Core i3-1125G4 vs Core i5-8400
Core i3-1125G4
Core i5-8400
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-1125G4 is positioned at rank 651 and the Core i5-8400 is on rank 421, so the Core i5-8400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1125G4
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-1125G4 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-1125G4 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-1125G4 and Core i5-8400
Core i3-1125G4
The Core i3-1125G4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1449. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,284 points. Launch price was $281.
Core i5-8400
The Core i5-8400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,229 points. Launch price was $182.
Processing Power
The Core i3-1125G4 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8400 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-8400 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-1125G4 versus 4 GHz on the Core i5-8400 — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-8400 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-1125G4 uses the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i5-8400 uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-1125G4 scores 9,284 against the Core i5-8400's 9,229 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-1125G4. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-1125G4 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8400.
| Feature | Core i3-1125G4 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 6+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+40% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 9 MB (total)+13% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm SuperFin-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 9,284 | 9,229 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 5,112 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,560 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,770 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-1125G4 uses the FCBGA1449 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-8400 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-8400 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core i3-1125G4) and Intel 300 series (Core i5-8400).
| Feature | Core i3-1125G4 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1449 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i3-1125G4 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1125G4) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8400). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics (48 EU) (Core i3-1125G4) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-8400) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1125G4 targets Productivity, Core i5-8400 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-1125G4 rivals Ryzen 3 5300U.
| Feature | Core i3-1125G4 | Core i5-8400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics (48 EU) | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Productivity | Desktop |
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