Intel Core i5-8265U vs Intel Pentium Gold G7400 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8265U and Intel Pentium Gold G7400 occupy opposite ends of the CPU spectrum, yet their aggregate benchmark scores are almost identical. The i5-8265U averages 8568 points, while the G7400 averages 8515, a negligible 0.6% difference. However, this parity masks a fundamental split: the mobile Whiskey Lake chip wins on multi-threaded integer workloads and data compression, while the desktop Alder Lake part dominates nearly every other metric, particularly single-thread performance and encryption.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread benchmark score?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G7400 is decisively ahead in single-thread tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 804 versus the i5-8265U's 632, a 21.4% advantage. PassMark single-thread results show an even larger gap: 2982 for the G7400 versus 2030 for the i5-8265U, a 31.9% delta.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: Despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads versus the i5-8265U's 4 cores and 8 threads, the G7400 wins all Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5700 against 4482 for the i5-8265U, a 21.4% lead. The pattern holds in R20 (2394 vs 1882) and R15 (574 vs 451), with the same 21.4% delta.

Q: Are there any workloads where the Core i5-8265U outperforms the Pentium Gold G7400?

A: Yes, the i5-8265U wins 4 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks. Its biggest victory is PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 10117 versus 7278, a 39% advantage. It also leads in integer math (21560 vs 18675, a 15.4% edge), data compression (76049 vs 72591, a 4.8% gain), and extended instructions (4904 vs 4887, a marginal 0.3% win).

Q: What is the difference in their production status?

A: The Pentium Gold G7400 is listed as "Active" production, while the Core i5-8265U is marked as "End-of-life." The G7400 was released on 2022-01-03, whereas the i5-8265U launched earlier on 2018-09-30.

Q: Which processor has the higher thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The Pentium Gold G7400 has a significantly higher TDP of 46 watts, compared to just 15 watts for the Core i5-8265U. This reflects their different market segments: the i5-8265U is a mobile chip, while the G7400 is a desktop part.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i5-8265U and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400 have ECC memory support listed as false.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras and design philosophies. The Core i5-8265U is built on Whiskey Lake, a 14 nm architecture, and uses the Whiskey Lake-U codename. It is a mobile part with a 15 watt TDP, soldered to the Intel BGA 1528 socket. In contrast, the Pentium Gold G7400 is an Alder Lake-S desktop processor on Intel's 10 nm process, with a 46 watt TDP and an Intel Socket 1700 interface.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The i5-8265U has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1600 MHz and a boost clock of 3900 MHz. The G7400 has only 2 cores and 4 threads, but a much higher base clock of 3700 MHz and no boost clock listed. Cache layouts also differ: the i5-8265U provides 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, while the G7400 offers 80 KB of L1 and a substantial 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share a 6 MB L3 cache, but the G7400's larger per-core L2 likely contributes to its efficiency in single-thread tasks.

Memory and PCIe support are another dividing line. The i5-8265U supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The G7400 also uses a dual-channel bus but supports both DDR4 and DDR5, and steps up to PCIe Gen 5. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-8265U packs UHD Graphics 620, while the G7400 has the simpler UHD Graphics 710. The G7400 carries a launch MSRP of $74, and the i5-8265U carried a launch MSRP of $297.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Pentium Gold G7400 wins 13 of the 17 benchmarks, and its victories are often large. The most striking pattern is in Cinebench: across R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core, the G7400 leads by exactly 21.4% in every test except R15 single-core, where it leads by 21.2%. This consistency suggests an architectural efficiency advantage from Alder Lake's newer 10 nm process and higher base clock.

The G7400's single-thread dominance is even more pronounced in PassMark. It scores 2982 in single-thread tests versus 2030 for the i5-8265U, a 31.9% lead. In data encryption, the G7400 is nearly twice as fast, scoring 3694 versus 1961, a 46.9% delta. Prime number finding also favors the G7400 heavily: 33 versus 18, a 45.5% advantage. Physics simulation results show a 29.6% lead for the G7400 (575 vs 405), and floating-point math goes to the G7400 by 10.3% (14458 vs 12963). Even in the PassMark multithread test, which might favor the i5-8265U's extra cores, the G7400 wins 6704 to 5838, a 12.9% margin.

The Core i5-8265U's wins are narrower but revealing. Random string sorting is its best result: 10117 versus 7278, a 39% advantage that suggests the 8-thread configuration excels at highly parallel, memory-heavy string operations. Integer math goes to the i5-8265U by 15.4% (21560 vs 18675), and data compression by 4.8% (76049 vs 72591). The extended instructions test is essentially a tie, with the i5-8265U edging out 4904 to 4887, a 0.3% margin.

These results indicate a clear trade-off. The i5-8265U's 4 cores and 8 threads enable wins in specific parallel workloads, but they cannot overcome the G7400's per-core strength in most tests. The G7400's 3700 MHz base clock, combined with its larger L2 cache, delivers superior results in nearly every latency-sensitive and single-threaded task.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a straightforward picture for most users. The Intel Pentium Gold G7400 is the stronger performer in the vast majority of tests, winning 13 of 17 head-to-head matchups. Its 21.4% lead across all Cinebench multi-core tests is particularly significant, as it shows that the newer 10 nm architecture and higher clock speed more than compensate for having half the cores and threads. For workloads like encryption, prime number calculations, and physics simulation, the G7400's advantages range from 29.6% to 46.9%, making it the clear choice for any application that benefits from fast single-thread execution.

The Intel Core i5-8265U is not without merit, however. Its wins in integer math (15.4% ahead) and random string sorting (39% ahead) show that its 8 threads provide real benefits in specific parallel workloads. Data compression is also a win for the i5-8265U, albeit by a smaller 4.8% margin. Users whose primary tasks involve heavy string manipulation, integer calculations, or data compression might prefer the i5-8265U despite its overall deficit.

The market segments also dictate different use cases. The i5-8265U is a 15 watt mobile processor on a BGA socket, designed for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is paramount. The G7400 is a 46 watt desktop chip on Socket 1700, aimed at budget desktop builds where the higher TDP is acceptable. The G7400's active production status and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, along with PCIe Gen 5, give it a modern platform advantage. The i5-8265U is end-of-life, limited to DDR4 and PCIe Gen 3.

For a desktop user seeking raw performance across a broad set of benchmarks, the Pentium Gold G7400 is the data-backed pick. For a mobile user or one whose workload specifically benefits from 8 threads in integer and string operations, the Core i5-8265U remains competitive, but its overall benchmark profile places it behind the G7400 in most scenarios.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8265U | Intel Pentium Gold G7400 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1600.00 MHz | 3700 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3900 MHz | None |

| TDP | 15 watts | 46 watts |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1528 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Whiskey Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Whiskey Lake-U | Alder Lake-S |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 620 | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2018-09-30 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $297 | $74 |