Intel Core i3-8300 vs Intel Core i5-7440HQ Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload lines, but not in the way the product names might suggest. The Intel Core i3-8300, a desktop part, wins every recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The Intel Core i5-7440HQ, a mobile processor, does not secure a single victory in the six Cinebench tests tracked in the database. That is a complete sweep, six wins to zero.

For multi-threaded workloads, the i3-8300 is consistently ahead. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 545 against 463 for the i5-7440HQ, a margin of 17.7 percent. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3-8300 posts 2271 versus 1933, a 17.5 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i3-8300 reaches 5408 while the i5-7440HQ manages 4603, again 17.5 percent ahead. These are not marginal differences; they represent a substantial advantage in rendering and other heavily threaded tasks.

Single-threaded performance tells the same story. The i3-8300 scores 76 in Cinebench R15 single-core against 65 for the i5-7440HQ, a 16.9 percent edge. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-8300 scores 320 versus 272, a 17.6 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i3-8300 scores 763 against 649, another 17.6 percent margin. The consistency of these deltas, all hovering around 17 to 18 percent, suggests a fundamental clock-speed and architecture advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Where the i5-7440HQ does have a claim is in efficiency and mobility, although the recorded data does not include direct power consumption benchmarks. The i5-7440HQ carries a 45 watt TDP rating, while the i3-8300 is rated at 62 watts. The i5-7440HQ also has a boost clock capability up to 3.80 GHz, whereas the i3-8300 has no boost clock listed, running at a fixed 3.70 GHz base. For users who prioritize sustained performance in a thin chassis, the i5-7440HQ's lower thermal envelope is relevant. But in raw compute, the i3-8300 wins everywhere.

The aggregate benchmark scores reinforce this. The i3-8300 has an average benchmark score of 1564 and sits in the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i5-7440HQ averages 1527 and sits in the 38th percentile. The i3-8300's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-6600T at 1563, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X at 1562, and the AMD Opteron 6276 at 1560. The i5-7440HQ's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4670S at 1526, the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E at 1524, and the Intel Core i7-8665U at 1513. Both processors land in the same general performance tier, but the i3-8300 sits slightly above its mobile counterpart in overall standing.

The Verdict

For desktop builders, the choice is unambiguous. The Intel Core i3-8300 outperforms the Intel Core i5-7440HQ in every recorded benchmark, with margins between 16.9 and 17.7 percent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. The i3-8300 also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i5-7440HQ. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 platform with Coffee Lake architecture, while the i5-7440HQ is a BGA 1440 mobile part soldered to the board. The i3-8300's launch MSRP was $138, which the database records; the i5-7440HQ launched at $250.

For mobile users, the i5-7440HQ is the only viable option of the two, simply because it is a mobile processor designed for laptops. The i3-8300 is a desktop part and cannot be dropped into a laptop socket. The i5-7440HQ's 45 watt TDP makes it suitable for thinner notebooks, and its boost clock of 3.80 GHz allows it to exceed the i3-8300's fixed 3.70 GHz base when thermals permit. That said, the benchmark data shows the i3-8300 still wins even in single-threaded tests, so the i5-7440HQ's boost capability does not translate into a measured performance victory.

Users who need ECC memory support should select the i3-8300. Users who need a processor for a laptop have only the i5-7440HQ as a realistic choice. Users who are comparing both as general-purpose CPUs should note that the i3-8300 is faster in every category the database tracks, but the i5-7440HQ draws 17 watts less at its TDP rating. The percentile rankings place both near the same tier, 39th versus 38th, so neither is a high-end part. Within that tier, the i3-8300 is the stronger performer.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head set is Cinebench R15 multicore, where the i3-8300 leads by 17.7 percent with a score of 545 against 463. That is the biggest delta in the entire comparison. Cinebench R20 multicore follows closely at 17.5 percent, with the i3-8300 scoring 2271 and the i5-7440HQ scoring 1933. Cinebench R23 multicore also shows 17.5 percent, with scores of 5408 and 4603 respectively.

