According to Geekbench, an i5-8500T scores ~1100 single core, ~4000 multicore with it's 35W TDP, while the Orange Pi 5 gets ~840 single core and ~2900 multicore. About 75% of the performance at less than 20% of the power. Not too shabby, despite the orange pi being no efficiency star.

Recycling is good, but only to a point. At some point the cost of operation (and resource pressure from its use) will exceed the cost of a more efficient device - at least until we get abundant green power...