CPU
GPU
Core i5-9400H
Core i7-8709G
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 i5-9400H is positioned at rank 421 and the Core i7-8709G is on rank 818, so the Core i5-9400H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9400H
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8709G
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9400H | Core i7-8709G |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($182) | ✅ More affordable ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake G (2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9400H | Core i7-8709G |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+24%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($182) | ✅ More affordable ($150) |
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 i5-9400H and Core i7-8709G
Core i5-9400H
The Core i5-9400H 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 7,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-8709G
The Core i7-8709G 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: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,934 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-9400H and Core i7-8709G share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-9400H versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-8709G — a 4.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-9400H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-8709G uses Kaby Lake G (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400H scores 7,794 against the Core i7-8709G's 7,934 — a 1.8% lead for the Core i7-8709G. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9400H vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8709G.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Core i7-8709G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+5% | 4.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.1 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) | Kaby Lake G (2018) |
| PassMark | 7,794 | 7,934+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,341 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-9400H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-8709G uses FCBGA2270 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Core i7-8709G |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9400H) / not specified (Core i7-8709G). The Core i5-9400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-8709G requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Core i7-8709G |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | High Performance Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-9400H launched at $182 MSRP, while the Core i7-8709G debuted at $338.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Core i7-8709G |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $182-46% | $338 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $150 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2018 |
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