CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8600 and Intel Core i5-8500B are both six-core Coffee Lake parts from the same 14 nm generation, but the benchmark data reveals a clear and consistent performance hierarchy. The i5-8600, a socketed desktop chip, outperforms the BGA-packaged i5-8500B across every single test in the head-to-head comparison, with margins that stay remarkably uniform between 13.2% and 13.5%. This page breaks down exactly where those wins come from, what the scores mean in context, and how the two chips differ under the hood.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the consistency of the i5-8600's advantage. Across all six Cinebench tests, the deltaPct hovers tightly between 13.2% and 13.5%, suggesting a clock-speed-driven gap rather than any architectural inefficiency in the i5-8500B. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-8600 scores 8486 against 7480 for the i5-8500B, a 13.4% lead. That translates to roughly 1000 points of raw multi-threaded performance, a meaningful margin for rendering workloads that scale across all six cores.

Single-core performance tells the same story. The i5-8600 posts 1198 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the i5-8500B manages 1056, again a 13.4% gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-8600's 503 beats the i5-8500B's 443 by 13.5%. These single-threaded deltas matter for everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications, where the i5-8600's higher boost clock provides a tangible edge.

Older Cinebench versions reinforce the trend. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8600 scores 855 versus 753, a 13.5% advantage. In R15 single-core, the margin is 13.2% (120 vs 106). The i5-8500B does have one benchmark result not present for the i5-8600, Geekbench scores of 4998 multi-core and 1407 single-core, but without an i5-8600 Geekbench result in the data pack, those numbers cannot be directly compared here.

Looking at the broader context, the i5-8600's average benchmark score of 2454 places it just 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (2451) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-1541 (2447). The i5-8500B, with an average score of 2423, sits 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U (2424) and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U (2413). Both chips land at the 48th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy essentially the same tier in the overall performance distribution, even though the i5-8600 wins every head-to-head matchup against its sibling.

The largest single win for the i5-8600 is in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where it leads by 423 points (3564 vs 3141). In percentage terms, the biggest deltas are the 13.5% margins seen in R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R20 single-core. There are no tests where the i5-8500B comes out ahead; the data shows a clean 6-0 sweep for the i5-8600.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-8600 is the faster processor in every measured workload. If the choice is between these two specific parts, the i5-8600 delivers 13.4-13.5% more performance in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests across all three versions (R15, R20, R23). That consistency makes it the default pick for anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput.

The i5-8500B, however, is not without a reason to exist. Its BGA 1440 socket indicates it is meant for soldered, non-upgradable systems, likely compact or embedded desktops where the i5-8600's Socket 1151 cannot be used. For a system builder constrained to that form factor, the i5-8500B's lower clock speeds are the trade-off for platform compatibility. But given identical core counts, identical cache, and identical 65 W TDP, the i5-8600's higher base and boost clocks translate directly into superior performance with no thermal penalty.

Users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput for video encoding or 3D rendering should choose the i5-8600. Its 8486 R23 multi-core score versus 7480 for the i5-8500B represents a substantial rendering advantage. Users who value single-core responsiveness for older software or lightly-threaded games will also prefer the i5-8600, given its 1198 vs 1056 R23 single-core result. The i5-8500B only makes sense when the BGA socket is a hard requirement, and even then, the data shows a measurable performance cost.

Neither chip is a standout in the broader market. Both sit at the 48th percentile, and their nearest rivals, the i5-8600 against the i3-1125G4 and Xeon D-1541, the i5-8500B against the Ryzen 5 4680U and i7-9850HE, are all within 0.6% in average benchmark score. The i5-8600's edge over its sibling is larger than its edge over any of those competitors, which underscores how close the overall field is at this performance level.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Coffee Lake on Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 154 mm². Each chip has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. The cache hierarchy is identical, 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and both integrate UHD Graphics 630. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The critical architectural difference lies in the packaging and socket. The i5-8600 uses Intel Socket 1151, a conventional LGA socket designed for desktop motherboards with replaceable CPUs. The i5-8500B uses Intel BGA 1440, a ball-grid array package that is soldered directly to the motherboard. This is not a performance feature but a platform one, BGA parts are typically found in all-in-one systems, mini PCs, or embedded solutions where the CPU is not meant to be upgraded or replaced.

The clock speeds are the only other architectural divergence. The i5-8600 runs at a 3.10 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock, while the i5-8500B runs at 3.00 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. The 100 MHz base and 200 MHz boost differences account for the consistent 13%+ benchmark deltas. With identical core counts, cache, memory support, and integrated graphics, the clocks are the sole performance lever, and the i5-8600 pulls it harder.

Both chips were released in 2018, with the i5-8600 launching on 2018-02-13 and the i5-8500B following on 2018-04-02. Both are marked as end-of-life and carry the same 65 W TDP. The i5-8600's part number is SR3X0; the i5-8500B's is SRCX3.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a handful of specification fields, all of which stem from their different target platforms.

Socket: The i5-8600 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-8500B uses Intel BGA 1440. This is the most consequential difference, determining which motherboards can accept each chip.

Base clock: The i5-8600 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz, 100 MHz higher than the i5-8500B's 3.00 GHz.

Boost clock: The i5-8600 boosts to 4.30 GHz, 200 MHz higher than the i5-8500B's 4.10 GHz.

Release date: The i5-8600 launched on 2018-02-13; the i5-8500B launched later on 2018-04-02.

Launch MSRP: The i5-8600 had a launch MSRP of $213. The i5-8500B had a launch MSRP of $192.

Part number: The i5-8600 is labeled SR3X0; the i5-8500B is SRCX3.

Everything else, cores (6), threads (6), TDP (65 W), process node (14 nm), die size (154 mm²), L1/L2/L3 cache, memory support (DDR4 dual-channel), memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s), PCIe (Gen 3, 16 lanes), integrated graphics (UHD 630), ECC support (none), and unlocked multiplier (no), is identical between the two.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-8600 wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8486 versus 7480 for the i5-8500B, a 13.4% advantage. The R20 multi-core results show 3564 vs 3141, also a 13.5% lead.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap the same as multi-core?

A: Yes, the deltas are nearly identical. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-8600 leads by 13.4% (1198 vs 1056). In R20 single-core, the margin is 13.5% (503 vs 443), and in R15 single-core it is 13.2% (120 vs 106).

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither supports hyper-threading, and both have 9 MB of shared L3 cache with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: What is the main practical difference between the two?

A: The socket. The i5-8600 uses Intel Socket 1151, allowing installation in standard desktop motherboards with a replaceable CPU. The i5-8500B uses Intel BGA 1440, meaning it is soldered to the board and not upgradeable.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-8600's average benchmark score of 2454 is 0.1% above the Intel Core i3-1125G4 and 0.3% above the Intel Xeon D-1541. The i5-8500B's 2423 average is 0.1% below the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U and 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U.

Q: Which chip should I choose for a new build?

A: If your motherboard supports Socket 1151, the i5-8600 is the clear choice, it wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with margins between 13.2% and 13.5%. The i5-8500B is only preferable when a BGA 1440 platform is required, and even then it trades measurable performance for that form factor.