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Intel Core i7-8550U vs Intel Celeron 3965Y

Intel Core i7-8550U

► remove from comparison Intel i5-8550U

The Intel Core i7-8550U is a power efficient quad-core SoC for notebooks and Ultrabooks based on the Kaby Lake Refresh generation and was announced in August 2017. Contrary to its direct predecessors Core i7-7500U and i5-7260U, respectively, which were still dual-cores, the i7-8550U is equipped with four cores but at a lower base frequency of 1.8 GHz. The Turbo Boost is not specified yet, but should be at least 3.7 - 4 GHz and therefore also offer good short term single core speeds. The GPU is now named Intel UHD Graphics 620 but otherwise identical to the Intel HD Graphics 620. The integrated memory controller supports DDR4-2400 / LPDDR3-2133 and dual channel memory.

Architecture

Intel basically uses the same micro architecture compared to Skylake, 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

The performance of the i7-8550U depends on the cooling solution of the laptop and the defined TDP limits for short and long term performance. This leads to big differences in our benchmark scores ranging from the 15 Watt reference by Intel up to the 23% higher score of the Inspiron 17-7773 in the Cinebench R15 Multi benchmark. Especially when taxing the CPU for longer periods, these differences can be even higher.

In our usual benchmarks, the average i7-8550U is as fast as the 35 Watt rated Core i5-7440HQ. For single thread performance, the high Turbo Boost frequency helps achieving one of the highest scores for mobile CPUs.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 (Intel Gen 9.5) is untouched from the 8th Gen Kaby Lake chips. With fast dual-channel memory it can reach the performance of a dedicated GeForce 920M.

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 (14nm+), the same as the 7th Gen Kaby Lake processors. Intel still specifies the TDP with 15 Watts, which is typical for ULV chips. Depending on the usage scenario, the TDP can vary between 7.5 (cTDP Down) and 25 Watts.

Intel Celeron 3965Y

► remove from comparison Intel Celeron 3965Y

The Intel Celeron 3965Y is a low power entry level processor for small laptops or tablets and based on the Kaby Lake architecture. It was announced in Q2 2017 and offers two processor cores clocked at 1.5 GHz (no Turbo Boost). Compared to the Pentium 4410Y, the Celeron 3965Y offers no HyperThreading and therefore can execute only up to two threads simultaneously. The chips also includes the Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, a dual-channel memory controller (DDR3L/LPDDR3) as well as VP9 and H.265 video de- and encoder. It is still produced in a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors. Currently (2017) it is the slowest Kaby-Lake based processor.

Architecture

Intel basically used the familiar micro architecture from the Skylake generation, so the per-MHz performance is identical. Only the Speed-Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of the voltages and clocks was improved, and the matured 14 nm process now also enables much higher frequencies and better efficiency than before. 

Performance

Due to the missing HyperThreading, the Celeron 3965Y is slightly slower than the similar clocked Pentium 4410Y in some multi threaded benchmarks. The single thread performance is due to the missing Turbo Boost significantly worse than the more expensive Core m3-7Y30. This should be noticeable in daily tasks. 

Graphics

The integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU has 24 Execution Units (EUs) like the old HD Graphics 515 and runs with clocks between 300 and 850 MHz in combination with this processor. The performance heavily depends on the TDP limit as well as the memory configuration; with fast LPDDR3-1866 RAM in dual-channel mode, the GPU should sometimes be able to compete with the HD Graphics 520, but can also be much slower in other scenarios. Modern games from 2016 will, if at all, only run smoothly in the lowest settings.

Contrary to Skylake, Kaby Lake now also supports hardware decoding for H.265/HEVC Main10 with a 10-bit color depth as well as Google's VP9 codec.

Power Consumption

The chip is manufactured in an improved 14 nm process with FinFET transistors, so the power efficiency was once again improved significantly. The TDP is rated at 6 Watt and can be reduced to 4,5 Watt (cTDP down).

