Intel Core i5-7500 vs Intel Core i5-8500

The Intel Core i5-7500 is based on the Kaby Lake S architecture and was developed for the mainstream desktop market.

It is manufactured using the 14 nm process, features 4 cores and 4 threads, and 6 MB of L3 cache. Its integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 and support for PCIe 3.0 with a maximum memory bandwidth of 38 GB/s make it a solid option for everyday tasks and older applications. In benchmarks, it shows basic single-core and multi-core performance.

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-7500 is suitable for less demanding titles. Its Thermal Design Power (TDP) is 65 watts. On the used market, it is typically more affordable and represents a cost-effective solution for existing, compatible systems. The Intel Core i5-8500, part of the Coffee Lake S architecture, is also manufactured using the 14 nm process and designed for the mainstream desktop segment.

It offers a significant performance increase with 6 cores and 6 threads, and 9 MB of L3 cache. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 and PCIe 3.0, combined with a maximum memory bandwidth of 43 GB/s, provide an improved foundation. In benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-8500 significantly outperforms the Intel Core i5-7500 in both single-core and multi-core performance, especially due to the additional cores.

This makes it superior in gaming scenarios and multi-core applications. Despite its higher performance, it maintains a TDP of 65 watts. Although often more expensive on the used market, the Intel Core i5-8500 offers a superior price-performance ratio for more demanding users.