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Intel Core i5-8600T

Intel Core i5-8600T: Review and Relevance in 2025

April 2025

Despite its age, the Intel Core i5-8600T remains in demand in budget builds due to its low power consumption and adequate performance. Let’s discuss who this processor is suitable for today and how to use it effectively.

1. Key Specifications: Coffee Lake in Miniature

Released in 2018, the processor is based on the Coffee Lake architecture (14 nm) and remains relevant for less demanding tasks. Its key parameters are:

- 6 cores/6 threads — the absence of Hyper-Threading is compensated by physical cores.

- Base frequency 2.3 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz — peak performance for short bursts of load.

- TDP 35 W — ideal for compact and quiet systems.

- Intel UHD Graphics 630 — integrated graphics for basic tasks.

- Geekbench 6: 1256 (Single-Core), 4734 (Multi-Core) — these scores are close to modern budget CPUs, such as the Intel Core i3-12100T.

Features: Energy efficiency, support for hardware decoding of 4K video, Optane Memory technology.

2. Compatible Motherboards: Socket LGA 1151v2

The processor uses the LGA 1151v2 socket, compatible with Intel 300 series chipsets:

- Z370 — for enthusiasts (RAM overclocking, RAID support).

- H370/B360 — optimal choice for office PCs (USB 3.1 Gen2, up to 64 GB DDR4).

- H310 — budget boards with a minimum number of ports.

Examples of 2025 boards:

- ASUS Prime B360M-A ($80–100) — a reliable base for a home PC.

- Gigabyte H370 HD3 ($90–110) — supports M.2 NVMe.

Important: A BIOS update may be required for compatibility with new SSDs or peripherals.

3. Memory: Only DDR4

The i5-8600T supports DDR4-2666 MHz (maximum 64 GB). DDR5 and higher frequencies are not available.

Recommendations:

- For office use: 8–16 GB (e.g., Kingston Fury Beast 2x8 GB, $50).

- For multimedia: 32 GB (TeamGroup Vulcan Z 2x16 GB, $90).

Limitation: On H310/B360 boards, the RAM frequency may be limited to 2400 MHz.

4. Power Supply: Minimum 300 W

Taking into account the TDP of 35 W and the absence of a discrete graphics card, a 300–400 W PSU is sufficient. Examples:

- Be Quiet! System Power 10 450W ($55) — quiet and reliable.

- Corsair CX450 ($60) — 80 Plus Bronze certified.

With a Graphics Card: If adding a GTX 1650 or similar, choose a PSU rated 500–600 W (e.g., EVGA 600 BR, $70).

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Low power consumption — suitable for mini PCs and HTPCs.

- 6 physical cores — better multitasking compared to 4-core competitors.

- Integrated graphics — no need for a separate graphics card.

Cons:

- No Hyper-Threading — falls short in multi-threaded tasks.

- Outdated 14 nm process — higher heat output under load.

- Limited upgrade options — the next step requires a platform change.

6. Use Cases

- Office and Web Surfing: Quick document handling, 20+ tabs in Chrome.

- Multimedia: Streaming 4K, video editing at 1080p (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve).

- Gaming: CS:GO, Dota 2, GTA V on low settings (60+ FPS). AAA titles would require a discrete graphics card.

- Home Server: Hosting a media library (Plex) or file storage.

Example: A build with i5-8600T + GTX 1650 handles Fortnite on medium settings (1080p, 60 FPS).

7. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (6 cores/12 threads, TDP 65 W, $130): Better for multi-threaded tasks but requires powerful cooling.

- Intel Core i5-9400F (6 cores/6 threads, TDP 65 W, $140): Higher base frequency but lacks integrated graphics.

- Intel Core i3-12100T (4 cores/8 threads, TDP 35 W, $160): Newer but more expensive; excels in Single-Core performance.

Conclusion: The i5-8600T is advantageous for a budget of up to $200 and when an existing LGA 1151v2 platform is available.

8. Build Tips

- Case: Choose compact models (Fractal Design Node 304) for HTPC setups.

- Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but to ensure quiet operation, install a Noctua NH-L9i ($50).

- Storage: An SSD is essential (Kingston A2000 500 GB, $60) — it speeds up system boot times.

- Upgrade: If more performance is needed, consider the i7-8700 (but prices in the used market start at $120).

9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Choose the i5-8600T?

This processor is worth choosing if:

- Budget is tight, and an entirely new platform is not needed.

- A quiet and compact PC is required for office work, a media center, or light gaming.

- There is access to affordable components (motherboards, DDR4).

Target Audience: Students, office workers, DIY enthusiasts. In 2025, the i5-8600T is a rational choice for the second-hand market or existing stock where its price has dropped to $100–130. For new projects, it’s better to consider modern CPUs (Intel 12th generation or AMD Ryzen 5000), but if you need a reliable “workhorse” without frills — the 8600T is still competitive.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2018

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-8600T

Code Name

Coffee Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.30 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.70 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.70 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

L3 Cache

9 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

35 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2666

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

41.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.15 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

9 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1256

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4734

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

935

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

4030

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2272

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

9299

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-9600T

1344 +7%

Core i5-6600

1293 +2.9%

Core i5-8600T

1256

Xeon Gold 6246

1210 -3.7%

Ryzen Threadripper 1950X

1175 -6.4%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Ryzen 7 5700U

5396 +14%

Core i3-10320

5024 +6.1%

Core i5-8600T

4734

Xeon E3-1285L v4

4490 -5.2%

Xeon E3-1245 v5

4179 -11.7%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E3-1270

973 +4.1%

Xeon E5-1650 v3

954 +2%

Core i5-8600T

935

Core i7-7567U

919 -1.7%

Xeon Platinum 8458P

901 -3.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i7-1068NG7

4496 +11.6%

Core i3-N305

4291 +6.5%

Core i5-8600T

4030

Core i7-8705G

3854 -4.4%

Core i5-7600K

3707 -8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i3-6320

2338 +2.9%

Xeon W-2170B

2304 +1.4%

Core i5-8600T

2272

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

2244 -1.2%

Core i5-1035G4

2218 -2.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-9700TE

10280 +10.5%

Core i5-9500T

9848 +5.9%

Core i5-8600T

9299

Core i3-10105F

9008 -3.1%

Core i7-8559U

8496 -8.6%