i3-9300 vs i5-8400

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-8400
2017
6 cores / 6 threads, 65 Watt
5.92
+29.3%
Core i3-9300
2019
4 cores / 4 threads, 62 Watt
4.58

Core i5-8400 outperforms Core i3-9300 by a significant 29% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11141310
Place by popularity68not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation4.829.06
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i3
Power efficiency8.466.86
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake-S (2017−2018)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date24 September 2017 (7 years ago)23 April 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$182$143

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i3-9300 has 88% better value for money than i5-8400.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads64
Base clock speed2.8 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz4.3 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier2837
L1 cache384 KB256 KB
L2 cache1.5 MB1 MB
L3 cache9 MB (shared)8 MB
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size149 mm2126 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt62 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology--
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++

Security technologies

Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX++
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEYes with Intel® ME
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR4-2400
Maximum memory size128 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth42.671 GB/s38.397 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel UHD Graphics 630Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memory64 GB64 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.05 GHz1.15 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support++
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-8400 5.92
+29.3%
i3-9300 4.58

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-8400 9235
+29.4%
i3-9300 7137

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-8400 1373
i3-9300 1441
+5%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-8400 4798
+29.6%
i3-9300 3703

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.92 4.58
Recency 24 September 2017 23 April 2019
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 6 4
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 62 Watt

i5-8400 has a 29.3% higher aggregate performance score, and 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i3-9300, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 1 year, and 4.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-8400 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-9300 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-8400 and Core i3-9300, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-8400
Core i5-8400
Intel Core i3-9300
Core i3-9300

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.9 2659 votes

Rate Core i5-8400 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.8 49 votes

Rate Core i3-9300 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-8400 or Core i3-9300, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.