Intel Core i7-8559U

The Intel Core i7-8559U is a 14 nm mobile processor from Intel’s Kaby Lake-R generation, featuring 4 cores and 8 threads. With a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, it targets a thermal envelope of 28 W. Its average benchmark score of 2229 places it at the 49th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it sits almost exactly in the middle of the performance distribution. The data shows a tightly clustered set of rivals, with the i7-8559U neither dominating nor being dominated by its immediate competitors.

How It Compares

The closest rival is the Intel Xeon D-1548, which posts an average score of 2231. The i7-8559U trails this part by a negligible 0.1%, a margin that falls within normal run-to-run variance in multi-threaded workloads. This effectively makes the two processors performance peers, despite the Xeon being a server-oriented part with a different feature set.

The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 scores 2227 on average, which is 0.1% lower than the i7-8559U. This delta is so small that benchmark results indicate the two chips are statistically indistinguishable in overall throughput. The E5-4648 v3 belongs to an older server platform, yet its aggregate performance lands in the same region as this mobile quad-core.

Against the Intel Core i7-5775C, the i7-8559U again finds itself behind by 0.1%, with the rival scoring 2231. The i7-5775C is a desktop part with a higher thermal ceiling, but the data shows the mobile i7-8559U holds its ground, delivering nearly identical average performance. This suggests the 28 W power budget does not severely handicap the Kaby Lake-R chip in these benchmarks.

The Intel Xeon E-2226GE leads this group with an average score of 2234. The i7-8559U is 0.2% behind this rival, the largest delta in the comparison set. Even so, a 0.2% gap is effectively a tie in real-world terms; benchmark results indicate that no meaningful performance difference exists between these two processors for the workloads tested.

Platform and Compatibility

The i7-8559U uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket, which means it is soldered directly to the motherboard. This is a mobile-focused package, so there is no upgrade path in the traditional sense; the processor is not user-replaceable. The chip is built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 123 mm², and it belongs to the Kaby Lake architecture under the codename Kaby Lake-R.

Memory support is limited to DDR4, and the integrated memory controller does not support ECC memory. This positions the chip for consumer and mainstream mobile systems rather than mission-critical server deployments. The processor has a total L3 cache of 8 MB shared across all four cores, while each core gets 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache. These cache sizes are typical for the generation and help feed the high boost clock.

The integrated graphics solution is Iris Pro Plus, which provides a more capable GPU than Intel’s basic HD Graphics parts. This makes the i7-8559U suitable for systems that need decent visual output without a discrete graphics card. The market segment is explicitly Mobile, and the production status is Active, indicating the part is still in current manufacturing. The multiplier is locked, so overclocking headroom is not available to end users.

PCIe support is not specified in the data, so no details on lane counts or generation can be stated. The lack of ECC and the BGA package confirm this is a mainstream mobile part. The release date is 2018-04-04, which places it in the late Kaby Lake refresh cycle. There is no launch MSRP listed in the data, so pricing information is not available for this analysis.

Benchmark Performance

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8559U scores 706 points, while its single-core result is 99. The single-core figure is notably low relative to the multi-core score, which suggests the boost clock of 4.50 GHz is not fully sustained in lightly threaded R15 runs. The Cinebench R20 results show a multi-core score of 2942 and a single-core score of 415. The multi-core scaling from R15 to R20 is consistent with the newer workload being more demanding.

Cinebench R23 delivers a multi-core score of 7005 and a single-core score of 989. This represents a substantial jump in multi-core performance over R20, reflecting the updated rendering engine’s ability to utilize all 8 threads effectively. The single-core score of 989 is the highest among the listed Cinebench variants relative to its multi-core score, indicating that the boost clock scales well under lighter loads.

Geekbench results show a multi-core score of 4293 and a single-core score of 1384. The single-core figure is competitive for a 28 W mobile part, and the multi-core score benefits from the 8 threads. Compared to the nearest rivals, the i7-8559U’s average score of 2229 is within 0.2% of all four competitors. The Intel Xeon E-2226GE is the only rival that pulls ahead, and only by 0.2%. The Xeon D-1548 and Core i7-5775C both match the i7-8559U at 2231, a 0.1% advantage for the rivals.

The Xeon E5-4648 v3 is the only rival with a lower average score, at 2227, giving the i7-8559U a 0.1% edge. These deltas are trivial in absolute terms; benchmark results indicate that the i7-8559U delivers performance statistically identical to any of its four nearest neighbors. The percentile ranking of 49 further reinforces this middling position, where the chip neither excels nor lags in the broader CPU landscape. For a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, matching server and desktop parts of similar average score is a notable outcome.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-8559U compare to the Intel Xeon D-1548?

A: The i7-8559U has an average benchmark score of 2229, while the Xeon D-1548 scores 2231. This puts the i7-8559U 0.1% behind, making the two chips effectively equal in overall performance.

Q: What is the boost clock of the i7-8559U?

A: The boost clock is 4.50 GHz, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz. The chip has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the i7-8559U support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor only supports DDR4 memory without error correction.

Q: What is the integrated graphics solution on this processor?

A: The i7-8559U includes Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics, which is a more capable GPU solution than basic Intel HD Graphics.

Q: Can the i7-8559U be overclocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked. The processor is not unlocked for overclocking, and it is mounted on a BGA 1356 socket, making it non-replaceable in most systems.

Q: What is the cache configuration for the i7-8559U?

A: Each core has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache, with a shared 8 MB L3 cache across all four cores.

Who Should Consider It

Gamers on mobile platforms should note that the i7-8559U delivers strong single-core performance, with a Geekbench single-core score of 1384 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 989. These figures are adequate for most gaming workloads, which often favor fewer, faster threads. The Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics also reduces the need for a discrete GPU in lighter titles, though demanding games would still require a dedicated graphics solution.

Content creators working on rendering or video encoding will find the multi-core results reasonable for a 28 W part. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7005 is respectable, and the chip’s ability to match the Xeon D-1548 and Core i7-5775C in average score suggests it can handle moderate creation workloads. However, users with sustained heavy rendering tasks should look at higher-TDP parts, as the 28 W envelope will limit long-duration performance.

Office users and general productivity workloads are a strong fit. The 8 threads and 4.50 GHz boost clock provide snappy responsiveness in everyday applications, and the low power draw makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. The lack of ECC memory is irrelevant for office tasks, and the BGA package means buyers should select a system with the right performance profile from the start.

For users who need a balance of portability and performance without discrete graphics, the i7-8559U offers a compelling package. Its 49th percentile ranking means it is neither a high-end nor a low-end part, but the specific benchmark scores show it punches at or above its weight class. The near-identical performance to four different rivals across server and desktop segments indicates that this mobile chip delivers consistent, predictable results.