Core i5-8300H vs Core i5-8400T

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.

Core i5-8300H vs Core i5-8400T FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-8300H vs Core i5-8400T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-8300H

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,369 vs 7,426).
❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8400T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-8400T.

Core i5-8400T

2018

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-8300H needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-8300H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-8300H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $182 MSRP, while Core i5-8300H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-8400T better than Core i5-8300H?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-8300H is ahead with a 14.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8400T pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8400T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-8400T is the better buy right now. Core i5-8400T comes in at an unclear MSRP at $182 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-8300H is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 14.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (40.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-8400T is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Core i5-8300H vs Core i5-8400T Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-8300H

The Core i5-8300H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,369 points. Launch price was $250.

Core i5-8400T

The Core i5-8400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 7,426 points. Launch price was $182.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-8300H packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8400T offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-8400T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i5-8300H versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-8400T — a 19.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-8300H (base: 2.3 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i5-8300H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-8400T uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8300H scores 7,369 against the Core i5-8400T's 7,426 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-8400T. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-8300H vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8400T.

Feature	Core i5-8300H	Core i5-8400T
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	4 GHz+21%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz+35%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB	9 MB (total)+13%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
PassMark	7,369	7,426
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	3,737
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,092
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,816

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8300H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-8400T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-8300H	Core i5-8400T
Socket	BGA1440	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-8300H) / Yes (Core i5-8400T). The Core i5-8400T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i5-8300H requires a dedicated GPU.