Core i5-1155G7 vs Core i5-8500

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-1155G7

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i5-8500

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,521 vs 9,686).
❌Launch MSRP is still $192 MSRP, while Core i5-1155G7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

Core i5-1155G7

2021

Core i5-8500

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,521 vs 9,686).
❌Launch MSRP is still $192 MSRP, while Core i5-1155G7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-1155G7 better than Core i5-8500?

Yes. Core i5-1155G7 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-1155G7 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-1155G7 is the better fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-1155G7 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i5-1155G7 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-8500 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (49.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-1155G7 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2018) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-1155G7 Benchmark Check

Core i5-8500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1155G7	Core i5-8500
1080p
low	169 FPS	179 FPS
medium	139 FPS	144 FPS
high	109 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	152 FPS
medium	120 FPS	122 FPS
high	95 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	71 FPS
medium	73 FPS	61 FPS
high	57 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i5-1155G7 Open Core i5-8500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1155G7	Core i5-8500
1080p
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	238 FPS
high	239 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	203 FPS	223 FPS
1440p
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	237 FPS	238 FPS
high	213 FPS	226 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	202 FPS
4K
low	215 FPS	238 FPS
medium	183 FPS	216 FPS
high	152 FPS	196 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i5-1155G7 Open Core i5-8500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1155G7	Core i5-8500
1080p
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	238 FPS
high	242 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	238 FPS
1440p
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	238 FPS
high	242 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	238 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	227 FPS
high	242 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	152 FPS

Open Core i5-1155G7 Open Core i5-8500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1155G7	Core i5-8500
1080p
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	238 FPS
high	242 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	238 FPS
1440p
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	238 FPS
high	242 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	238 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	238 FPS
medium	242 FPS	238 FPS
high	242 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-1155G7 Open Core i5-8500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1155G7 and Core i5-8500

Core i5-1155G7

The Core i5-1155G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1449. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,686 points. Launch price was $309.

Core i5-8500

The Core i5-8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,521 points. Launch price was $202.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1155G7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8500 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-8500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-1155G7 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500 — a 9.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-1155G7 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-1155G7 uses the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i5-8500 uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1155G7 scores 9,686 against the Core i5-8500's 9,521 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i5-1155G7. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i5-1155G7 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500.

Feature	Core i5-1155G7	Core i5-8500
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+10%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	9 MB (total)+13%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021)	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
PassMark	9,686+2%	9,521

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1155G7 uses the FCBGA1449 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-8500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.