Intel Core i5-8500T vs Intel Core i7-8705G Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between the Intel Core i5-8500T and the Intel Core i7-8705G is strikingly lopsided, with the i5-8500T taking 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head tests. The only victory for the i7-8705G comes in Geekbench single-core, where it posts a 1277 score against the i5-8500T's 1187, a 7% advantage. That single win points to a narrow but real strength: the i7-8705G's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.50 GHz gives it an edge in lightly threaded, frequency-sensitive workloads. For tasks that rely on one or two cores, such as older games, certain legacy applications, or responsive UI interactions, the i7-8705G is the better pick.

Everywhere else, the i5-8500T dominates. The Cinebench suite, spanning R15, R20, and R23, shows the i5-8500T ahead in both multicore and single-core tests, though the margins are modest, ranging from 1.6% to 2.2%. The largest gap appears in Geekbench multicore, where the i5-8500T scores 4293 versus 3968, an 8.2% lead. This suggests the i5-8500T's six physical cores, even without Hyper-Threading, handle parallel workloads more effectively than the i7-8705G's four cores with eight threads. The data implies that for rendering, video encoding, compilation, or any heavily threaded task, the i5-8500T is consistently the stronger performer.

The use-case split is therefore clear: the i7-8705G is a single-core specialist, while the i5-8500T is the all-rounder with a decisive multicore advantage. For users whose workflows are predominantly parallel, the i5-8500T wins nearly every measurable test. For those who prioritize maximum single-thread responsiveness, the i7-8705G has a specific, though narrow, claim.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8705G has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor is faster in Geekbench multicore?

A: The i5-8500T scores 4293, which is 8.2% higher than the i7-8705G's 3968.

Q: Does the i7-8705G win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, it wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1277, which is 7% higher than the i5-8500T's 1187.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The i5-8500T has a 35 W TDP, while the i7-8705G has a 65 W TDP.

Q: Are both processors from the same architecture generation?

A: No. The i5-8500T uses Coffee Lake architecture, while the i7-8705G uses Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake G.

Q: How does the i5-8500T's average benchmark score compare to the i7-8705G's?

A: The i5-8500T has an average benchmark score of 2110, while the i7-8705G averages 2058. Both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result in the entire comparison is Geekbench multicore. The i5-8500T posts 4293 points, and the i7-8705G trails at 3968. That 8.2% gap is the largest delta between the two chips in any test, and it reveals a fundamental scaling advantage for the six-core design. Even with the i7-8705G's Hyper-Threading, which doubles its thread count to 8, the physical core advantage of the i5-8500T wins out by a substantial margin.

The Cinebench results tell a consistent story of narrow but uniform i5-8500T superiority. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-8500T scores 662 against 651, a 1.7% win. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 93 versus 91, a 2.2% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-8500T leads 2759 to 2714 in multicore (1.7%) and 389 to 383 in single-core (1.6%). Cinebench R23 follows the same trend, with the i5-8500T ahead 6571 to 6464 in multicore (1.7%) and 927 to 912 in single-core (1.6%). These margins are small, but they are consistent across every iteration of the Cinebench suite, suggesting the i5-8500T holds a genuine, if slight, architectural edge in both threaded and unthreaded rendering workloads.

The single exception is Geekbench single-core, where the i7-8705G wins 1277 to 1187. That 7% swing is notable because it is the only test where the i7-8705G's higher clock speeds translate into a measurable advantage. The boost clock difference of 4.10 GHz versus 3.50 GHz appears to be the deciding factor, and it underscores that the i7-8705G is optimized for bursty, low-thread-count tasks. The overall head-to-head record stands at 7 wins for the i5-8500T and 1 for the i7-8705G, but that single win represents a real workload niche.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every core specification. The i5-8500T is a 6-core, 6-thread part with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i7-8705G is a 4-core, 8-thread part with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The i7-8705G thus starts and finishes at higher frequencies, but the i5-8500T compensates with two additional physical cores.

