Intel Core i5-8500 Processor

The Intel Core i5-8500 Processor — 6 cores and 6 threads, 3.0 GHz base rising to 4.1 GHz with Turbo Boost, 9 MB Intel Smart Cache, 65 W processor base power, LGA1151. Supplied from stock with a 1-year warranty.

The 200 MHz bin over the 8400

The i5-8500 is the Coffee Lake i5 binned above the 8400: six cores at 3.00 GHz with a 4.10 GHz Turbo, 9 MB of cache, 65 W, launched Q2 2018. It was the common processor in the 2018 wave of corporate desktops.

The extra 200 MHz at base shows in sustained multi-threaded work, and the higher single-core Turbo helps everyday responsiveness. Intel UHD Graphics 630 with Quick Sync handles displays and video decode, and the 65 W envelope runs on the standard OEM cooler.

Technical specifications

Instruction set extensions: Intel SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX and AVX2. Security and virtualisation: AES-NI, Intel VT-x with EPT and VT-d, Intel Boot Guard.

Which systems take this processor

Anything on the FCLGA1151 socket with an Intel 300 series chipset: H310, B360, B365, H370, Q370, Z370 and Z390, plus C246 server boards. The 300 series supports 8th and 9th Generation Core processors; 9th Generation parts require a BIOS from late 2018 or later on the earlier boards.

• Business desktops and SFF machines — Dell OptiPlex 3060 / 5060 / 7060, HP EliteDesk 800 G4 / ProDesk 600 G4, Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 / M920. This generation was the volume corporate platform, so chassis, coolers and replacement boards are widely available.
• Entry workstations — HP Z2 G4, Dell Precision 3630, Lenovo ThinkStation P330, where six cores cover office, light CAD and rendering duty.
• Micro-server and NAS builds — C246 boards such as Supermicro X11SCH and ASUS P11C accept Core i5 parts with ECC UDIMMs, and the 35 W T-variants suit 24/7 enclosures.

One caveat when buying a board separately: C246 boards were sold mainly for Xeon E and may list Core support only from a specific BIOS revision. Tell us the board or the machine model when you enquire and we will check it.

How it compares across the i5 line

The 8600 adds another 100 MHz at base and 200 MHz at Turbo — the top locked Coffee Lake i5. The 9500 is the 9th Generation equivalent at 3.00/4.40 GHz on the same 300 series platform.

How each processor is tested before it ships

1. Visual inspection of the integrated heat spreader, substrate and contact pads; the sSpec laser marking (SR3XE on our i5-8500 stock) is verified against the Intel specification sheet.
2. Burn-in on a matched diagnostic board with a pair of memory modules of the correct type for this platform.
3. All populated memory channels and the primary PCIe lanes are validated, then the processor is identified in the BIOS and in the operating system.
4. A sustained multi-threaded load test at full core count, with the clock and thermal readings recorded.
5. Thermal paste cleaned off, final inspection, then packaging in an anti-static tray with foam — which is how it arrives to you.

Warranty and lead time

Every processor is covered by a 1-year warranty against defects in workmanship and function. If a part fails within the period we replace it or refund it, and we cover return shipping on a verified fault. Stock is held in our own warehouse and normally dispatches within three to seven working days; tracking is issued at dispatch.

Purchasing and volume enquiries

The minimum order quantity for this processor is 2 units. Price is quotation-based rather than listed, because CPU pricing moves with each incoming batch — send us the quantity you need and we will come back with a firm quote and the current lead time. Larger quantities ship from the same production batch so the sSpec and the stepping stay consistent across your order.