Intel Core i3-9300 vs Intel Core i5-7440HQ Comparison

# The Verdict

The data delivers an unusually clean verdict: the Intel Core i3-9300 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all six tests with a consistent performance gap of roughly 14.4% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel Core i5-7440HQ, despite being a higher-tier product in Intel's naming scheme, never manages to close that gap in any test.

For users choosing between these two, the i3-9300 is the clear pick for performance. It wins by 14.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (541 vs 463), by 14.5% in R15 single-core (76 vs 65), and maintains nearly identical deltas in R20 and R23. The consistency is remarkable — every test shows a delta between -14.3% and -14.5%, suggesting the advantage is architectural and fundamental, not workload-specific.

The i5-7440HQ does have its own rationale, but it is not a performance-based one. It carries a 45W TDP compared to the i3-9300's 62W, uses a mobile BGA 1440 socket, and supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory. The i3-9300 is a desktop part on Socket 1151 with DDR4-only support. The data suggests the i5-7440HQ is for systems where power envelope and platform flexibility matter more than raw benchmark scores.

The percentile rankings reinforce this: the i5-7440HQ sits at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-9300 sits at the 39th. That is a narrow gap in overall standing, yet the direct head-to-head shows the i3-9300 as the decisive winner. The average benchmark score tells a similar story — 1527 for the i5-7440HQ versus 1554 for the i3-9300 — a modest difference that hides the consistent per-test dominance.

# Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14nm process node and share the same 126 mm² die size, but the similarities end there. The i5-7440HQ uses the Kaby Lake architecture (specifically Kaby Lake-H), while the i3-9300 is based on Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake Refresh). This generation gap shows up in several key specifications.

The i5-7440HQ features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its L3 cache is 6 MB shared. The i3-9300 also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but runs at a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts to 4.30 GHz, with a larger 8 MB shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core.

The memory support differs significantly. The i5-7440HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, reflecting its mobile heritage. The i3-9300 supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s — a figure the i5-7440HQ does not have listed. The i3-9300 also supports ECC memory, while the i5-7440HQ does not — a notable feature for certain workstation or server-adjacent use cases.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-7440HQ ships with Intel HD Graphics 630, while the i3-9300 includes UHD 630. The i5-7440HQ uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, marking it as a soldered mobile part, whereas the i3-9300 uses the desktop-oriented Intel Socket 1151. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The release timing also differs: the i5-7440HQ launched in January 2017, while the i3-9300 arrived in April 2019 — over two years later. That gap matters. The Coffee Lake architecture benefited from the additional time to mature, and the clock speed and cache advantages reflect that.

# Where Each One Wins

The i3-9300 wins everywhere in the performance domain. Every Cinebench test — R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core — goes to the i3-9300 by roughly 14.4%. The data shows no test where the i5-7440HQ even approaches parity, let alone victory.

The i5-7440HQ's territory is the power and platform domain. Its 45W TDP is substantially lower than the i3-9300's 62W, making it the better fit for thermally constrained mobile systems. The BGA 1440 socket means it is soldered directly to the motherboard, which is typical for laptops and compact all-in-one designs. The dual DDR3/DDR4 memory support also gives system designers flexibility when reusing older memory modules.

For desktop users building a new system, the i3-9300's Socket 1151 platform provides the conventional upgrade path, and the ECC memory support opens up reliability-focused use cases that the i5-7440HQ cannot serve. The higher clock speeds — 3.70 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost versus 2.80 GHz and 3.80 GHz — translate directly into the benchmark dominance seen in the data.

The i5-7440HQ is not without merit, but its merits lie in efficiency and integration, not in raw compute. The i3-9300 is the choice for anyone prioritizing benchmark scores, and the data shows that choice is not close.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ on the following specification fields:

• Base Clock: 2.80 GHz (i5-7440HQ) vs 3.70 GHz (i3-9300)
• Boost Clock: 3.80 GHz vs 4.30 GHz
• TDP: 45W vs 62W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1440 vs Intel Socket 1151
• Architecture: Kaby Lake vs Coffee Lake
• Generation: Core i5 (Kaby Lake-H) vs Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh)
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared vs 8 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR3, DDR4 vs DDR4 only
• Memory Bandwidth: not listed vs 38.4 GB/s
• ECC Memory: false vs true
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630 vs UHD 630
• Market Segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Release Date: 2017-01-02 vs 2019-04-22
• Launch MSRP: $250 vs $143
• Part Number: SR32R vs SRCZU

Both share the same core/thread count (4/4), process node (14nm), die size (126 mm²), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), foundry (Intel), PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 Lanes), memory bus (dual-channel), and have locked multipliers. Both are end-of-life production status.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is striking in its uniformity. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-9300 scores 541 against the i5-7440HQ's 463, a 14.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 76 versus 65, a 14.5% gap. The pattern repeats exactly in R20: multi-core 2257 vs 1933 (14.4% delta), single-core 318 vs 272 (14.5% delta).

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. Multi-core scores are 5374 for the i3-9300 and 4603 for the i5-7440HQ, a 14.3% difference. Single-core comes in at 758 versus 649, a 14.4% delta. The i3-9300 wins all six tests, and the i5-7440HQ wins none.

This consistency is the most revealing aspect of the data. The 14.4% gap does not fluctuate with workload type — single-core and multi-core see nearly identical deltas. That suggests the advantage comes from the higher clock speeds (3.70/4.30 GHz vs 2.80/3.80 GHz) and larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) rather than from any workload-specific optimization. The i3-9300 is simply faster at everything.

The average benchmark score of 1554 for the i3-9300 versus 1527 for the i5-7440HQ is a smaller gap than the head-to-head suggests, but that average includes different benchmark suites. The direct comparison is unambiguous.

# FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-9300 wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5374 versus the i5-7440HQ's 4603, a 14.3% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 2257 versus 1933 (14.4% delta), and R15 multi-core shows 541 versus 463 (14.4% delta).

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i3-9300 also dominates single-core performance. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 758 versus 649 (14.4% delta), R20 shows 318 versus 272 (14.5% delta), and R15 shows 76 versus 65 (14.5% delta). The i5-7440HQ does not win any single-core test.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The i5-7440HQ has a 45W TDP, while the i3-9300 has a 62W TDP. This makes the i5-7440HQ more power-efficient on paper, though the i3-9300 delivers substantially higher performance in every benchmark.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-9300 supports ECC memory, while the i5-7440HQ does not. This is a distinguishing feature for users who require error-correcting memory.

Q: What sockets do these processors use?

A: The i5-7440HQ uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, which is a mobile soldered form factor. The i3-9300 uses the Intel Socket 1151, a desktop socket that allows for user replacement.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The i3-9300 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-7440HQ does not have a memory bandwidth figure listed in its specifications.