Thermal design power differs significantly: the i5-8500T is rated at 35 W, while the i7-8705G draws 65 W. This makes the i5-8500T a lower-power option, which is notable given that it is a desktop part, while the i7-8705G is a mobile processor with a substantially higher thermal envelope. The sockets differ as well, with the i5-8500T using Intel Socket 1151 and the i7-8705G using Intel BGA 2270, meaning the two are not interchangeable in any system.

Memory bandwidth also separates the pair. The i5-8500T offers 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-8705G provides 38.4 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR4, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe lane counts differ: the i5-8500T has 16 lanes (Gen 3), while the i7-8705G has only 8 lanes (Gen 3). This could affect expansion options in systems built around each chip. The integrated graphics differ in naming, with the i5-8500T featuring UHD 630 and the i7-8705G featuring Intel HD Graphics 630, though both are Intel 630-series implementations. The i7-8705G includes a die size of 125 mm², a figure not recorded for the i5-8500T. Both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

Both chips are built on Intel's 14 nm process, but they represent different architectural lineages. The i5-8500T is a Coffee Lake part, part of the Core i5 generation, while the i7-8705G is a Kaby Lake part, specifically Kaby Lake G, in the Core i7 generation. This architectural split explains several of the observed benchmark patterns.

Cache configurations differ notably. The i5-8500T has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-8705G has 8 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, so the L3 difference is the only cache distinction. The i5-8500T's larger shared cache may contribute to its multicore performance advantage, as more data can be retained closer to the cores during parallel workloads.

The market segments diverge as well: the i5-8500T is a desktop processor, while the i7-8705G is a mobile processor. This is reflected in their TDPs and sockets, but it also hints at different design priorities. The i5-8500T's lower TDP (35 W) and desktop orientation suggest a focus on sustained throughput within a modest power budget. The i7-8705G's higher TDP (65 W) and mobile BGA socket suggest it was designed for compact, high-performance systems where power draw is less constrained. The PCIe lane difference reinforces this: 16 lanes for the desktop part, 8 for the mobile part. The i7-8705G's smaller L3 cache and fewer cores, despite higher clocks, point to a design that favors frequency over parallelism. The i5-8500T, with more cores and more cache, is built for scaling.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but nuanced conclusion. For multicore-heavy workloads, the Intel Core i5-8500T is the superior choice. It wins every Cinebench multicore test, from R15 (662 versus 651) to R20 (2759 versus 2714) to R23 (6571 versus 6464), and it dominates Geekbench multicore by 8.2% (4293 versus 3968). The six-core configuration, despite lacking Hyper-Threading, consistently outperforms the four-core, eight-thread i7-8705G in parallel tasks. The larger 9 MB L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s support this result, as does the lower 35 W TDP, which suggests the i5-8500T achieves its scores more efficiently.

The Intel Core i7-8705G has one clear claim: Geekbench single-core. Its 1277 score beats the i5-8500T's 1187 by 7%, and its higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.50 GHz is the likely cause. For users running applications that are stubbornly single-threaded, this chip offers measurably better responsiveness. However, even in Cinebench single-core tests, the i5-8500T edges ahead by 1.6% to 2.2%, so the i7-8705G's single-core advantage is not universal. It appears only in the Geekbench workload.

Given the 7-to-1 win record, the i5-8500T is the safer recommendation for general-purpose computing. Its average benchmark score of 2110 sits slightly above the i7-8705G's 2058, and both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the i5-8500T include the Intel Core i5-8259U (0.1% behind) and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G (0.4% ahead), while the i7-8705G's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-10105T, which matches its score exactly. These figures show that both chips occupy a similar performance tier overall, but the i5-8500T is consistently on the winning side of the head-to-head. The i7-8705G is a niche pick for specific single-thread scenarios; the i5-8500T is the broader performer.