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Intel Core i5-9400H vs Intel Core i7-8850H vs Intel Core i9-9980HK

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 i7-8850H

► remove from comparison Intel i7-8850H

The Intel Core i7-8850H is a high-end processor for laptops with six cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture and will be announced early 2018. The processor clocks at between 2.6 and 4.3 GHz (4.1 with 4 cores, 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.

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. As a high-end model, the i7-8850H is suitable for the most 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 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.

Intel Core i9-9980HK

► remove from comparison Intel i9-9980HK

The Intel Core i9-9980HK is a high-end processor for laptops with eight cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture (2019 refresh, CFL-HR). The processor clocks at between 2.4 - 5 GHz and can execute up to sixteen threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. The 5 GHz can only be reached using the "Thermal Velocity Boost" which allows one core to boost to 5 GHz (+100 MHz) as long as the CPU temperature is below 50°C. Multiple cores can be boosted +100 MHz? below 50°C (not verified). Compared to the predecessor, the Core i9-8950HK, the 9980H is based on the same architecture but offers 2 more cores and higher clock speeds (boost).

According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process. The i9-9980HK is the fastest model of the Coffee-Lake-H (refresh) series at the time of announcement and offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking of the CPU.

The Coffee Lake architecture is similar to Kaby Lake and differs only in the amount of cores (now max. eight 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 33% compared to a similar clocked 6-core processor. According to first benchmarks, the mobile variant can reach the performance of the Core i9-9900K if the cooling is sufficient.

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 i9 is only suited for big laptops with good cooling solutions.

