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Intel Core i7-8559U

Intel Core i7-8559U: A Balance of Power and Mobility in Compact Laptops

(Relevant as of April 2025)

Architecture and Process Technology: Coffee Lake in the Age of Miniaturization

The Intel Core i7-8559U processor, released in 2018, remains relevant for budget ultrabooks due to its successful combination of features. It is built on the Coffee Lake architecture with a 14 nm process technology, which feels outdated in 2025 compared to 5-7 nm chips. However, its four cores and eight threads (thanks to Hyper-Threading) allow it to compete with basic modern models.

- Clock Speeds: Base frequency — 2.7 GHz, maximum in turbo mode — 4.5 GHz. This provides a quick response in single-threaded tasks, such as web browsing or document work.

- Integrated Graphics: Iris Plus Graphics 655 with 48 execution units (EU) and a frequency of up to 1200 MHz. For an integrated GPU, this is a robust figure — it handles 4K video and light games like CS:GO or Dota 2 at low settings.

- Cache Memory: 8 MB of L3 cache accelerates the processing of repetitive operations, for example, when working with databases or compiling code.

Despite its age, the Coffee Lake architecture is optimized for energy efficiency, which is critical for ultrabooks.

Power Consumption and TDP: 28W — A Compromise Between Power and Heat

The processor's TDP (Thermal Design Power) is 28W, which is higher than the standard 15W for Intel’s U-series. This means:

- The laptop must have an efficient cooling system. In slim bodies (e.g., Dell XPS 13 9370), fan noise and throttling (frequency reduction due to overheating) can occur under load.

- Performance is more stable in devices with a thermal headroom, such as Lenovo ThinkPad T480 business laptops.

For comparison: modern AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (Zen 3, 15W) consumes less energy while providing similar multi-threaded performance, and the Apple M1 (10W) shows phenomenal efficiency. However, the i7-8559U excels in tasks requiring high CPU frequencies.

Performance: From Office Tasks to Light Creative Work

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core: 1338 — on par with base Apple M1 (1280), but lower than Ryzen 5 7530U (1450).

- Multi-Core: 4133 — comparable to Ryzen 5 4500U (4200), but lags behind 6-core CPUs.

Real-World Scenarios:

1. Office Work: Running 20+ tabs in Chrome, Excel with macros, Zoom — the processor handles it without lag.

2. Multimedia: Editing photos in Lightroom, rendering 1080p videos in Premiere Pro (up to 5 minutes) — acceptable, but for 4K, discrete graphics are recommended.

3. Gaming: Iris Plus 655 can run Genshin Impact at 720p/30 fps or Fortnite on low settings.

Turbo Mode: Short bursts up to 4.5 GHz are beneficial for "burst" loads (e.g., opening a heavy PDF), but under prolonged stress (rendering), the frequency drops to 3.5-3.7 GHz.

Use Cases: Who Is the i7-8559U Suitable for in 2025?

1. Students and Office Workers — for studying, document work, and video conferencing.

2. Freelancers — simple video editing, website layout, graphic design in Figma.

3. Travelers — compact laptops with this CPU usually weigh 1.2-1.5 kg (e.g., Huawei MateBook X Pro 2019).

Not recommended for:

- Professional 3D modeling.

- Game streaming.

- Working with neural networks.

Battery Life: How Long Will the Laptop Last?

The average battery life of devices with the i7-8559U is 6-8 hours under moderate load (50% brightness, Wi-Fi, office tasks). However:

- When turbo mode is activated, battery life drops to 3-4 hours.

- Intel’s power-saving technologies: Speed Shift (quick switching between P-states), Dynamic Tuning (real-time load adaptation).

Advice: Choose laptops with a battery of at least 60 Wh (e.g., Asus ZenBook 14 UX433) — they compensate for the high TDP of the processor.

Comparison with Competitors: AMD, Apple, and Previous Intel Generations

- AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (Zen 3): Better for multi-threaded tasks (+15%), more power-efficient, but weaker in single-threaded scenarios. Laptops with Ryzen 5 are cheaper ($600-$800 vs. $700-$1000 for i7-8559U).

- Apple M1: Revolutionary energy efficiency (10-12 hours of use), but limited compatibility with Windows applications.

- Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Tiger Lake): Newer architecture, higher IPC (Instructions Per Cycle), similar graphics with Iris Xe.

Conclusion: The i7-8559U is a choice for those looking for a used ultrabook priced at $400-600, offering good performance under Windows/Linux.

Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Considering in 2025?

Strengths:

- High single-thread performance.

- Powerful integrated graphics with Iris Plus 655.

- Supports up to 32 GB of RAM and PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe.

Weaknesses:

- Outdated 14 nm process → heating and noisy coolers.

- No support for Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6 (important for new peripherals).

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Device Type: Ultrabooks and business laptops from 2019-2021 (Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre x360).

2. RAM: Minimum 16 GB — 8 GB is insufficient for multitasking.

3. Storage: Only SSDs (NVMe preferred).

4. Display: Full HD (1920×1080) or 4K, if graphic work is required.

Prices for new devices with the i7-8559U in 2025: none are available new, but used models start at $350.

Final Conclusion: Who Is the Core i7-8559U Suitable For?

This processor is ideal for those who:

- Seek an affordable (~$400-600) used ultrabook with Windows.

- Value a balance between performance and portability.

- Are not ready to transition to ARM architecture (Apple M1/M2).

Key Benefits: ability to work with resource-intensive applications on the go, smooth graphics for less demanding games, compatibility with most applications. However, for long-term investment (over 3-5 years), it’s better to consider laptops based on Ryzen 7000 or Intel Alder Lake.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

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.

i7-8559U

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

2.70 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.

4.50 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

4.50 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.

Yes

L3 Cache

8 MB

CPU Socket

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

FCBGA1528

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

28 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.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

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.

DDR4-2400 | LPDDR3-2133

Max Memory Size

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

32 GB

Memory Channels

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

Bus Speed

4 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).

37.5 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® Iris® Plus Graphics 655

Graphics Base Frequency

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

300 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.

1.20 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 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.

4096 x 2304@30Hz

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.

4096 x 2304@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.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

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.

8 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 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 Flex Memory Access

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

1338

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4133

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1012

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3792

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2547

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

8496

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon Platinum 8268

1415 +5.8%

Xeon D-1732TE

1373 +2.6%

Core i7-8559U

1338

Xeon E3-1270L v4

1289 -3.7%

Core i3-10305T

1253 -6.4%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon W-2223

4623 +11.9%

Xeon E5-2648L

4386 +6.1%

Core i7-8559U

4133

Core i5-8400T

3890 -5.9%

Ryzen 3 7320U

3679 -11%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen 7 4800H

1056 +4.3%

Xeon E-2244G

1034 +2.2%

Core i7-8559U

1012

Core i5-9400

990 -2.2%

Ryzen Threadripper 1950X

965 -4.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Ryzen Embedded V2546

4221 +11.3%

Xeon E3-1285L v4

3970 +4.7%

Core i7-8559U

3792

Xeon E3-1280 v3

3649 -3.8%

Ryzen 5 1400

3544 -6.5%

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 7713P

2617 +2.7%

Core i9-9900X

2574 +1.1%

Core i7-8559U

2547

Core i3-9100F

2505 -1.6%

Xeon Gold 6348

2459 -3.5%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-8600T

9299 +9.5%

Core i3-10105F

9008 +6%

Core i7-8559U

8496

Core i5-10200H

8172 -3.8%

Xeon E3-1285 v4

7770 -8.5%