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Intel Core i5-8400H vs Intel Core i5-8279U vs Intel Core i7-9850H

Intel Core i5-8400H

► remove from comparison Intel i5-8400H

The Intel Core i5-8400H is a high-end processor for laptops with four cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture and will be announced early 2018. The processor clocks at between 2.5 and 4.2 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.

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 i5-8400H should perform similar as the older Core i7-7920HQ (3.1 - 4.1 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 i5-8400H 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.

Intel Core i5-8279U

► remove from comparison

The Intel Core i5-8279U is a quad-core SoC for notebooks based on the Coffee Lake architecture and was announced in the first quarter of 2019. Compared to its predecessor Core i5-7287U, the CPU is now a quad-core with Hyperthreading support for the execution of up to 8 threads simultaneously. The base frequency is 2.4 GHz, but the Turbo goes all the way up to 4.1 GHz. It is also equipped with an Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 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 model (e.g. Core i7-8559U) with eDRAM and 28 Watts, the i5-8279U only features 6 MB smart cache and a slower 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

Considering the clocks of the Core i5-8259U, its performance should be between above the 15W model Core i7-8650U. The i5-82769U should still be faster than the i7-8650U in practice thanks to the increased TDP, especially during sustained workloads. Compared to the similar named Intel Core i5-8269U, the 8279U offers a slightly lower performance (-200 MHz Turbo, -100 MHz base) although the name suggests otherwise.

Graphics

The integrated Intel Iris Plus 655 Graphics is the GT3e model of the Kaby Lake GPU (Intel Gen. 9.5). It has 48 Execution Units running at 300-1150 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 28 Watts, which can be reduced to 23 Watts (cTDP Down) depending on the usage scenario. The TDP is pretty high compared to the common 15-Watt TDP for quad-core processors, but allows a better utilization of CPU and GPU Turbo.

Intel Core i7-9850H

► remove from comparison Intel i7-9850H

The Intel Core i7-9850H is a high-end processor for laptops with six cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture (2019 refresh, CFL-HR). The processor clocks at between 2.6 and 4.6 GHz (4 GHz with 6 cores) and can execute up to twelve 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 i7-8850H, the 9850H offers only improved clock rates.

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

Due to the two additional cores, performance has increased by almost 50% compared to a similar clocked Kaby Lake processor like the Core i7-7920HQ (3.1 - 4.1 GHz). Single-core performance has not improved since its Kaby Lake predecessor. Compared to the i7-8850H, the performance improved only slightly.

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 i7 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 i5-8400HIntel Core i5-8279UIntel Core i7-9850H
SeriesIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee Lake
CodenameCoffee Lake-HCoffee Lake-UCoffee Lake-H
Series: Coffee Lake Coffee Lake-H
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 i5-8400H « 2.5 - 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 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 i5-8279U « 2.4 - 4.1 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8259U2.3 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-8257U1.4 - 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 i7-9850H « 2.6 - 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 i5-8300H2.3 - 4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8100H3 GHz4 / 4 cores8 MB L3
Clock2500 - 4200 MHz2400 - 4100 MHz2600 - 4600 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB256 KB384 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1 MB1.5 MB
L3 Cache8 MB6 MB12 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 84 / 86 / 12
TDP45 Watt28 Watt45 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm14 nm
SocketFCBGA1440FCBGA1528FCBGA1440
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIDual-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-NI
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1100 MHz)Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 (300 - 1150 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1150 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
max. Temp.100 °C

