listed die size. The integrated graphics differ, with the i7-1250U using Iris Xe 96EU and the i5-8500 using UHD Graphics 630. The i5-8500 has a launch MSRP of $192, while the i7-1250U has no launch MSRP listed. The i5-8500 also has a part number (SR3XE), and neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i7-1250U is built on Alder Lake architecture with a process node of 10 nm, while the i5-8500 uses Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm node. This process advantage gives the i7-1250U a significant efficiency lead, reflected in its 9-watt TDP versus the i5-8500’s 65-watt TDP. The i7-1250U uses the Alder Lake-U codename, while the i5-8500 uses the Coffee Lake codename.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The i7-1250U has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-8500 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1250U’s larger per-core L2 cache is a hallmark of its hybrid architecture, which likely contributes to its strong single-threaded scores.

The i7-1250U is a mobile processor, while the i5-8500 is a desktop processor. This is reflected in their market segments and production statuses: the i7-1250U is Active, and the i5-8500 is End-of-life. The i7-1250U supports PCIe Gen 4, while the i5-8500 is limited to PCIe Gen 3, offering newer connectivity options on the mobile chip.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-1250U is the superior processor for nearly all general-purpose tasks. It wins 15 out of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, with dominant leads in single-core performance (up to 98.2%), encryption (152.5%), and integer math (51.9%). Its 10-core, 12-thread configuration with a 9-watt TDP makes it an exceptionally efficient choice for mobile computing. The data shows it is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700K in average benchmark score, placing it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs.

The Intel Core i5-8500 is the better choice only for specific, sustained workloads. Its 12.5% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core indicates superior sustained multi-threaded rendering performance, likely due to its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and desktop-class power envelope. It also wins in extended instructions (43.4% lead), data compression (11.4% lead), and random string sorting (16.6% lead). These are niche but real advantages for users who prioritize those exact workloads.

For most users, the i7-1250U is the clear recommendation. Its single-core dominance, lower power consumption, and broader benchmark wins make it a more versatile processor. The i5-8500, with its launch MSRP of $192 and end-of-life status, is only preferable for those running sustained rendering tasks or specific instruction-heavy applications where its wins are meaningful. The data does not support choosing the i5-8500 for general use, but its four benchmark wins are legitimate and should not be ignored.