CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-11500T vs Intel Core i7-8700T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-11500T is a low-power variant of the 11th Gen Rocket Lake lineup, designed for small form factor PCs and compact systems where thermal limits are strict. Operating at a mere 35W TDP, it drops the base clock to 1.5 GHz while maintaining a respectable 3.9 GHz turbo boost.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy for daily tasks and office applications, though burst performance drops quickly under sustained load.
Handles heavy office workloads and multitasking smoothly.
Gaming
Not intended for serious gaming; iGPU can handle older or 2D titles at low settings only.
Good gaming performance when paired with a mid-range GPU.
Virtualization
Can run basic VMs, but limited power budget restricts multi-VM workloads.
Excellent for running multiple light VMs.
Efficiency
Exceptional efficiency, drawing minimal power at idle and under load compared to 65W+ CPUs.
One of the most efficient hexa-core desktop chips of its era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Low base clock restricts CPU inference
- No dedicated AI hardware
- CPU inference is decent due to 12 threads
Content Creation
Gaming
- UHD 750 suitable only for very light gaming
- Sustained CPU loads limited by 35W TDP
- Not designed for use with discrete GPUs
- Best paired with GTX 1660 or RTX 3060 class GPUs
- Low base clock won't bottleneck as much due to high turbo
- Great for SFF gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- UHD 750 integrated graphics
- Supports Quick Sync Video for media transcoding
- Runs very cool and quiet
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- Low base clock of 1.5 GHz
- Sustained multi-core performance is heavily limited
- Locked multiplier
- Hard to find at retail (mostly OEM)
- 14nm process is less efficient than modern nodes
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- 6 cores and 12 threads
- High 4.0 GHz turbo boost
- Great for passive cooling
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- Lower base clock
- Hard to find retail
- 14nm process is outdated
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-11500T
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GERival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650GERival
Low Power Desktop
- Intel Core i5-10500TRival
Low Power Desktop
- Intel Core i3-11200TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700GERival
Low Power Desktop
Much faster sustained performance if you can accommodate 65W.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-12500TAlt
Better IPC and efficiency on the newer platform.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Significantly faster integrated graphics for light gaming.
- Intel N100Alt
Much lower power for basic tasks, modern efficiency.
More cores for multi-tasking in SFF builds.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i7-8700T
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600ERival
Low Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8670TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700ERival
Low Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8500TRival
Low Power Desktop
- Intel Core i7-9700TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
Much newer and more efficient.
- Intel Core i5-10400TAlt
Similar performance, newer generation.
If you have the cooling for 65W, it's much faster.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4600GAlt
Better integrated graphics and IPC.
Our Verdict on Each
An excellent low-power choice for SFF and media builds, offering strong efficiency and UHD 750 graphics, though not suited for heavy workloads.
Best for: Building a silent mini-ITX PC or NAS with Plex
Read the full reviewAn outstanding 35W processor that doesn't compromise on core count, perfect for silent builds requiring strong multi-threaded capability.
Best for: Building a Small Form Factor (SFF) PC for silent operation.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-11500T or Intel Core i7-8700T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-8700T comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-11500T or Intel Core i7-8700T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8700T leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i5-11500T and Intel Core i7-8700T.
Do Intel Core i5-11500T and Intel Core i7-8700T use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-11500T: Intel Socket 1200, Intel Core i7-8700T: Intel Socket 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-8700T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-11500T (7,500), Intel Core i7-8700T (13,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.