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Intel Core i5-8257U vs Intel Core i5-9400H vs Intel Core i5-8300H

Intel Core i5-8257U

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i5-8257U is a quad-core SoC for notebooks based on the Coffee Lake architecture that was announced in the new entry level MacBook Pro 13 in mid 2019. Compared to its predecessor, the CPU is now a quad-core with Hyperthreading support for the execution of up to 8 threads simultaneously. The base frequency is only 1.4 GHz, but the Turbo goes all the way up to 3.9 GHz. It is also equipped with an Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 GPU with 128 MB eDRAM, a dual-channel memory controller (DDR4) as well as VP9 and H.265 video decoding as well as encoding. The chip is still manufactured in a 14nm process with FinFET transistors.

Compared to faster Core i7-8557U model with eDRAM and 15 Watts, the i5-8257U only features 6 MB smart cache and the slowest clock of the Iris Plus GPU.

Architecture

Intel basically uses the same micro architecture compared to Kaby Lake, so the per-MHz performance does not differ. The manufacturer only reworked the Speed Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of voltages and clocks, and the improved 14nm process allows much higher frequencies combined with better efficiency than before.

Performance

Thanks to the relative high Turbo Boost clock, the single thread performance should be very good, but still behind the faster i7 model. The short burst all core performance is clearly better compared to the old dual core predecessors thanks to the additional cores. In sustained workloads, the performance is usually limited by the TDP and cooling. In these workloads the difference to the Core i7 should be also smaller.

Graphics

The integrated Intel Iris Plus 645 Graphics is the GT3e model of the Coffee Lake GPU (Intel Gen. 9.5). It has 48 Execution Units running at 300-1050 MHz and the performance is comparable to a GeForce 930M or 940MX thanks to fast eDRAM cache. However, there aren't any significant improvements compared to the old Iris Plus 650, so modern games can often not be played smoothly or only at the lowest or medium settings, respectively.

Contrary to Skylake, Kaby lake now also supports H.265/HEVC Main 10 with a 10-bit color depth as well as Google's VP9 codec. The dual-core Kaby Lake processors announced in January should also support HDCP 2.2.

Power Consumption

The chip is manufactured in an improved 14nm++ process with FinFET transistors, which improves the efficiency even further. Intel specifies the TDP with 15 Watts and therefore suited for thin and light laptops.

Intel Core i5-9400H

► remove from comparison Intel i5-9400H

The Intel Core i5-9400H is a high-end processor for laptops with four cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture (2019 refresh, CFL-HR). The processor clocks at between 2.5 and 4.3 GHz (4.1 with 4 cores) and can execute up to eight threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process. Compared to the predecessor, the Core i5-8400H from 2018, the 9300H is only clocked slightly higher (+100 MHz CPU Turbo, +50 MHz GPU).

The Coffee Lake architecture is similar to Kaby Lake and differs only in the amount of cores (now six cores for the high end versions) and the improved 14nm process (14nm++ according to Intel).

Performance

The Intel Core i5-9400H should perform similar as the older Core i7-7920HQ (3.1 - 4.1 GHz). The faster Coffee Lake CPUs, like the Core i7-9750H offers two additional cores and is therefore up to 50% faster in multithreaded benchmarks. Still, the performance of the i5-9400H should be sufficient for even demanding applications and games.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer a slightly higher performance as its clock rate has been increased by 50 MHz. The architecture is identical to that of the Intel HD Graphics 630. We do expect a performance improvement, but as a low-end solution it will probably only display current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 45 watts and therefore the i5 is only suited for big laptops with good cooling solutions. Using cTDP-down, the CPU can also be configured to 35 Watt resulting in a reduced performance.

Beware, the CPU was not yet released at the time of writing and the information is based on leaks and early price list information (e.g. by Intel or on Baidu).

Intel Core i5-8300H

► remove from comparison Intel i5-8300H

The Intel Core i5-8300H is a fast processor for laptops with four cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture and was announced early 2018. The processor clocks at between 2.3 and 4 GHz (3.9 with 4 cores) and can execute up to eight threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process.

The Coffee Lake architecture is similar to Kaby Lake and differs only in the amount of cores (now six cores for the high end versions) and the improved 14nm process (14nm++ according to Intel).

Performance

The Intel Core i5-8300H should perform similar as the older Core i7-7820HQ (2.9 - 4 GHz). The faster Coffee Lake CPUs, like the Core i7-8750H offers two additional cores and is therefore up to 50% faster in multithreaded benchmarks. Still, the performance of the i5-8300H should be sufficient for even demanding applications and games.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer a slightly higher performance as its clock rate has been increased by 50 MHz (rumored). The architecture is identical to that of the Intel HD Graphics 630. We do expect a performance improvement, but as a low-end solution it will probably only display current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 45 watts and therefore the i5 is only suited for big laptops with good cooling solutions. Using cTDP-down, the CPU can also be configured to 35 Watt resulting in a reduced performance.