ModelIntel Core i7-8550UIntel Celeron 3965Y
SeriesIntel Kaby Lake RefreshIntel Kaby Lake
CodenameKaby Lake RefreshKaby Lake
Series: Kaby Lake Kaby Lake
Intel Core i7-8650U compare1.9 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8550U « 1.8 - 4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8350U compare1.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8250U compare1.6 - 3.4 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8130U compare2.2 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U compare2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores2 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7700K compare4.2 - 4.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7700 compare3.6 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Xeon E3-1535M v6 compare3.1 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7920HQ compare3.1 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7700T compare2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7600K compare3.8 - 4.2 GHz4 / 4 cores8 MB L3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v6 compare3 - 4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7820HQ compare2.9 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7820HK compare2.9 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ compare2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7500 compare3.4 - 3.8 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7440HQ compare2.8 - 3.8 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7567U compare3.5 - 4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7660U compare2.5 - 4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7600U compare2.8 - 3.9 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7300HQ compare2.5 - 3.5 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7500T compare2.7 - 3.3 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7287U compare3.3 - 3.7 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7560U compare2.4 - 3.8 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7267U compare3.1 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7360U compare2.3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7500U compare2.7 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7300U compare2.6 - 3.5 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7260U compare2.2 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7200U compare2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i3-7100H compare3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i3-7167U compare2.8 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core i7-7Y75 compare1.3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7Y57 compare1.2 - 3.3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i5-7Y54 compare1.2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i3-7100U compare2.4 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Core m3-7Y32 compare1 - 3 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Pentium Gold 4415U compare2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores2 MB L3
Intel Core m3-7Y30 compare1 - 2.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Celeron 3965U compare2.2 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Core i3-7020U compare2.3 GHz2 / 4 cores3 MB L3
Intel Celeron 3867U compare1.8 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Celeron 3865U compare1.8 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y compare1.7 GHz2 / 4 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y compare1.6 GHz2 / 4 cores2 MB L3
Intel Pentium Gold 4410Y compare1.5 GHz2 / 4 cores2 MB L3
Intel Celeron 3965Y « 1.5 GHz2 / 2 cores2 MB L3
Clock1800 - 4000 MHz1500 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB128 KB
L2 Cache1 MB512 KB
L3 Cache8 MB2 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 2
TDP15 Watt6 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm
SocketBGA1356FCBGA1515
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIDual-Channel DDR3L-1600/LPDDR3-1866 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI, TXT
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 620 (300 - 1150 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 615 (300 - 850 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
$409 U.S.
Announced
max. Temp.100 °C
Manufacturerark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i5-8550U
28.1 pt (39%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
2914 Points (3%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1021 Points (43%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 383     avg: 388.5     median: 388.5 (43%)     max: 394 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 1118     avg: 1128     median: 1128 (3%)     max: 1138 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 301     avg: 576     median: 553 (3%)     max: 761 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 108     avg: 159.5     median: 163 (49%)     max: 172 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 4.38     avg: 6.3     median: 6.1 (8%)     max: 8.56 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 1.43     avg: 1.8     median: 1.9 (47%)     max: 1.95 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 4202     avg: 6333     median: 6423 (39%)     max: 8211 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 11694     avg: 17867     median: 17321.5 (13%)     max: 24180 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 12279     avg: 23153     median: 22717 (16%)     max: 31667 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 6737     avg: 8065     median: 8370.5 (10%)     max: 8436 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 257.5     avg: 352     median: 366.7 (4%)     max: 435 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 7.047     avg: 9.8     median: 9.9 (2%)     max: 12.7 s
wPrime 1.55 - wPrime 1.55 1024m *
847 s (3%)
wPrime 1.55 - wPrime 1.55 32m *
26.3 s (14%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
min: 3847     avg: 4487     median: 4374 (7%)     max: 5287 Points
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
15613 MIPS (9%)
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
4337 MIPS (52%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
min: 32     avg: 35.3     median: 33.1 (12%)     max: 41 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
min: 143.6     avg: 153.9     median: 147.9 (34%)     max: 178 fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
min: 3.77     avg: 4     median: 3.9 (7%)     max: 4.43 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
min: 0.357     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.469 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
min: 0.583     avg: 0.7     median: 0.7 (13%)     max: 0.793 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
min: 3.3     avg: 4.2     median: 4.3 (11%)     max: 4.6 GB/s
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
min: 841     avg: 897     median: 913 (6%)     max: 937 Seconds
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
0.7 sec (15%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 4534     avg: 5951     median: 5845 (12%)     max: 7795 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 9     avg: 10.5     median: 9.3 (2%)     max: 17.45 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 20     avg: 23     median: 21.2 (1%)     max: 32.72 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 510     avg: 575     median: 536 (2%)     max: 740 s
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
21623 Points (19%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 3961     avg: 6653     median: 6649 (18%)     max: 9527 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 16314     avg: 42803     median: 44682 (36%)     max: 55226 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 16312     avg: 37536     median: 36876 (30%)     max: 51937 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 27917     avg: 50269     median: 52842 (45%)     max: 58213 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
min: 3437     avg: 5739     median: 5695 (14%)     max: 7725 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
min: 3961     avg: 8228     median: 8306 (15%)     max: 11110 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
min: 2463     avg: 2898     median: 2875 (12%)     max: 3865 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
1081 Points (5%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
3141 Points (10%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 4555     avg: 4858     median: 4900 (49%)     max: 4997 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 10869     avg: 14247     median: 15117 (17%)     max: 16294 Points
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 4439     avg: 4686     median: 4699 (64%)     max: 4858 Points
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 10747     avg: 13316     median: 13251 (32%)     max: 15294 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
min: 8918     avg: 12315     median: 12327.5 (22%)     max: 14144 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
min: 2471     avg: 3671     median: 3770 (74%)     max: 4020 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 11637     avg: 12834     median: 12833.5 (20%)     max: 14030 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 3784     avg: 3949     median: 3948.5 (59%)     max: 4113 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 877     avg: 1087     median: 1107 (1%)     max: 2114 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
min: 63.2     avg: 80.3     median: 71.3 (1%)     max: 122.7 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 17296     avg: 33448     median: 33496 (30%)     max: 42043 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
182 Points (38%)
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 25.3     avg: 40.1     median: 33.7 (6%)     max: 61.4 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 28.2     avg: 38.1     median: 30.4 (6%)     max: 63.2 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
min: 10.4     avg: 15.6     median: 17.3 (13%)     max: 17.5 Points per Watt

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-8550U → 0% n=

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)