Intel Core i5-8500T vs Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Core i7-8086K

Intel Core i5-8500T

The Intel Core i5-8500T is a desktop processor of the Coffee Lake generation. It offers 6 cores clocked at 2.1 - 3.5 GHz and is manufactured in the again improved 14nm process (14nm++). As a "T" model, te i5-8500T is rated with a low 35 Watt TDP and therefore sometimes even used in laptops.

Thanks to the additional 2 cores, the Coffee Lake 6-core CPUs can offer a performance uplift of up to 50% in multithreaded workloads compared to the Kaby Lake predecessors. 

Intel Core i3-9100F

The Intel Core i3-9100F is an entry level Quad-Core processor for desktop PCs based on the Coffee Lake architecture. It offers four cores clocked at 3.6 - 4.2 GHz without HyperThreading / SMT support (4 threads only). The CPU is still manufactured in 14nm++ and does not feature an integrated graphics card. 

Compared to the older Core i3-8100, the i3-9100F offers around 10 to 15 percent higher performance. Therefore, the CPU is well suited for simple office tasks but less for high end gaming or demanding applications.

Intel specifies the CPU with a TDP of 65 Watt. For desktops that means that the processor wont need big cooling solutions and can be used in small cases.

Intel Core i7-8086K

The Intel Core i7-8086K is a high-end desktop processor with six cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture and was announced in mid 2018. It is a limited edition for the 40 year X86 anniversary and at the time of announcement the fastest Coffee-Lake CPU. The processor clocks at between 3.7 and 5 GHz and can execute up to twelve threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process. The i7-8086K is comparatively easy to overclock thanks to the unlocked multiplier. Compared to the cheaper i7-8700K (-66 Dollars) only the single core Turbo clock speed is faster (5 GHz versus 4.7 GHz).

Performance

Due to the two additional cores, performance has increased by almost 50% compared to the Core i7-7700K when all cores are in use. Compared to the cheaper Core i7-8700K, the 8086K offers only a higher single core Turbo Boost and therefore in daily usage and gaming not faster. As a high-end model, the i7-8086K is suitable for the most demanding applications and games.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer higher performance as its clock rate has been increased by 50 MHz. The build is identical to that of the Intel HD Graphics 630. We do expect a performance improvement, but as a low-end solution it will probably only display current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 95 watts. Therefore, well-dimensioned cooling systems should easily manage to deal with the created heat. We expect increased efficiency due to the higher performance.