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Intel Core i7-8650U vs Intel Core i7-6650U

Intel Core i7-8650U

► remove from comparison Intel i7-8650U

The Intel Core i7-8650U 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 predecessor the Core i7-7600U, which were still dual-cores, the i7-8650U is equipped with four cores but at a lower base frequency of 1.9 GHz. The Turbo Boost can go up to 4,2 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

According to Intel, the new quad core models are up to 40% faster than their dual core predecessors. Due to the reduced TDP and the same 14nm+ process, the long term performance and throttling behaviour will be interesting and depending on the laptop design. Therefore, the older 35 Watt quad-core models should be faster in applications that demand longer CPU loads. The performance however is highly depending on the TDP settings and cooling solution of the laptop. Especially, longer loads will show varying results in different laptops.

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 Core i7-6650U

► remove from comparison Intel 6650U

The Intel Core i7-6650U is an ULV (ultra low voltage) dual-core SoC based on the Skylake architecture. In September 2015, it's the fastest CPU of the 15 W series (besides the i7-6600U) and can be found in ultrabooks as well as normal notebooks. In addition to two CPU cores with Hyper-Threading clocked at 2.2 - 3.4 GHz (2 cores: max. 3.2 GHz), the chip also integrates an Iris Graphics 540 GPU with 64 MB of dedicated eDRAM memory and a dual-channel DDR4-2133/DDR3L-1600 memory controller. The SoC is manufactured using a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors.

Architecture

Skylake replaces both Haswell and Broadwell and brings the same microarchitecture in every TDP class from 4.5 to 45 W. The extensive improvements of the Skylake design include increased out-of-order buffers, optimized prefetching and branch prediction as well as additional performance gains through Hyper-Threading. Overall, however, performance per clock has been increased by only 5 to 10 percent (compared to Haswell) respectively under 5 percent (compard to Broadwell), which is quite modest for a new architecture ("Tock").

Furthermore, the organisation of the eDRAM cache has been modified. Instead of acting like a victim cache, which has to be adressed via the L3/LLC, the eDRAM can now be adressed directly by programms just like the main memory. The size is still 128 MB for the quad-core models (4C + GT4e), while the dual-core chips (2C + GT3e) only offer 64 MB.

Performance

According to the specified clock rates and the improved architecture, the Core i7-6650U should perform similar to a Core i5-4310M (Haswell, 37 W) and is one of the fastest ULV dual-cores as of late 2015. Thus, the CPU has sufficient power for office and multimedia purposes as well as more demanding applications and multitasking.

Graphics

The integrated graphics unit called Iris Graphics 540 represents the "GT3e" version of the Skylake GPU (Intel Gen. 9). The 48 Execution Units, also called EUs, are clocked at 300 - 1050 MHz and offer (thanks to the fast eDRAM cache) a performance sligthly above a dedicated GeForce 920M. Games of 2015 can thus be played smoothly in low or medium settings. For more information about performance and features, check our page for the Iris Graphics 540.

Power Consumption

Specified at a TDP of 15 W (including CPU, GPU and memory controller), the CPU is best suited for small notebooks and ultrabooks (11-inches and above). Optionally, the TDP can be lowered to 9.5 watts (cTDP down), reducing both heat dissipation and performance and allowing even more compact designs.

ModelIntel Core i7-8650UIntel Core i7-6650U
SeriesIntel Kaby Lake RefreshIntel Core i7
CodenameKaby Lake RefreshSkylake
Series: Core i7 Skylake
Intel Core i7-8650U « 1.9 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8550U compare1.8 - 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 i7-6920HQ compare2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6970HQ compare2.8 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6870HQ compare2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HK compare2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ compare2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6770HQ compare2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6700HQ compare2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6567U compare3.3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6600U compare2.6 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6650U « 2.2 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6560U compare2.2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6500U compare2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock1900 - 4200 MHz2200 - 3400 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB128 KB
L2 Cache1 MB512 KB
L3 Cache8 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 82 / 4
TDP15 Watt15 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm
SocketBGA1356BGA
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIDual-Channel DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI, vPro, TXT
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 620 (300 - 1150 MHz)Intel Iris Graphics 540 (300 - 1050 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
$409 U.S.$415 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
max. Temp.100 °C

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 451     avg: 589     median: 605 (4%)     max: 675 Points
342 Points (2%)
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 128     avg: 165     median: 169 (51%)     max: 178 Points
132 Points (40%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 5.04     avg: 6.4     median: 6.8 (9%)     max: 7.24 Points
3.8 Points (5%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 1.67     avg: 1.9     median: 1.9 (48%)     max: 2.04 Points
1.5 Points (38%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 5307     avg: 6337     median: 6629 (40%)     max: 6782 Points
5223 Points (32%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 16227     avg: 18738     median: 18635 (14%)     max: 21455 Points
11564 Points (8%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
21677 Points (15%)
14833 Points (10%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
6864 Points (8%)
6787 Points (8%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 268.3     avg: 301.9     median: 302.8 (4%)     max: 334.6 s
445.6 s (5%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 8.636     avg: 9.6     median: 9.9 (2%)     max: 10.28 s
14.9 s (3%)
wPrime 1.55 - wPrime 1.55 1024m *
413.8 s (2%)
wPrime 1.55 - wPrime 1.55 32m *
10.3 s (5%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
min: 4140     avg: 4423     median: 4319 (7%)     max: 4915 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
min: 35     avg: 39.1     median: 39.8 (14%)     max: 41.98 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
min: 149     avg: 165.4     median: 169.6 (39%)     max: 173.2 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
min: 0.393     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.444 GB/s
0.2 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
min: 0.662     avg: 0.7     median: 0.7 (12%)     max: 0.733 GB/s
0.3 GB/s (6%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
min: 3.9     avg: 4.2     median: 4.3 (11%)     max: 4.4 GB/s
2 GB/s (5%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 4487     avg: 6716     median: 6936 (15%)     max: 7939 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 8     avg: 8.6     median: 8.8 (2%)     max: 9 s
11.7 s (3%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 19     avg: 19.7     median: 20 (1%)     max: 20.1 s
26.3 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 501     avg: 513     median: 508 (2%)     max: 542 s
613 s (3%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
19125 Points (17%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 5168     avg: 7106     median: 6863 (19%)     max: 8887 Points
4919 Points (13%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 39040     avg: 42198     median: 41275 (34%)     max: 47797 Points
44259 Points (36%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 41011     avg: 43029     median: 41405.5 (34%)     max: 48293 Points
43694 Points (35%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 44090     avg: 52920     median: 56455 (48%)     max: 58675 Points
44857 Points (38%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
min: 4442     avg: 5935     median: 6089 (15%)     max: 7416 Points
3639 Points (9%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
min: 6823     avg: 8895     median: 9167 (16%)     max: 10541 Points
5372 Points (10%)
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
min: 2685     avg: 3010     median: 2876 (12%)     max: 3569 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 809     avg: 1126     median: 1076.5 (1%)     max: 1912 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
min: 63.8     avg: 74.2     median: 74.4 (1%)     max: 83.1 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 11491     avg: 31341     median: 33906 (30%)     max: 42822 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
227 Points (47%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-8650U → 100% n=22

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-6650U → 77% n=22

- 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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v1.26
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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)