Core i7-8700 vs Ryzen 5 5500U

Core i7-8700 vs Ryzen 5 5500U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-8700

6 / 12

12,747

+0.1%

12,736

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Core i7-8700 vs Ryzen 5 5500U 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 i7-8700 vs Ryzen 5 5500U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-8700

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Ryzen 5 5500U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $303 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 5500U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.

Ryzen 5 5500U

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8700 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,900 vs 7,969).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-8700.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-8700 better than Ryzen 5 5500U?

Yes. Core i7-8700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 13.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 15.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 0.1% higher PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-8700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 13.5% 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 i7-8700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 15.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i7-8700 is the better buy right now. Core i7-8700 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $303 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (42.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 5500U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2017). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-8700 vs Ryzen 5 5500U Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-8700

The Core i7-8700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB. L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,747 points. Launch price was $303.

Ryzen 5 5500U

The Ryzen 5 5500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,736 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-8700 and Ryzen 5 5500U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-8700 versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500U — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i7-8700 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-8700 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500U uses Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8700 scores 12,747 against the Ryzen 5 5500U's 12,736 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-8700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 7,969 vs 6,900 (14.4% advantage for the Core i7-8700). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,535 vs 1,100, a 33% lead for the Core i7-8700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,200 vs 5,200 (17.5% advantage for the Core i7-8700). L3 cache: 12288 kB on the Core i7-8700 vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5500U.

Feature	Core i7-8700	Ryzen 5 5500U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+15%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+52%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	12288 kB+50%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)	Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021)
PassMark	12,747	12,736
Cinebench R23 Multi	7,969+15%	6,900
Geekbench 6 Single	1,535+40%	1,100
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,200+19%	5,200

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-8700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5500U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-8700 versus DDR4 3200 MHz on the Ryzen 5 5500U — the Ryzen 5 5500U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-8700 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-8700) vs 12 (Ryzen 5 5500U) — the Core i7-8700 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 300-series (Core i7-8700) and FP6 (Ryzen 5 5500U).

Feature	Core i7-8700	Ryzen 5 5500U
Socket	LGA1151	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4 3200 MHz+20%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-8700) vs true (Ryzen 5 5500U). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-8700) and AMD Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) (Ryzen 5 5500U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-8700 targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 5500U targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Core i7-8700 rivals Ryzen 5 2600.