Intel Core i5-8500T vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two processors into two distinct narratives. In Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i5-8500T takes every single test, but in Geekbench, the Intel Core i7-5950HQ dominates with substantial margins. This is not a typical rivalry where one chip wins outright; it is a case where the workload determines the victor.

Looking first at multi-threaded Cinebench results, the i5-8500T edges ahead in all three versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8500T scores 662 against the i7-5950HQ’s 656, a delta of -0.9% from the perspective of the i7. The R20 multi-core test shows 2759 versus 2736, a -0.8% difference. The R23 multi-core result repeats the pattern: 6571 against 6516, again -0.8%. These are narrow margins, within a single percentage point, but they are consistent across every Cinebench version.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend. The i5-8500T wins R15 single-core with 93 points versus 92, a -1.1% delta. In R20 single-core, the i5 scores 389 versus 386 (-0.8%), and in R23 single-core it scores 927 versus 920 (-0.8%). Again, the differences are small, but the i5-8500T never loses a Cinebench test.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-5950HQ scores 4601 against the i5-8500T’s 4293, a 7.2% advantage. The Geekbench single-core test shows an even larger gap: 1353 versus 1187, a 14% lead for the i7-5950HQ. These are not marginal wins; they represent a meaningful performance gap in workloads that resemble Geekbench’s test patterns.

Overall, the i5-8500T wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the i7-5950HQ wins 2. However, the average benchmark score tells a slightly different story. The i7-5950HQ has an average score of 2158, placing it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-8500T has an average score of 2110, placing it in the 46th percentile. The i7’s higher average comes from its strong Geekbench results, while the i5’s consistency across Cinebench keeps it competitive overall.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear split: pick the Intel Core i5-8500T if your primary workloads are Cinebench-style rendering or multi-threaded content creation that follows that pattern. It wins every Cinebench test, even if by small margins, and its six physical cores give it a structural advantage in heavily threaded tasks that do not rely on simultaneous multithreading.

Pick the Intel Core i7-5950HQ if your workloads resemble Geekbench’s mix of integer, floating-point, and memory tests. The 14% single-core lead and 7.2% multi-core lead in Geekbench indicate that the i7’s architecture handles these tasks significantly better, despite having fewer physical cores. This matters for responsive everyday computing, web browsing, and applications that scale with single-thread performance.

The i5-8500T’s lower TDP of 35 watts versus the i7’s 47 watts also makes it the more power-efficient choice for sustained workloads, especially in compact desktop builds. The i7-5950HQ, being a mobile part in a BGA package, targets laptops and all-in-ones where its Geekbench strengths and integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200 matter more than raw multi-core rendering.

For builders choosing between these two, the decision hinges on what software they run. If the benchmark suite mirrors Geekbench, the i7-5950HQ is the stronger performer. If it mirrors Cinebench, the i5-8500T takes the edge.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-5950HQ is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-H, and uses a 14 nm process node from Intel. Its die size is 182 mm², and it features 4 cores with 8 threads via Hyper-Threading. The cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Intel Core i5-8500T uses the Coffee Lake architecture, also on a 14 nm process node, but with 6 physical cores and 6 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. Its cache hierarchy includes the same 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger at 9 MB. The die size is not recorded in the database.

The memory support differs as well. The i7-5950HQ supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The i5-8500T supports DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. This difference in memory type and bandwidth likely contributes to the i5’s Cinebench performance, as those workloads often benefit from higher memory throughput.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The i7-5950HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, which was Intel’s premium integrated GPU solution at the time, while the i5-8500T has UHD 630, a more standard integrated graphics solution. For users relying on integrated graphics, the Iris Pro part may offer better visual performance, though the database does not include specific graphics benchmarks.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not officially supported on either chip.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors, according to the recorded data:

• Cores: 4 (i7-5950HQ) vs 6 (i5-8500T)
• Threads: 8 (i7-5950HQ) vs 6 (i5-8500T)
• Base Clock: 2.90 GHz (i7-5950HQ) vs 2.10 GHz (i5-8500T)
• Boost Clock: 3.80 GHz (i7-5950HQ) vs 3.50 GHz (i5-8500T)
• TDP: 47 W (i7-5950HQ) vs 35 W (i5-8500T)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1364 (i7-5950HQ) vs Intel Socket 1151 (i5-8500T)
• Architecture / Codename: Broadwell / Broadwell-H (i7-5950HQ) vs Coffee Lake / Coffee Lake (i5-8500T)
• Generation: Core i7 (Broadwell-H) vs Core i5 (Coffee Lake)
• Die Size: 182 mm² (i7-5950HQ) vs not recorded (i5-8500T)
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared (i7-5950HQ) vs 9 MB shared (i5-8500T)
• Memory Support: DDR3 (i7-5950HQ) vs DDR4 (i5-8500T)
• Memory Bandwidth: 29.9 GB/s (i7-5950HQ) vs 42.7 GB/s (i5-8500T)
• Integrated Graphics: Iris Pro Graphics 6200 (i7-5950HQ) vs UHD 630 (i5-8500T)
• Market Segment: Mobile (i7-5950HQ) vs Desktop (i5-8500T)
• Release Date: 2015-06-01 (i7-5950HQ) vs 2018-04-01 (i5-8500T)
• Launch MSRP: $623 (i7-5950HQ) vs not recorded (i5-8500T)
• Part Number: SR2BJ (i7-5950HQ) vs SR3XD (i5-8500T)

The i7-5950HQ has a higher base and boost clock despite its lower core count, which helps explain its Geekbench single-core advantage. The i5-8500T compensates with more cores and a larger L3 cache. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T scores 6571 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i7-5950HQ scores 6516. The i5-8500T wins by a margin of -0.8% (from the i7’s perspective).

Q: Why does the i7-5950HQ win Geekbench tests despite having fewer cores?

A: The i7-5950HQ scores 4601 in Geekbench multi-core versus 4293 for the i5-8500T, a 7.2% advantage. In single-core Geekbench, it scores 1353 versus 1187, a 14% lead. This suggests its higher clock speeds (2.90 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) and Broadwell architecture handle Geekbench’s workload patterns more efficiently.

Q: Does the i5-8500T have more cache?

A: Yes. The i5-8500T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5950HQ has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The i7-5950HQ supports DDR3 in dual-channel mode with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-8500T supports DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are these processors overclockable?

A: No. Both have locked multipliers, and the database does not record them as multiplier-unlocked parts.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-5950HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i5-8500T has UHD 630. The database records these as the integrated graphics solutions, though no graphics benchmarks are included for direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-5950HQ wins in Geekbench-style workloads. Its 14% single-core lead and 7.2% multi-core lead over the i5-8500T in Geekbench suggests it excels at tasks that involve diverse instruction mixes, memory access patterns, and responsiveness. This makes it a strong choice for general productivity, web browsing, and applications that are sensitive to single-thread performance. The higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz / 3.80 GHz) support this advantage. Its mobile BGA 1364 socket and Iris Pro Graphics 6200 also make it suitable for laptops and compact systems where integrated graphics quality matters.

Intel Core i5-8500T wins in Cinebench-style rendering workloads. It takes all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core), even though the margins are under 1.1% in every case. The six physical cores and 9 MB of L3 cache, combined with DDR4 memory support at 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, give it a structural edge in sustained multi-threaded rendering. Its lower TDP of 35 watts also makes it easier to cool in desktop builds. The desktop Socket 1151 platform means it fits in standard motherboards, offering more flexibility for system builders.

For mixed usage, the average benchmark scores provide a tiebreaker. The i7-5950HQ has a higher average benchmark score of 2158 against the i5-8500T’s 2110, and it sits at the 47th percentile versus the 46th. This indicates that, across a broad range of tasks, the i7-5950HQ holds a slight overall edge, driven by its strong Geekbench results. However, the i5-8500T’s consistency across Cinebench makes it the safer pick for users who know their software relies on rendering-style multi-threading.

Final recommendation from the data: Choose the i7-5950HQ for Geekbench-like workloads and mobile or compact systems where its higher clocks and Iris Pro graphics add value. Choose the i5-8500T for desktop builds focused on Cinebench rendering, where its extra cores, larger cache, and faster memory support make it the more capable part.