Core i5-8400T vs Core i5-9300H

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 i5-8400T vs Core i5-9300H 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 i5-8400T vs Core i5-9300H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-8400T

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-9300H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-9300H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (3,737 vs 4,729).
❌Launch MSRP is still $182 MSRP, while Core i5-9300H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i5-9300H

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-8400T.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-9300H better than Core i5-8400T?

Yes. Core i5-9300H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 13.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 26.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 0.2% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-9300H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 13.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9300H is the stronger fit. You are getting 26.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-9300H is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-9300H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $182 MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-8400T only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (40.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

Core i5-9300H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-8400T vs Core i5-9300H Technical Specifications

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

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.

Core i5-9300H

The Core i5-9300H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,438 points. Launch price was $250.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-8400T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i5-9300H offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-8400T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-8400T versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9300H — a 21.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-9300H (base: 1.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-8400T uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-9300H uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8400T scores 7,426 against the Core i5-9300H's 7,438 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-9300H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3,737 vs 4,729 (23.4% advantage for the Core i5-9300H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,092 vs 1,050, a 3.9% lead for the Core i5-8400T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 3,816 vs 3,700 (3.1% advantage for the Core i5-8400T). L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8400T vs 8 MB on the Core i5-9300H.

Feature	Core i5-8400T	Core i5-9300H
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	4.1 GHz+24%
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	2.4 GHz+41%
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)+13%	8 MB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+25500%	1 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)
PassMark	7,426	7,438
Cinebench R23 Multi	3,737	4,729+27%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,092+4%	1,050
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,816+3%	3,700

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8400T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-9300H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H310,B360,H370,Q370,Z370,Z390 (Core i5-8400T) and HM370 (Core i5-9300H).

Feature	Core i5-8400T	Core i5-9300H
Socket	LGA1151	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-8400T) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9300H). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-8400T) and Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-9300H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9300H targets Gaming Laptop.