CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-8500T vs Intel Core i7-5775C

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-8500T is a low-power desktop processor from the 8th generation Coffee Lake family. Released in April 2018, it is built on the 14nm process and features 6 cores and 6 threads. The 'T' suffix indicates a 35W TDP, making it ideal for small form factor PCs, AIOs, and office environments. The base clock is 2.1 GHz, with a maximum turbo boost of 3.5 GHz, offering a good balance between power efficiency and performance. It includes 9 MB of Intel Smart Cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 2666 MT/s. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 provides basic display capabilities. With 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, it offers adequate expansion for a discrete GPU and NVMe storage. Compatible with LGA 1151 motherboards on 300-series chipsets, the i5-8500T is a step up from the 8400T, providing higher clock speeds for users needing more responsiveness in a compact footprint.

Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-8500T
6C / 6T3.5 GHz35 W
7.8
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i7
Intel Core i7-5775C
4C / 8T3.7 GHz65 W
8.5
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Desktop
Desktop
Segment
Desktop
Desktop
Generation
8th Generation (Coffee Lake)
Core i7 (Broadwell)
Launched
2018
2015
Status
End-of-life
Active
Codename
Coffee Lake
Broadwell
Series
Core i5
Core i7
Family
8th Generation Core
5th Generation
Predecessor
Intel Core i5-7500T
Intel Core i7-4790
Successor
Intel Core i5-9500T
Intel Core i7-6700

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
6
4
Threads
6
8
Base Clock
2.1 GHz
3.3 GHz
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz
3.7 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
9 MB
6 MB
TDP
35 W
65 W
Architecture
Architecture
Coffee Lake
Broadwell
Process Node
14nm
14nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR4
DDR3
Memory Speed
2666 MT/s
1600 MT/s
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
128 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
LGA 1151
Intel Socket 1150
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
Gen 3
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
Yes

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i5-8500TBest78

6 cores handle office tasks easily, with decent single-core speed.

Intel Core i7-5775C70

4 cores handle office tasks effortlessly, but lack modern IPC.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-8500T55

Can handle light games, but low clocks limit high-refresh gaming.

Intel Core i7-5775CBest75

The eDRAM provides incredibly smooth frame times in older games.

Virtualization

Intel Core i5-8500TBest60

Good for 1-2 VMs, but lacks hyper-threading.

Intel Core i7-5775C55

Capable of light VMs, but limited by 65W TDP.

Efficiency

Intel Core i5-8500T95

Outstanding efficiency with a 35W TDP.

Intel Core i7-5775C95

14nm process makes it incredibly power-efficient.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i5-8500TLimited
  • No dedicated AI hardware.
  • Low clocks make inference slow.
Intel Core i7-5775CLimited
  • No AI hardware
  • eDRAM helps slightly with CPU inference

Content Creation

Intel Core i5-8500TFair
Basic Photo EditingAudio Production1080p Video Editing
Intel Core i7-5775CFair
Basic Photo Editing1080p Video EditingAudio Production

Gaming

Intel Core i5-8500TFair
  • Clocks are too low for modern CPU-bound games.
  • UHD 630 is only good for very light titles.
  • Needs a low-end discrete GPU for decent gaming.
Intel Core i7-5775CVery Good
  • eDRAM reduces stutter in CPU-bound games
  • Iris Pro 6200 good for older games
  • Can be paired with a discrete GPU for better performance

Industry Impact

Gaming
Low
Moderate
Workstations
Low
Low
Content Creation
Moderate
Low
Virtualization
Moderate
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Office Productivity
Excellent
Excellent
Web Browsing
Excellent
4K Media Playback
Very Good
Light Coding
Good
1080p Gaming (with GPU)
Very Good
Light Gaming (iGPU)
Good
Programming
Very Good
Heavy Rendering
Poor

Target Audience

Gamers
Targeted
Content Creators
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i5-8500T

Pros

  • Extremely low 35W TDP
  • 6 cores for parallel tasks
  • Higher base clock than 8400T
  • Runs very cool

Cons

  • Locked multiplier
  • No Hyper-Threading
  • End-of-life platform
  • Limited by 35W power limit under load
Intel Core i7-5775C

Pros

  • 128 MB L4 eDRAM
  • Iris Pro 6200 graphics
  • Drop-in upgrade for LGA 1150
  • Unlocked multiplier

Cons

  • Only 4 cores
  • Supports DDR3 only
  • Expensive on the secondary market
  • Older 14nm process

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i5-8500T

Intel Core i7-5775C

Our Verdict on Each

An excellent low-power 6-core processor that offers better performance than the 8400T, making it a great choice for SFF builds where space and power are constrained.

Best for: Building a quiet home server or SFF office PC using used parts.

Read the full review

A fantastic drop-in upgrade for LGA 1150 systems. The eDRAM gives it surprising legs in older games, though its CPU performance is outclassed by modern hardware.

Best for: Upgrading an older LGA 1150 system for smooth retro gaming.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i5-8500T or Intel Core i7-5775C?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-5775C comes out ahead with a score of 8.5/10. 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 i5-8500T or Intel Core i7-5775C?

For gaming, the Intel Core i7-5775C leads with a gaming performance score of 75/100 among Intel Core i5-8500T and Intel Core i7-5775C.

Which uses less power?

The Intel Core i5-8500T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-8500T (35 W), Intel Core i7-5775C (65 W).

Do Intel Core i5-8500T and Intel Core i7-5775C use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-8500T: LGA 1151, Intel Core i7-5775C: Intel Socket 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which has more cores?

The Intel Core i5-8500T has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-8500T (6 cores), Intel Core i7-5775C (4 cores).

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Core i5-8500T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-8500T (9,000), Intel Core i7-5775C (7,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.