ModelIntel Core i5-9400HIntel Core i7-8850HIntel Core i9-9980HK
SeriesIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee Lake
CodenameCoffee Lake-HCoffee Lake-HCoffee 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 i5-9400H « 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 i7-8850H « 2.6 - 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
Intel Core i9-9980HK « 2.4 - 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 i5-8300H2.3 - 4 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i3-8100H3 GHz4 / 4 cores8 MB L3
Clock2500 - 4300 MHz2600 - 4300 MHz2400 - 5000 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB384 KB512 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1.5 MB2 MB
L3 Cache8 MB9 MB16 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 86 / 128 / 16
TDP45 Watt45 Watt45 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm14 nm
SocketFCBGA1440FCBGA1440FCBGA1440
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIDual-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 UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1100 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1150 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1250 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
Announced
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
$395 U.S.
Manufacturerark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i7-8850H
31.9 pt (44%)
Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i9-9980HK
35.4 pt (49%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
5742 Points (5%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1096 Points (47%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 422     avg: 435.3     median: 441 (49%)     max: 443 Points
min: 431     avg: 471.3     median: 478.5 (53%)     max: 505 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 2302     avg: 2516     median: 2522 (6%)     max: 2724 Points
min: 2974     avg: 3530     median: 3475 (8%)     max: 4150 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
823 Points (5%)
min: 929     avg: 1122     median: 1090 (7%)     max: 1276 Points
min: 1327     avg: 1656     median: 1624 (10%)     max: 1930 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 176     avg: 180.4     median: 181.5 (55%)     max: 185 Points
min: 181     avg: 198.8     median: 201 (61%)     max: 215 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
9.4 Points (12%)
min: 10.95     avg: 12.9     median: 13.9 (18%)     max: 14.02 Points
min: 14.81     avg: 16.7     median: 17.2 (22%)     max: 18.04 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 2     avg: 2     median: 2 (51%)     max: 2.08 Points
min: 2.25     avg: 2.3     median: 2.3 (57%)     max: 2.4 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
min: 6658     avg: 6758     median: 6766 (41%)     max: 6841 Points
min: 7709     avg: 8346     median: 7969.5 (48%)     max: 9734 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
min: 31284     avg: 34134     median: 34216.5 (25%)     max: 36819 Points
min: 39440     avg: 44697     median: 44455 (32%)     max: 50439 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
55742 Points (39%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
10359 Points (13%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
min: 110.4     avg: 115.3     median: 115.3 (1%)     max: 120.2 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
min: 3.788     avg: 4.4     median: 4.4 (1%)     max: 4.941 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
5922 Points (9%)
min: 7266     avg: 7351     median: 7351 (12%)     max: 7436 Points
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
min: 30761     avg: 31802     median: 30851 (18%)     max: 33794 MIPS
min: 39566     avg: 41756     median: 41688 (24%)     max: 44081 MIPS
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
min: 4558     avg: 4684     median: 4689 (56%)     max: 4804 MIPS
min: 5283     avg: 5426     median: 5389.5 (64%)     max: 5642 MIPS
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
min: 64.9     avg: 71.4     median: 71.4 (25%)     max: 77.8 fps
min: 92.8     avg: 93.8     median: 93.8 (33%)     max: 94.8 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
min: 214.2     avg: 216.1     median: 216.1 (50%)     max: 218 fps
min: 237.5     avg: 238.1     median: 238.1 (55%)     max: 238.7 fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
min: 7.35     avg: 8.1     median: 7.6 (13%)     max: 9.2 fps
min: 10.8     avg: 11.5     median: 11.4 (20%)     max: 12.35 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
0.7 GB/s (0%)
1 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
1.2 GB/s (21%)
1.7 GB/s (29%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
7.4 GB/s (19%)
min: 10.1     avg: 10.2     median: 10.2 (27%)     max: 10.3 GB/s
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
min: 401     avg: 461.7     median: 490.1 (3%)     max: 494.1 Seconds
min: 317.4     avg: 397.6     median: 348.4 (2%)     max: 527 Seconds
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
min: 0.679     avg: 0.7     median: 0.7 (15%)     max: 0.702 sec
0.5 sec (12%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
min: 7821     avg: 9758     median: 10516 (22%)     max: 10938 Points
min: 11256     avg: 12585     median: 13208 (28%)     max: 13290 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
8.7 s (2%)
min: 7.639     avg: 7.7     median: 7.7 (2%)     max: 7.856 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
19.6 s (1%)
min: 16.84     avg: 17.1     median: 17.1 (1%)     max: 17.26 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
483 s (2%)
min: 424.4     avg: 432.3     median: 432.3 (2%)     max: 440.1 s
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
43508 Points (38%)
49107 Points (43%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 10412     avg: 11789     median: 11475 (31%)     max: 13258 Points
min: 9056     avg: 15688     median: 16079.5 (43%)     max: 18260 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 49043     avg: 56648     median: 58913.5 (48%)     max: 59720 Points
min: 64033     avg: 64733     median: 65047 (53%)     max: 65119 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 49398     avg: 53724     median: 53724 (44%)     max: 58050 Points
min: 64156     avg: 64682     median: 64841 (53%)     max: 65049 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 38527     avg: 46153     median: 46152.5 (39%)     max: 53778 Points
min: 60812     avg: 63911     median: 64615.5 (54%)     max: 65599 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
min: 7210     avg: 9823     median: 9689 (25%)     max: 11359 Points
min: 13173     avg: 15303     median: 15694.5 (40%)     max: 16935 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
min: 11232     avg: 15307     median: 16278 (29%)     max: 17107 Points
min: 11758     avg: 19893     median: 20357 (36%)     max: 22463 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
min: 4099     avg: 5052     median: 4941 (21%)     max: 6116 Points
min: 5540     avg: 8487     median: 8884.5 (37%)     max: 10162 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics
7968 Points (94%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
1121 Points (47%)
min: 1314     avg: 1346     median: 1346 (57%)     max: 1378 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
4908 Points (9%)
min: 6945     avg: 7405     median: 7568 (14%)     max: 7703 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
1006 Points (4%)
min: 1171     avg: 1273     median: 1282 (6%)     max: 1355 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
4860 Points (15%)
min: 7072     avg: 7421     median: 7403.5 (23%)     max: 7805 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 5044     avg: 5258     median: 5261 (53%)     max: 5464 Points
min: 5617     avg: 5853     median: 5969 (60%)     max: 5972 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 20696     avg: 22439     median: 22631.5 (25%)     max: 23797 Points
min: 28625     avg: 29620     median: 29385 (33%)     max: 30849 Points
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Single-Core
6002 Points (82%)
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
30099 Points (73%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
31724 Points (56%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
4871 Points (95%)
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 981     avg: 1078     median: 1064.5 (1%)     max: 1220 ms
min: 705     avg: 878     median: 941 (1%)     max: 999 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
76.1 ms (1%)
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 33685     avg: 35133     median: 35232 (32%)     max: 36544 Points
min: 40364     avg: 42641     median: 42219.5 (38%)     max: 46473 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
194 Points (40%)
233 Points (49%)
CrossMark - CrossMark Overall
830 Points (32%)
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 97.2     avg: 103.3     median: 103.3 (18%)     max: 109.4 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 127.1     avg: 132.7     median: 132.7 (24%)     max: 138.2 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
13.2 Points per Watt (10%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-9400H → 100% n=2

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-8850H → 140% n=2

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i9-9980HK → 190% n=2

- 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. 14:23:23

#0 checking url part for id 11354 +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 9578 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 11341 +0s ... 0s

#3 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

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

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.035s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 11354 +0.003s ... 0.038s

#8 got single benchmarks 11354 +0.008s ... 0.046s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 9578 +0.018s ... 0.064s

#10 got single benchmarks 9578 +0.037s ... 0.102s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 11341 +0.017s ... 0.118s

#12 got single benchmarks 11341 +0.043s ... 0.161s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.161s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.313s ... 0.474s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.474s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)