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i7-9850H
32.9 pt (46%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
4657 Points (4%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1128 Points (48%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
393 Points (44%)
421 Points (47%)
min: 425     avg: 439.5     median: 439.5 (49%)     max: 454 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
1793 Points (4%)
1717 Points (4%)
min: 1800     avg: 2114     median: 2114 (5%)     max: 2428 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 753     avg: 762     median: 761.5 (5%)     max: 770 Points
min: 743     avg: 750     median: 750 (5%)     max: 757 Points
min: 1114     avg: 1205     median: 1230 (8%)     max: 1272 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 168     avg: 170.4     median: 170.4 (51%)     max: 172.8 Points
min: 166     avg: 167.5     median: 167.5 (50%)     max: 169 Points
min: 192     avg: 193.8     median: 193 (58%)     max: 196.5 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
8.3 Points (11%)
12.5 Points (16%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
1.9 Points (48%)
2.1 Points (53%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
6659 Points (40%)
6551 Points (40%)
7169 Points (43%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
21711 Points (16%)
24096 Points (17%)
31938 Points (23%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
42090 Points (29%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
9224 Points (11%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
230.8 s (3%)
266.1 s (3%)
278 s (3%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
7.2 s (1%)
8.6 s (2%)
8.3 s (2%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
5391 Points (9%)
5862 Points (9%)
5621 Points (9%)
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
22023 MIPS (13%)
22683 MIPS (13%)
min: 25786     avg: 29714     median: 31087 (18%)     max: 32268 MIPS
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
4553 MIPS (54%)
4276 MIPS (51%)
min: 5020     avg: 5066     median: 5086 (61%)     max: 5092 MIPS
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
45.3 fps (16%)
45.7 fps (16%)
68.3 fps (24%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
185.2 fps (43%)
190 fps (44%)
201.3 fps (46%)
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
6.5 fps (11%)
6 fps (11%)
min: 7     avg: 8.4     median: 9 (16%)     max: 9.1 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
0.5 GB/s (0%)
0.8 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
0.8 GB/s (13%)
1.2 GB/s (21%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
4.6 GB/s (12%)
7.4 GB/s (19%)
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom CPU *
1151 Seconds (15%)
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
596 Seconds (4%)
627 Seconds (4%)
min: 411     avg: 459.3     median: 415 (3%)     max: 552 Seconds
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
0.7 sec (15%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
8830 Points (19%)
min: 9137     avg: 10056     median: 10056 (21%)     max: 10975 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
9 s (2%)
9.2 s (2%)
8.2 s (2%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
21.3 s (1%)
18.1 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
498.3 s (2%)
512 s (2%)
467.6 s (2%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 26292     avg: 34763     median: 37665 (33%)     max: 40333 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 9987     avg: 11361     median: 11512 (31%)     max: 12585 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
21476 Points (17%)
min: 54664     avg: 57802     median: 56870 (46%)     max: 61872 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
21581 Points (18%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
24185 Points (20%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
7017 Points (18%)
min: 8390     avg: 9853     median: 9841 (25%)     max: 11328 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
10411 Points (19%)
min: 14059     avg: 15802     median: 15330 (27%)     max: 18016 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
3439 Points (14%)
min: 4588     avg: 5605     median: 5953 (25%)     max: 6275 Points
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 Single-Core
1493 Points (45%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 Multi-Core
4963 Points (20%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
1127 Points (48%)
1150 Points (49%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
4352 Points (8%)
5270 Points (9%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
1118 Points (5%)
min: 1135     avg: 1169     median: 1169 (5%)     max: 1203 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
4211 Points (13%)
min: 5353     avg: 5620     median: 5619.5 (18%)     max: 5886 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
4850 Points (48%)
min: 5320     avg: 5509     median: 5594 (56%)     max: 5614 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
17643 Points (20%)
min: 18098     avg: 22010     median: 23715 (26%)     max: 24218 Points
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Single-Core
5376 Points (73%)
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
20077 Points (49%)
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
987 ms (1%)
740 ms (1%)
min: 1010     avg: 1018     median: 1015 (1%)     max: 1028 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
49389 Points (44%)
44259 Points (40%)
min: 38630     avg: 39090     median: 39091 (35%)     max: 39548 Points
WebXPRT 4 - WebXPRT 4 Score
155.3 Points (45%)
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
209 Points (44%)
CrossMark - CrossMark Overall
1127 Points (43%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-8400H → 100% n=19

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-8279U → 100% n=19

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-9850H → 116% n=19

- 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 18. 09:52:16

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#5 composed specs +0.034s ... 0.035s

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#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 9572 +0.003s ... 0.038s

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#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.421s ... 0.522s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.523s

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