Core i5-8257U vs Core i5-8279U

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.

Core i5-8257U vs Core i5-8279U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-8257U vs Core i5-8279U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-8257U

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 28W, a 27W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, while Core i5-8279U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-8279U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,427 vs 7,464).

Core i5-8279U

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌2700% higher power demand at 28W vs 1W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8257U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-8279U better than Core i5-8257U?

Yes. Core i5-8279U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 10.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-8279U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 10.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8279U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-8279U still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-8279U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 10.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i5-8279U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-8257U vs Core i5-8279U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-8257U

The Core i5-8257U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,427 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-8279U

The Core i5-8279U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,464 points. Launch price was $320.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-8257U and Core i5-8279U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8257U versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8279U — a 5% clock advantage for the Core i5-8279U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). Both are built on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i5-8257U scores 7,427 against the Core i5-8279U's 7,464 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-8279U. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-8257U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8279U.

Feature	Core i5-8257U	Core i5-8279U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.1 GHz+5%
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	2.4 GHz+71%
L3 Cache	6 MB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
PassMark	7,427	7,464
Cinebench R23 Multi	4,017	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,100	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,000	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA1528 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Core i5-8257U	Core i5-8279U
Socket	FCBGA1528	FCBGA1528
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8257U) / not specified (Core i5-8279U). The Core i5-8257U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645), while the Core i5-8279U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8257U targets Ultrabook.