The single-core tests are nearly as decisive. Cinebench R15 single-core shows the i3-8300 ahead by 16.9 percent, the smallest margin in the set, with scores of 76 and 65. Cinebench R20 single-core and Cinebench R23 single-core both show 17.6 percent margins, with the i3-8300 scoring 320 versus 272 and 763 versus 649 respectively.

Notably, the i5-7440HQ has two Geekbench results in its benchmark list that the i3-8300 does not have recorded: Geekbench multicore at 3043 and Geekbench single-core at 1184. These are not part of the head-to-head comparison because the database does not list corresponding Geekbench scores for the i3-8300. Without a paired measurement, those numbers cannot be used to establish a win for either processor. The recorded head-to-head data, limited to the six Cinebench tests, shows a 6-0 sweep for the i3-8300.

The consistency of the deltas is worth emphasizing. All six head-to-head margins fall between 16.9 and 17.7 percent. This uniformity indicates that the performance gap is structural, driven by the i3-8300's higher fixed clock speed of 3.70 GHz versus the i5-7440HQ's 2.80 GHz base clock, and by the i3-8300's larger 8 MB shared L3 cache versus the i5-7440HQ's 6 MB shared L3 cache. The i5-7440HQ's boost clock of 3.80 GHz does not close the gap in any measured test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 545 versus 463 in R15, 2271 versus 1933 in R20, and 5408 versus 4603 in R23, with margins of 17.7, 17.5, and 17.5 percent respectively.

Q: Does the i5-7440HQ win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The i3-8300 wins all six recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The wins total six for the i3-8300 and zero for the i5-7440HQ.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare?

A: The i3-8300 leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 76 against 65, a 16.9 percent lead. In R20 single-core, it scores 320 against 272, a 17.6 percent lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 763 against 649, also a 17.6 percent lead.

Q: What memory features differ between the two?

A: The i3-8300 supports ECC memory and uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-7440HQ does not support ECC memory and supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with dual-channel memory, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i3-8300 has a TDP of 62 watts, while the i5-7440HQ has a TDP of 45 watts. The i5-7440HQ is rated for lower power consumption.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores and percentiles?

A: The i3-8300 has an average benchmark score of 1564 and sits in the 39th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-7440HQ has an average benchmark score of 1527 and sits in the 38th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture generations. The i3-8300 uses Coffee Lake architecture and belongs to the Core i3 (Coffee Lake) generation. It is built on Intel's 14 nm process node with a die size of 126 mm². The i5-7440HQ uses Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake-H, and belongs to the Core i5 (Kaby Lake-H) generation. It is also built on a 14 nm process node with the same 126 mm² die size. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Core and thread counts are identical: both have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither processor has a multiplier unlocked. The cache hierarchy differs in the L3 stage. The i3-8300 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-7440HQ has the same per-core L1 and L2 allocations but only 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The i3-8300 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed. The i5-7440HQ runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock but can boost up to 3.80 GHz. Despite the i5-7440HQ's higher maximum clock, the i3-8300 wins all recorded benchmarks, suggesting the fixed 3.70 GHz clock sustains performance more consistently.

The socket and market segment separate these parts completely. The i3-8300 uses Intel Socket 1151 and is a desktop processor. The i5-7440HQ uses Intel BGA 1440 and is a mobile processor. This means the i3-8300 is intended for desktop motherboards, while the i5-7440HQ is soldered into laptops. The i3-8300 supports ECC memory; the i5-7440HQ does not. The i3-8300 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-7440HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, with no bandwidth figure recorded.

Both processors feature integrated graphics, but with different product names. The i3-8300 includes UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-7440HQ includes Intel HD Graphics 630. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Release dates differ by roughly a year: the i5-7440HQ was released in 2017, and the i3-8300 was released in 2018. Both are marked as end-of-life in production status.

The launch MSRP values differ notably. The i3-8300 launched at $138, while the i5-7440HQ launched at $250. The part numbers are SR3XY for the i3-8300 and SR32R for the i5-7440HQ. The i3-8300's nearest rivals by average score include the Intel Core i5-6600T at 1563, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X at 1562, and the AMD Opteron 6276 at 1560. The i5-7440HQ's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4670S at 1526, the Intel Pentium Gold G7400E at 1524, and the Intel Core i7-8665U at 1513.