CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-9500T vs Intel Core i7-8700T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-9500T is a low-power, enterprise-focused desktop processor designed for small form factor business PCs and compact workstations, featuring a 35W TDP and vPro support.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Excellent for office environments, large spreadsheets, and heavy web browsing.
Handles heavy office workloads and multitasking smoothly.
Gaming
Not intended for gaming; integrated graphics can handle basic 2D and very light 3D apps.
Good gaming performance when paired with a mid-range GPU.
Virtualization
vPro and VT-x support make it highly capable for enterprise VDI setups.
Excellent for running multiple light VMs.
Efficiency
Outstanding power efficiency; runs exceptionally cool.
One of the most efficient hexa-core desktop chips of its era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Low power limits prevent sustained AI workloads
- No dedicated AI hardware
- CPU inference is decent due to 12 threads
Content Creation
Gaming
- UHD 630 is only for display output or very old games
- Not designed for 3D gaming workloads
- Low base clock hinders gaming performance
- 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
- Strict 35W TDP (configurable to 25W)
- Intel vPro support for enterprise management
- 6 physical cores for multitasking
- Integrated UHD Graphics 630
- Runs exceptionally cool and quiet
Cons
- Low base clock of 2.2 GHz
- Locked multiplier
- Expensive compared to consumer i5 parts
- No Hyper-Threading
- End-of-life platform
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- 14nm process is outdated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 i5-9500T
- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600GERival
Low Power Enterprise
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-9500Rival
Mainstream Enterprise
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8700TRival
Low Power Enterprise
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8500TRival
Low Power Enterprise
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400GERival
Low Power Enterprise
Cheaper and offers nearly identical performance if vPro is not needed.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-10500TAlt
Newer generation with 12 threads and better efficiency.
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 processor for enterprise environments. The 35W TDP and vPro support make it ideal for compact, managed office PCs.
Best for: Building a silent home server, pfSense router, or compact enterprise PC where vPro and 35W TDP are required.
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 i5-9500T 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 i5-9500T or Intel Core i7-8700T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8700T leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i5-9500T and Intel Core i7-8700T.
Do Intel Core i5-9500T and Intel Core i7-8700T use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel Socket 1151 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-8700T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-8700T (13,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.