CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-8350U vs Core i7-5600U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-8350U is a quad-core mobile processor from Intel's 8th Generation Kaby Lake-R lineup, engineered for thin-and-light ultrabooks and business laptops. Operating at a base frequency of 1.7 GHz and dynamically boosting up to 3.6 GHz, it utilizes Intel's highly optimized 14nm manufacturing process. The transition from dual-core to quad-core configurations in the U-series was a major leap for mobile productivity, bringing 8 threads to low-power devices. With 6MB of L3 Smart Cache, it ensures efficient task management for everyday office work, heavy web browsing, and moderate multitasking. It integrates Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is sufficient for hardware-accelerated video playback and basic display duties, though not intended for 3D gaming. Maintaining a strict 15W TDP, the i5-8350U balances sustained performance with battery longevity, making it a popular choice for professionals requiring reliable computing power in a portable form factor.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Highly capable for office suites, heavy browsing, and daily multitasking.
Good for office tasks, but dual-core limits heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Limited to very light or older games due to basic UHD 620 graphics.
HD 5500 is only suitable for very old or 2D games.
Virtualization
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by thermal constraints.
vPro helps, but dual-core limits running multiple VMs.
Efficiency
Mature 14nm process offers excellent battery life in ultrabooks.
Excellent efficiency for 2015 business laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Relies on CPU AVX2 instructions
- No AI hardware
- Dual-core limits inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- Relies on Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Only suitable for 2D or highly optimized older games
- Lacks hardware support for modern DirectX 12 Ultimate features
- Not designed for gaming
- HD 5500 is very weak
- Only for basic 2D applications
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Reliable quad-core performance for everyday tasks
- High boost clock of 3.6 GHz
- Good multitasking with 8 threads
- Wide compatibility with DDR4 and LPDDR3
Cons
- Built on aging 14nm process
- Weak integrated graphics
- No support for PCIe 4.0
- Quickly overshadowed by Whiskey Lake
Pros
- Intel vPro for enterprise management
- Excellent battery life for its era
- Good for office productivity
- Low 15W TDP
Cons
- Only 2 cores
- Outdated DDR3 memory
- Weak integrated graphics
- Soldered to motherboard
- Struggles with modern multitasking
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-8350U
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8550URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-8250URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-7200URival
Mobile
Better turbo frequencies on Whiskey Lake.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3500UAlt
More cores and better Vega graphics.
- Intel Core i3-8130UAlt
Cheaper alternative for basic tasks.
- Alt
Vastly superior battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 3 3200UAlt
Budget-friendly with modern Vega graphics.
Core i7-5600U
- AMD A8-7100Rival
Mobile APU
- Intel Core i7-5500URival
Mobile Thin & Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5300URival
Mobile Business
- Intel Core i7-6600UAlt
Skylake successor with DDR4 and vPro.
Modern quad-core vPro alternative with massive performance gains.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4500UAlt
Modern 6-core alternative for business laptops.
Modern 10nm alternative with better efficiency and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Revolutionary efficiency and performance for mobile work.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A solid quad-core low-power processor that brought significant multi-threaded gains to ultrabooks, though its integrated graphics remain a limiting factor.
Best for: Purchasing a heavily discounted used business laptop for basic office work.
Read the full reviewA solid Broadwell-U chip tailored for enterprise environments with vPro, offering good efficiency and adequate performance for office work.
Best for: Buying a refurbished ThinkPad or Latitude for basic typing.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-8350U or Core i7-5600U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-8350U comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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 i5-8350U or Core i7-5600U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-8350U leads with a gaming performance score of 35/100 among Intel Core i5-8350U and Core i7-5600U.
Do Intel Core i5-8350U and Core i7-5600U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-8350U: Intel BGA 1356, Core i7-5600U: Intel BGA 1168), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-8350U has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-8350U (4 cores), Core i7-5600U (2 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-8350U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-8350U (6,100). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.