Intel Core i5-8260U vs Intel Core i7-3770K

Processor comparisons 03-04-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-8260U vs Intel Core i7-3770K and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, Gears 5, AIDA64, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, Handbrake, MATLAB, PassMark, PCMark 10, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, Blender.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Rainbow Six Siege
Overwatch
Valorant
Last Man Standing
Red Dead Redemption 2
Apex Legends
Grand Theft Auto V
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Valheim
Halo Infinite
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Watch Dogs Legion
Fallout 76
Death Stranding
DOOM: Eternal
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Cyberpunk 2077
Borderlands 3
Fortnite

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-3770K or Intel Core i5-8260U.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-8260U

52%

Core i7-3770K

51%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-8260U is 1% better than Core i7-3770K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-8260U

52%

Core i7-3770K

52%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Control, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.3	92.1
Valorant	104.9	104.7
Cyberpunk 2077	58.7	58.6
Apex Legends	98.6	98.4
Call of Duty Warzone	78.7	78.5
Overwatch	85.0	84.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.4	72.2
DOOM Eternal	52.4	52.4
Warzone	81.8	81.7
Assassin's Creed	88.1	88.0
Valheim	87.1	86.9

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-8260U

221%

Core i7-3770K

42%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-8260U is more energy efficient than the Core i7-3770K as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 77W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-8260U	Intel Core i7-3770K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	157	137
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	596	672
Cinbench 20 Single-core	409	286
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2046	1391
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1029	1016
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	4033	3503

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-8260U	Intel Core i7-3770K
Single-Core	2385	2049
Multi-Core	7652	6445

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-8260U	Intel Core i7-3770K
Single-Core	997	979
Multi-Core	4222	4061

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-8260U	Intel Core i7-3770K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2012
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1528	LGA1155
Core name	Coffee Lake	Ivy Bridge
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	8	3
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.9 MHz
Frequency	1.6 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	8	8
Bus rate	4 GT/s OPI	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	1900 millions	2460 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	77 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133	DDR3 1333/1600
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-3770K is 54% better than Core i5-8260U in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-8260U is better: 25
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-3770K is better: 6
Although it should be realized that all the number in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-8260U and Intel Core i7-3770K before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-8260U - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-8260U specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-3770K specs and review.