Core i5-9300H vs Core i7-8706G

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 i5-9300H vs Core i7-8706G 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 i5-9300H vs Core i7-8706G: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-9300H

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 630, while Core i7-8706G needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8706G across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Core i7-8706G

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,383 vs 7,438).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-9300H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-9300H better than Core i7-8706G?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-8706G is ahead with a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9300H pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-9300H still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-9300H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark.

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 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-9300H vs Core i7-8706G Technical Specifications

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

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.

Core i7-8706G

The Core i7-8706G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake G (2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2270. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,383 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-9300H and Core i7-8706G share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9300H versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-8706G — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-9300H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-8706G uses Kaby Lake G (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9300H scores 7,438 against the Core i7-8706G's 7,383 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-9300H. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9300H vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8706G.

Feature	Core i5-9300H	Core i7-8706G
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.1 GHz+29%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Kaby Lake G (2018)
PassMark	7,438	7,383
Cinebench R23 Multi	4,729	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,050	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,700	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9300H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-8706G uses FCBGA2270 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9300H	Core i7-8706G
Socket	BGA1440	FCBGA2270
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: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9300H) / not specified (Core i7-8706G). The Core i5-9300H includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-8706G requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9300H targets Gaming Laptop.