CPU
GPU
Core i7-1185G7
Core i5-8600K
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 i7-1185G7 is positioned at rank 816 and the Core i5-8600K is on rank 501, 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 i7-1185G7
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-1185G7 | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-1185G7 | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 i7-1185G7 and Core i5-8600K
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i7-1185G7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8600K offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-8600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-1185G7 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-8600K — a 11% clock advantage for the Core i7-1185G7 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-1185G7 uses the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i5-8600K uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1185G7 scores 10,033 against the Core i5-8600K's 10,134 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-8600K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,550, a 9.2% lead for the Core i7-1185G7 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1185G7 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8600K.
| Feature | Core i7-1185G7 | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+12% | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+33% | 9 MB (total) |
| 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 | 10,033 | 10,134+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700+10% | 1,550 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 5,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-1185G7 uses the FCBGA1449 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-8600K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR4x-4267 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: 20 (Core i7-1185G7) vs 16 (Core i5-8600K) — the Core i7-1185G7 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Tiger Lake-U (Core i7-1185G7) and Z370,Z390 (Core i5-8600K).
| Feature | Core i7-1185G7 | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1449 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR4x-4267 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+25% | 16 |
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 (Core i7-1185G7) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8600K). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Xe Graphics G7 (Core i7-1185G7) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-8600K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1185G7 targets Thin & Light Laptop, Core i5-8600K targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8600K rivals Ryzen 5 2600X.
| Feature | Core i7-1185G7 | Core i5-8600K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics G7 | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Thin & Light Laptop | Gaming Desktop |
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