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Intel Core i5-8257U

The Intel Core i5-8257U is a quad-core SoC for notebooks based on the Coffee Lake architecture that was announced in the new entry level MacBook Pro 13 in mid 2019. Compared to its predecessor, the CPU is now a quad-core with Hyperthreading support for the execution of up to 8 threads simultaneously. The base frequency is only 1.4 GHz, but the Turbo goes all the way up to 3.9 GHz. It is also equipped with an Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 GPU with 128 MB eDRAM, a dual-channel memory controller (DDR4) as well as VP9 and H.265 video decoding as well as encoding. The chip is still manufactured in a 14nm process with FinFET transistors.

Compared to faster Core i7-8557U model with eDRAM and 15 Watts, the i5-8257U only features 6 MB smart cache and the slowest clock of the Iris Plus GPU.

Architecture

Intel basically uses the same micro architecture compared to Kaby Lake, so the per-MHz performance does not differ. The manufacturer only reworked the Speed Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of voltages and clocks, and the improved 14nm process allows much higher frequencies combined with better efficiency than before.

Performance

Thanks to the relative high Turbo Boost clock, the single thread performance should be very good, but still behind the faster i7 model. The short burst all core performance is clearly better compared to the old dual core predecessors thanks to the additional cores. In sustained workloads, the performance is usually limited by the TDP and cooling. In these workloads the difference to the Core i7 should be also smaller.

Graphics

The integrated Intel Iris Plus 645 Graphics is the GT3e model of the Coffee Lake GPU (Intel Gen. 9.5). It has 48 Execution Units running at 300-1050 MHz and the performance is comparable to a GeForce 930M or 940MX thanks to fast eDRAM cache. However, there aren't any significant improvements compared to the old Iris Plus 650, so modern games can often not be played smoothly or only at the lowest or medium settings, respectively.

Contrary to Skylake, Kaby lake now also supports H.265/HEVC Main 10 with a 10-bit color depth as well as Google's VP9 codec. The dual-core Kaby Lake processors announced in January should also support HDCP 2.2.

Power Consumption

The chip is manufactured in an improved 14nm++ process with FinFET transistors, which improves the efficiency even further. Intel specifies the TDP with 15 Watts and therefore suited for thin and light laptops.

SeriesIntel Coffee Lake
CodenameCoffee Lake-U

Series: Coffee Lake Coffee Lake-U

Intel Core i7-8559U compare2.7 - 4.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8557U compare1.7 - 4.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8269U compare2.6 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8279U compare2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8259U compare2.3 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8257U « 1.4 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8109U compare3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock Rate1400 - 3900 MHz
Level 1 Cache256 KB
Level 2 Cache1 MB
Level 3 Cache6 MB
Number of Cores / Threads4 / 8
Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power)15 Watt
Manufacturing Technology14 nm
Max. Temperature100 °C
SocketFCBGA1528
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI, Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE 4.2
GPUIntel Iris Plus Graphics 645 (300 - 1050 MHz)
64 Bit64 Bit support
Architecturex86
Announcement Date07/10/2019
Product Link (external)ark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU
28.2 pt (39%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 388     avg: 393     median: 393 (44%)     max: 398 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 1494     avg: 1520     median: 1519.5 (4%)     max: 1545 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 629     avg: 634     median: 633.5 (4%)     max: 638 Points
03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630Tooltip
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 156     avg: 157.7     median: 157.7 (47%)     max: 159.3 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 901     avg: 914     median: 913.5 (1%)     max: 926 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 38704     avg: 39388     median: 39387.5 (35%)     max: 40071 Points
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

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» Mobile CPU Comparison
Comparison of all mobile CPU series

» Mobile Processors - Benchmarklist
Benchmarklist of all known CPUs that are used in laptops (desktop and laptop CPUs)

Other CPUs of the series Coffee Lake

» Intel Core i9-9900KS
   8x 4 GHz - 5 GHz
» Intel Core i9-9900K
   8x 3.6 GHz - 5 GHz
» Intel Core i9-9980HK
   8x 2.4 GHz - 5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-9700K
   8x 3.6 GHz - 4.9 GHz
» Intel Core i9-9880H
   8x 2.3 GHz - 4.8 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8086K
   6x 3.7 GHz - 5 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8700K
   6x 3.7 GHz - 4.7 GHz
» Intel Xeon E-2176G
   6x 3.7 GHz - 4.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-9700
   8x 3 GHz - 4.7 GHz
» Intel Core i9-8950HK
   6x 2.9 GHz - 4.8 GHz
» Intel Xeon E-2186M
   6x 2.9 GHz - 4.8 GHz
» Intel Xeon E-2276M
   6x 2.8 GHz - 4.7 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8700
   6x 3.2 GHz - 4.6 GHz
» Intel Core i5-9600K
   6x 3.7 GHz - 4.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-9850H
   6x 2.6 GHz - 4.6 GHz
» Intel Core i7-9750H
   6x 2.6 GHz - 4.5 GHz
» Intel Core i9-9900T
   8x 2.1 GHz - 4.4 GHz
» Intel Xeon E-2176M
   6x 2.7 GHz - 4.4 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8850H
   6x 2.6 GHz - 4.3 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8600K
   6x 3.6 GHz - 4.3 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8500
   6x 3 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8750H
   6x 2.2 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8400
   6x 2.8 GHz - 4 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8500T
   6x 2.1 GHz - 3.5 GHz
» Intel Core i5-9400H
   4x 2.5 GHz - 4.3 GHz
» Intel Core i5-9300HF
   4x 2.4 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i5-9300H
   4x 2.4 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8400H
   4x 2.5 GHz - 4.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8559U
   4x 2.7 GHz - 4.5 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8300H
   4x 2.3 GHz - 4 GHz
» Intel Core i5-9400F
   6x 2.9 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i3-9100F
   4x 3.6 GHz - 4.2 GHz
» Intel Core i7-8557U
   4x 1.7 GHz - 4.5 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8269U
   4x 2.6 GHz - 4.2 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8279U
   4x 2.4 GHz - 4.1 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8259U
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8257U
   4x 1.4 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8260U
   4x 1.6 GHz - 3.9 GHz
» Intel Core i3-8109U
   2x 3 GHz - 3.6 GHz
» Intel Core i3-8100H
   4x 3 GHz

Surrounding CPUs

+ Intel Core i7-6770HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.5 GHz
+ Intel Core i7-1160G7
   4x 2.1 GHz - 4.4 GHz
+ Intel Core i7-1065G7
   4x 1.3 GHz - 3.9 GHz
+ AMD Ryzen 7 3780U
   4x 2.3 GHz - 4 GHz
+ Intel Core i5-8259U
   4x 2.3 GHz - 3.8 GHz
» Intel Core i5-8257U
   4x 1.4 GHz - 3.9 GHz
- Intel Core i7-4900MQ
   4x 2.8 GHz - 3.8 GHz
- Intel Core i7-10610U
   4x 1.8 GHz - 4.9 GHz
- Intel Core i7-10510U
   4x 1.8 GHz - 4.9 GHz
- Intel Core i7-4960HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.8 GHz
- Intel Core i7-6700HQ
   4x 2.6 GHz - 3.5 GHz
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Notebook Processors > Intel Core i5-8257U Processor
Klaus Hinum (Update: 2019-07-16)