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Intel Core i5-9400H

Intel Core i5-9400H: a balance of power and practicality in 2025

Analysis of the processor's capabilities for gaming, work, and everyday tasks

Architecture and Technology: Coffee Lake at 14 nm

The Intel Core i5-9400H processor, released in 2019, is still found in budget gaming and work laptops. Its Coffee Lake architecture is built on a 14-nm process, which by 2025 appears outdated compared to AMD's 7-nm and Apple's 5-nm technologies. However, this doesn't prevent the chip from remaining relevant for a variety of tasks.

Cores and Threads:

- 4 physical cores and 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Base frequency — 2.5 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz.

- L3 cache — 8 MB.

Integrated Graphics:

- Intel UHD Graphics 630 with a frequency of 350–1100 MHz.

- Supports 4K@60 Hz via HDMI/DisplayPort, HEVC and VP9 decoding.

- Not suitable for gaming or video editing but handles office applications and streaming video well.

Architecture Features:

- Support for PCIe 3.0 (16 lanes) — sufficient for NVMe SSDs and discrete graphics like the GTX 1650.

- Optimized for single-thread performance, which is critical for gaming and many professional programs.

Power Consumption and TDP: 45 W and Cooling Challenges

With a TDP of 45 W, the i5-9400H falls into the category of mobile processors with high thermal output. This means:

- Laptops with this CPU require a powerful cooling system (two fans, copper heat pipes).

- It is not used in compact cases (ultrabooks) — only in gaming and work models thicker than 20 mm.

- Under load, temperatures can reach 90–95°C, which causes throttling without adequate cooling.

Tips:

- Check reviews for the cooling system of a specific model before purchasing.

- Use cooling pads for extended gaming sessions.

Performance: from Office to Games

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 1381 — on par with AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (1350) and lower than Apple M1 (1700).

- Multi-Core: 4195 — modest compared to 6-core Ryzen 5 4600H (5200) and M1 (7500).

Real Tasks:

- Office Work: Running 20+ tabs in Chrome, Excel with macros, Zoom — without lag.

- Multimedia: Editing 1080p video in Premiere Pro (with discrete GPU) takes 20–30 minutes for a 10-minute video. 4K rendering is possible, but slower than with Ryzen.

- Gaming: Paired with NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti:

- Fortnite (Epic, 1080p) — 60–70 FPS.

- Cyberpunk 2077 (Low, 1080p) — 40–50 FPS.

- Turbo mode adds 10–15% performance, but only temporarily due to heat.

Usage Scenarios: Who is the i5-9400H Suitable For?

1. Budget Gamers. Laptops with this CPU and GPU level RTX 3050 currently cost $800–1000 — half the price of top models.

2. Freelancers: Photo editors, programmers, content creators.

3. Students: For studying, Netflix, and light gaming.

Not suitable for:

- Video editors working with 4K/8K content.

- ML specialists and 3D renderers.

Battery Life: A Compromise Between Power and Runtime

With a TDP of 45 W and the lack of modern energy-efficient cores (like those in Intel Alder Lake), battery life is modest:

- Web surfing — 4–5 hours (with a 60 Wh battery).

- Gaming — up to 1.5 hours.

Power-saving Technologies:

- Intel Speed Shift: Dynamic frequency adjustment to reduce power consumption.

- C-States: Disabling unused cores.

Tip: Look for laptops with a battery of at least 70 Wh and a "Power Saving" mode in Windows.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Ryzen 5 4600H (6 cores/12 threads):

- Pros: Better for multi-threaded tasks, 7-nm process.

- Cons: Weaker in gaming due to lower IPC.

2. Apple M1 (8 cores):

- Pros: Battery life up to 15 hours, cool operation.

- Cons: Only macOS, limited compatibility with Windows software.

3. Intel Core i5-12400H (Alder Lake):

- Pros: +30% multi-threading performance, 10-nm process.

- Cons: Laptops are more expensive by $200–300.

Pros and Cons of Core i5-9400H

Strengths:

- High single-thread performance.

- Compatibility with Windows and Linux.

- Affordable laptop prices.

Weaknesses:

- Heat under load.

- Only 4 cores compared to 6–8 in competitors.

- No support for PCIe 4.0 and DDR5.

Laptop Selection Recommendations

1. Device Type:

- Gaming (ASUS TUF, Acer Nitro 5) — focus on cooling and discrete graphics.

- Workstation (Lenovo ThinkPad P15) — reliability and a display with good color reproduction.

2. What to Check:

- Minimum of 8 GB of RAM (preferably 16 GB).

- 512 GB NVMe SSD.

- 1080p IPS display (120 Hz for gaming).

3. 2025 Prices:

- Basic models starting from $700.

- With RTX 3050 — $900–1100.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-9400H in 2025 is a choice for those seeking a budget gaming laptop or a device for versatile tasks. Its strengths include:

- Sufficient power for most modern games (when paired with discrete GPU).

- Stability and compatibility.

Who is it suitable for:

- Students, freelancers, budget gamers.

- Users who aren’t willing to pay extra for the latest technology.

If you need long battery life or work with 4K content — consider the Apple M2 or AMD Ryzen 7 6800H.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

April 2019

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-9400H

Code Name

Coffee Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.50 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.30 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1440

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

45 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2666 | LPDDR3-2133

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

41.8 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@30Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

8 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1381

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4195

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1092

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3794

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2470

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

8008

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i9-9980XE

1480 +7.2%

Core i9-9900T

1429 +3.5%

Core i5-9400H

1381

Core i5-8400

1348 -2.4%

EPYC 7252

1298 -6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-8400

4741 +13%

Pentium 8505

4491 +7.1%

Core i5-9400H

4195

Xeon E3-1545M v5

3967 -5.4%

Ryzen 3 7330U

3733 -11%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 6334

1135 +3.9%

Xeon E-2276G

1114 +2%

Core i5-9400H

1092

Core i7-7800X

1069 -2.1%

Core i7-9850HE

1050 -3.8%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-10300

4229 +11.5%

Ryzen 3 3100

3974 +4.7%

Core i5-9400H

3794

Core i3-1215U

3652 -3.7%

Xeon E3-1275 v3

3545 -6.6%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Ryzen 3 4300G

2554 +3.4%

Core i7-9850H

2519 +2%

Core i5-9400H

2470

Ryzen Embedded V2516

2439 -1.3%

Core i3-7101E

2407 -2.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Atom x7835RE

8710 +8.8%

Opteron 6386 SE

8291 +3.5%

Core i5-9400H

8008

Xeon E-2224G

7625 -4.8%

Core i7-7820HK

7403 -7.6%