Core i7-8550U vs Processor 300T

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 i7-8550U vs Processor 300T 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 i7-8550U vs Processor 300T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-8550U

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on BGA1356 with DDR4, while Processor 300T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Processor 300T

2024

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1356 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8550U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (6,084 vs 6,118).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $82 MSRP, while Core i7-8550U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-8550U better than Processor 300T?

Yes. Core i7-8550U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 16.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-8550U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 16.9% 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 i7-8550U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Core i7-8550U is still the faster CPU overall, but Processor 300T is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-8550U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $82 MSRP, and it still gives you a 16.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Processor 300T is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (74.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Processor 300T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2017) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1356. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-8550U vs Processor 300T Technical Specifications

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

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.

Processor 300T

The Processor 300T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 6,084 points. Launch price was $82.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-8550U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Processor 300T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-8550U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-8550U versus 3.4 GHz on the Processor 300T — a 16.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-8550U (base: 1.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-8550U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Processor 300T uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8550U scores 6,118 against the Processor 300T's 6,084 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-8550U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8550U vs 6 MB (total) on the Processor 300T.

Feature	Core i7-8550U	Processor 300T
Cores / Threads	4 / 8+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	4 GHz+18%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	1.8 GHz	3.4 GHz+89%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+33%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+20380%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019)	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark	6,118	6,084

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-8550U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Processor 300T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.