i5-8500 vs i9-7980XE

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i9-7980XE
2017
18 cores / 36 threads, 165 Watt
18.90
+214%
Core i5-8500
2018
6 cores / 6 threads, 65 Watt
6.01

Core i9-7980XE outperforms Core i5-8500 by a whopping 214% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking3161106
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation2.995.81
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i9Intel Core i5
Power efficiency10.848.75
Architecture codenameSkylake (server) (2017−2018)Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
Release date1 September 2017 (7 years ago)14 February 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,999$202

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-8500 has 94% better value for money than i9-7980XE.

Detailed specifications

Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores18 (Octadeca-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads366
Base clock speed2.6 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.4 GHz4.1 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data30
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache1 MB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache24.75 MB (shared)9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size484 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature94 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA2066FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)165 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data

Security technologies

Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2666DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size128 GB64 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth85.33 GB/s42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/AIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4416

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i9-7980XE 18.90
+214%
i5-8500 6.01

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i9-7980XE 30020
+215%
i5-8500 9541

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i9-7980XE 1445
+3.7%
i5-8500 1394

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i9-7980XE 11242
+132%
i5-8500 4839

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 18.90 6.01
Recency 1 September 2017 14 February 2018
Physical cores 18 6
Threads 36 6
Power consumption (TDP) 165 Watt 65 Watt

i9-7980XE has a 214.5% higher aggregate performance score, and 200% more physical cores and 500% more threads.

i5-8500, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 5 months, and 153.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-7980XE is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-8500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-7980XE and Core i5-8500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i9-7980XE
Core i9-7980XE
Intel Core i5-8500
Core i5-8500

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.8 278 votes

Rate Core i9-7980XE on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.9 877 votes

Rate Core i5-8500 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i9-7980XE or Core i5-8500, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.