Core i7-5700HQ vs Pentium Gold 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.

Core i7-5700HQ vs Pentium Gold 8500 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 i7-5700HQ vs Pentium Gold 8500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-5700HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌62.1% higher power demand at 47W vs 29W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1364, while Pentium Gold 8500 moves to FCBGA1781 and DDR5.

Pentium Gold 8500

2022

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 29W instead of 47W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1781 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1364 and older memory support.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-5700HQ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,949 vs 6,037).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-5700HQ better than Pentium Gold 8500?

Yes. Core i7-5700HQ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-5700HQ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.5% 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 i7-5700HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-5700HQ still makes the most sense overall. Core i7-5700HQ comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Pentium Gold 8500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2015), a healthier platform with FCBGA1781 and DDR5 instead of BGA1364, and 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-5700HQ vs Pentium Gold 8500 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-5700HQ

The Core i7-5700HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,037 points. Launch price was $378.

Pentium Gold 8500

The Pentium Gold 8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Max frequency: 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 29 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5-5200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 5,949 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-5700HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Pentium Gold 8500 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Pentium Gold 8500 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-5700HQ versus 4.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 8500 — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 8500. The Core i7-5700HQ is built on the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-5700HQ scores 6,037 against the Pentium Gold 8500's 5,949 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i7-5700HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-5700HQ vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium Gold 8500.

Feature	Core i7-5700HQ	Pentium Gold 8500
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	5 / 6+25%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	—
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB Intel® Smart Cache+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Broadwell-H (2015)	—
PassMark	6,037+1%	5,949

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-5700HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold 8500 uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.