Intel Core i5-8265U vs Intel Core i5-8400

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-8265U vs Intel Core i5-8400 and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering, streaming. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Furmark, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, MATLAB, PassMark, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, Blender, PCMark 10, AIDA64, SuperPi, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, Prime95, Gears 5.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

Borderlands 3
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Red Dead Redemption 2
Cyberpunk 2077
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Death Stranding
Grand Theft Auto V
Fallout 76
Watch Dogs Legion
Fortnite
Overwatch
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Last Man Standing
DOOM: Eternal
Apex Legends
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
Halo Infinite
Valorant

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-8400 or Intel Core i5-8265U.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-8265U

51%

Core i5-8400

52%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-8400 is 1% better than Core i5-8265U. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-8265U

51%

Core i5-8400

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.4	93.5
Valorant	103.8	106.3
Cyberpunk 2077	58.1	59.5
Apex Legends	97.6	99.9
Call of Duty Warzone	77.9	79.7
Overwatch	84.1	86.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.6	73.3
DOOM Eternal	51.9	53.1
Warzone	81.0	82.9
Assassin's Creed	87.2	89.3
Valheim	86.2	88.2

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-8265U

201%

Core i5-8400

56%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-8265U is more energy efficient than the Core i5-8400 as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-8265U	Intel Core i5-8400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	171	161
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	549	954
Cinbench 20 Single-core	401	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1135	2291
Cinbench 23 Single-core	606	1023
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	1674	5457

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-8265U	Intel Core i5-8400
Single-Core	2175	2442
Multi-Core	6181	9262

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-8265U	Intel Core i5-8400
Single-Core	907	1106
Multi-Core	3312	5408

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-8265U	Intel Core i5-8400
Announcement date	April 01, 2018	October 01, 2017
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1528	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Whiskey Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	8	8
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	4 MHz
Frequency	1.6 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	8	6
Bus rate	4 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	1900 millions	2470 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	9 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-8400 is 42% better than Core i5-8265U in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-8400 has 2 more core than Core i5-8265U. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-8265U is better: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-8400 is better: 29
All the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-8265U and Intel Core i5-8400 before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-8265U specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-8400 specs and review.