ModelIntel Core i5-8257UIntel Core i5-9400HIntel Core i5-8300H
SeriesIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee Lake
CodenameCoffee Lake-UCoffee Lake-HCoffee Lake-H
Series: Coffee Lake Coffee Lake-H
Intel Core i7-8559U2.7 - 4.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8557U1.7 - 4.5 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8269U2.6 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8279U2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8259U2.3 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8257U « 1.4 - 3.9 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8109U3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9980HK2.4 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9880H2.3 - 4.8 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-8950HK2.9 - 4.8 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Xeon E-2186M2.9 - 4.8 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Xeon E-2276M2.8 - 4.7 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9850H2.6 - 4.6 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9750H2.6 - 4.5 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Xeon E-2176M2.7 - 4.4 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8850H2.6 - 4.3 GHz6 / 12 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8750H2.2 - 4.1 GHz6 / 12 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9400H « 2.5 - 4.3 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9300HF2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9300H2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8400H2.5 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8300H2.3 - 4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8100H3 GHz4 / 4 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9980HK2.4 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9880H2.3 - 4.8 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-8950HK2.9 - 4.8 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Xeon E-2186M2.9 - 4.8 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Xeon E-2276M2.8 - 4.7 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9850H2.6 - 4.6 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9750H2.6 - 4.5 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Xeon E-2176M2.7 - 4.4 GHz6 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8850H2.6 - 4.3 GHz6 / 12 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i7-8750H2.2 - 4.1 GHz6 / 12 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9400H2.5 - 4.3 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9300HF2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9300H2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8400H2.5 - 4.2 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8300H « 2.3 - 4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8100H3 GHz4 / 4 cores8 MB L3
Clock1400 - 3900 MHz2500 - 4300 MHz2300 - 4000 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB256 KB256 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1 MB1 MB
L3 Cache6 MB8 MB8 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 84 / 84 / 8
TDP15 Watt45 Watt45 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm14 nm
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
SocketFCBGA1528FCBGA1440FCBGA1440
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI, Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE 4.2Dual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI
iGPUIntel Iris Plus Graphics 645 (300 - 1050 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1100 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1000 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
$250 U.S.

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i5-8257U
28.2 pt (39%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
4033 Points (4%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1003 Points (43%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 388     avg: 393     median: 393 (44%)     max: 398 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 1494     avg: 1520     median: 1519.5 (4%)     max: 1545 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 629     avg: 634     median: 633.5 (4%)     max: 638 Points
823 Points (5%)
min: 609     avg: 793     median: 812 (5%)     max: 850 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 156     avg: 157.7     median: 157.7 (47%)     max: 159.3 Points
min: 151     avg: 168.6     median: 170 (51%)     max: 174 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
9.4 Points (12%)
min: 6.2     avg: 7.9     median: 7.8 (10%)     max: 8.79 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 1.72     avg: 1.9     median: 1.9 (47%)     max: 1.96 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 6115     avg: 6392     median: 6463.5 (39%)     max: 6524 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 20061     avg: 22328     median: 22266.5 (16%)     max: 24718 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 28616     avg: 30319     median: 30318.5 (21%)     max: 32021 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 8277     avg: 8392     median: 8391.5 (10%)     max: 8506 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 205.9     avg: 255.6     median: 265.3 (3%)     max: 285.8 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 6.42     avg: 7.9     median: 7.7 (2%)     max: 9.762 s
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
19620 MIPS (11%)
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
4083 MIPS (49%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
min: 39     avg: 43.7     median: 40.2 (14%)     max: 52 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
min: 163.2     avg: 173.4     median: 169 (39%)     max: 188 fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
5.3 fps (9%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
0.4 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
0.6 GB/s (10%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
3.9 GB/s (10%)
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
714 Seconds (5%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
min: 9.264     avg: 9.4     median: 9.4 (2%)     max: 9.8 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
min: 20.9     avg: 21.2     median: 21.1 (1%)     max: 21.74 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 546     avg: 551     median: 548.5 (2%)     max: 559 s
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
7866 Points (21%)
min: 6234     avg: 8139     median: 8154 (22%)     max: 9415 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 48575     avg: 52494     median: 53016 (43%)     max: 56026 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 48063     avg: 51178     median: 51009 (41%)     max: 55273 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 45639     avg: 53927     median: 56262.5 (47%)     max: 57543 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
min: 6260     avg: 7613     median: 7857 (20%)     max: 8471 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
8936 Points (16%)
min: 9136     avg: 10979     median: 11196 (20%)     max: 11971 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
2740 Points (12%)
min: 3270     avg: 3571     median: 3571 (15%)     max: 3872 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
948 Points (40%)
990 Points (42%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
3858 Points (7%)
3270 Points (6%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
989 Points (4%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
4181 Points (13%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
4608 Points (46%)
4770 Points (48%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
16580 Points (18%)
14790 Points (16%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
15050 Points (27%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
3740 Points (73%)
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 901     avg: 914     median: 913.5 (1%)     max: 926 ms
min: 1095     avg: 1146     median: 1133 (1%)     max: 1209 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
88.5 ms (1%)
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 38704     avg: 39388     median: 39387.5 (35%)     max: 40071 Points
min: 30806     avg: 32869     median: 33251 (30%)     max: 34659 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
210 Points (44%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-8257U → 100% n=1

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-9400H → 130% n=1

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-8300H → 128% n=1

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.26
log 28. 21:08:24

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)