Core i5-8250U vs Core i7-8550U
Core i5-8250U
Core i7-8550U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-8250U is positioned at rank 860 and the Core i7-8550U is on rank 686, so the Core i7-8550U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8250U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8550U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-8550U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-8550U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8550U
Core i5-8250U
The Core i5-8250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 6,158 points. Launch price was $297.
Core i7-8550U
The Core i7-8550U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,118 points. Launch price was $409.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8550U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-8250U versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-8550U — a 16.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-8550U (base: 1.6 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). Both are built on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i5-8250U scores 6,158 against the Core i7-8550U's 6,118 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-8250U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8250U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8550U.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-8550U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.8 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,158 | 6,118 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,127 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the BGA1356 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-8550U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8250U) / not specified (Core i7-8550U). The Core i5-8250U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Core i7-8550U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8250U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8250U rivals Ryzen 5 2500U.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-8550U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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