Core i5-8300H vs Core i7-4950HQ

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 i7-4950HQ 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 i7-4950HQ: 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: +6.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 47W, a 2W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,369 vs 7,405).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-4950HQ can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-4950HQ

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Pro Graphics 5200, while Core i5-8300H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-8300H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-8300H better than Core i7-4950HQ?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-8300H is ahead with a 6.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4950HQ pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4950HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-8300H still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-8300H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i5-8300H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-8300H vs Core i7-4950HQ 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 i7-4950HQ

The Core i7-4950HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,405 points. Launch price was $657.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-8300H and Core i7-4950HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i5-8300H versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-4950HQ — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-8300H (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-8300H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4950HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8300H scores 7,369 against the Core i7-4950HQ's 7,405 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-4950HQ. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-8300H vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4950HQ.

Feature	Core i5-8300H	Core i7-4950HQ
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4 GHz+11%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	2.4 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Crystalwell (2013−2014)
PassMark	7,369	7,405
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	3,317
Geekbench 6 Single	—	842
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,317

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8300H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4950HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-8300H	Core i7-4950HQ
Socket	BGA1440	BGA1364
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-8300H) / Yes (Core i7-4950HQ). The Core i7-4950HQ includes integrated graphics (Iris Pro Graphics 5200), while the Core i5-8300H requires a dedicated GPU.