CPU
GPU
Core i5-8600K
Core i7-1185G7
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 i5-8600K is positioned at rank 501 and the Core i7-1185G7 is on rank 816, so the Core i5-8600K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8600K
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-1185G7
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8600K | Core i7-1185G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8600K | Core i7-1185G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-8600K and Core i7-1185G7
Core i5-8600K
The Core i5-8600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,134 points. Launch price was $257.
Core i7-1185G7
The Core i7-1185G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 September 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 10,033 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8600K packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i7-1185G7 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-8600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-8600K versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-1185G7 — a 11% clock advantage for the Core i7-1185G7 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-8600K uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-1185G7 uses Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i5-8600K scores 10,134 against the Core i7-1185G7's 10,033 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-8600K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,550 vs 1,700, a 9.2% lead for the Core i7-1185G7 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8600K vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1185G7.
| Feature | Core i5-8600K | Core i7-1185G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+20% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm SuperFin-29% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 10,134+1% | 10,033 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,550 | 1,700+10% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,200 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8600K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-1185G7 uses FCBGA1449 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i5-8600K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-8600K) vs 20 (Core i7-1185G7) — the Core i7-1185G7 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z370,Z390 (Core i5-8600K) and Tiger Lake-U (Core i7-1185G7).
| Feature | Core i5-8600K | Core i7-1185G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1449 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | LPDDR4x-4267 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 20+25% |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i5-8600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-1185G7 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8600K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-1185G7). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-8600K) and Iris Xe Graphics G7 (Core i7-1185G7) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8600K targets Gaming Desktop, Core i7-1185G7 targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8600K rivals Ryzen 5 2600X.
| Feature | Core i5-8600K | Core i7-1185G7 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | Iris Xe Graphics G7 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Gaming Desktop | Thin & Light Laptop |
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