CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-8400
Core i5-8500
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i5-8400 vs Intel Core i5-8500
The Intel Core i5-8500 and Intel Core i5-8400 are nearly identical twins from the Coffee Lake family, but the benchmark data reveals a clear, consistent edge for the i5-8500. Across 19 head-to-head tests, the i5-8500 secures 14 wins, while the i5-8400 manages only 5. The i5-8500’s advantage is rooted in higher base and boost clocks, translating into measurable gains in most workloads. This is not a generational leap, but a clock-for-clock refinement that makes the i5-8500 the default choice for users who prioritize raw throughput, provided the small performance gap justifies the higher launch MSRP.
Where Each One Wins
The i5-8500 dominates in compute-heavy, all-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8079 against the i5-8400’s 7847, a 3% lead. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core (814 vs 790) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (3393 vs 3295), each showing a consistent 3% advantage. This makes the i5-8500 the better pick for video rendering, 3D modeling, and any application that scales across all six cores.
The i5-8500 also wins in most PassMark suite tests that stress arithmetic and data handling. It leads in integer math (26551 vs 25573, +3.8%), floating-point math (22489 vs 22006, +2.2%), data compression (134673 vs 129951, +3.6%), and data encryption (3027 vs 2824, +7.2%). These are tasks like file archiving, cryptographic operations, and scientific calculations where the higher 4.10 GHz boost clock pays off.
Single-threaded performance also favors the i5-8500. It wins all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by roughly 3%, and PassMark single-thread scores are 2441 vs 2371, a 3% margin. For everyday responsiveness, web browsing, and lightly threaded applications, the i5-8500 is the stronger option.
The i5-8400’s wins are fewer and mostly marginal. Its most significant victory is in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 5088 versus the i5-8500’s 4752, a 6.6% advantage. It also edges ahead in Geekbench single-core (1353 vs 1342, +0.8%), PassMark extended instructions (11543 vs 11480, +0.5%), PassMark find prime numbers (37 vs 36, +2.7%), and PassMark physics (635 vs 628, +1.1%). These wins suggest a slightly different optimization profile in certain tests, but the margins are small and inconsistent with the broader trend.
Architecture Differences
Both processors are built on the same Coffee Lake architecture, using Intel’s 14 nm process node. They share identical core counts: six cores and six threads, with no hyper-threading. The cache hierarchy is exactly the same, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is identical at 154 mm², and both use the Intel Socket 1151.
The key architectural difference is clock speed. The i5-8500 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The i5-8400 runs at 2.80 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. This 200 MHz advantage at both ends is the entire source of the i5-8500’s performance lead. Both chips have a 65 W TDP, so the higher clocks come without an increased power envelope.
Memory support is also identical: dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and no ECC support. Both integrate UHD Graphics 630 and have the same PCIe configuration of Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. They share the same market segment, production status (end-of-life), and are both locked (multiplier unlocked: false). The only other difference is the release date, with the i5-8400 launching earlier on 2017-10-04 and the i5-8500 following on 2018-02-13.
The Verdict
Choose the Intel Core i5-8500. The data is unambiguous: it wins 14 of 19 benchmarks, and its margins are consistent in the 2-7% range in the workloads that matter most. The 3% lead in multi-core Cinebench tests and the 3.8% lead in integer math show a tangible improvement for productivity and content creation. The i5-8500 also holds a 3% single-thread advantage, making it better for general desktop use. The launch MSRP is $192, which is higher than the i5-8400’s $182, but the performance uplift is real and measurable.
The Intel Core i5-8400 is only preferable if the Geekbench multi-core result is the primary concern, where it leads by 6.6%. But this is an outlier relative to the rest of the data. In nearly every other multi-core test, including all Cinebench versions and PassMark multithread, the i5-8500 wins. The i5-8400’s other victories are within 1-3% and likely reflect test-specific quirks, not a general advantage. For a system that will handle a mix of tasks, the i5-8500 is the safer, faster choice.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?
A: The i5-8500 wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by exactly 3% each, scoring 814, 3393, and 8079 respectively, versus the i5-8400’s 790, 3295, and 7847.
Q: Does the i5-8400 win any benchmark by a large margin?
A: Yes, the i5-8400 wins Geekbench multi-core by 6.6%, scoring 5088 versus the i5-8500’s 4752. This is the single largest delta in either direction.
Q: Are these CPUs the same architecture?
A: Yes, both are Coffee Lake on Intel’s 14 nm process, with six cores, six threads, and identical cache layouts (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 9 MB shared L3).
Q: What is the difference in clock speeds?
A: The i5-8500 has a 3.00 GHz base clock and 4.10 GHz boost clock. The i5-8400 has a 2.80 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. Both have a 65 W TDP.
Q: Which CPU is better for single-threaded performance?
A: The i5-8500 wins every single-core test: Cinebench R15 (114 vs 111), R20 (478 vs 464), R23 (1140 vs 1107), and PassMark single-thread (2441 vs 2371).
Q: Do they support the same memory?
A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The i5-8500’s most decisive win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 3027 against the i5-8400’s 2824, a 7.2% advantage. This indicates a meaningful edge in cryptographic workloads. Next is PassMark integer math, with the i5-8500 at 26551 versus 25573, a 3.8% lead. Floating-point math shows a 2.2% gain (22489 vs 22006), and data compression is 3.6% faster (134673 vs 129951). Multithread performance also favors the i5-8500, scoring 9532 versus 9225, a 3.3% difference.
In Cinebench, the i5-8500 is consistently 3% ahead across all six tests. Multi-core scores are 814 vs 790 (R15), 3393 vs 3295 (R20), and 8079 vs 7847 (R23). Single-core scores are 114 vs 111 (R15), 478 vs 464 (R20), and 1140 vs 1107 (R23). Random string sorting also goes to the i5-8500, 16294 vs 15952, a 2.1% win.
The i5-8400’s best result is Geekbench multi-core, where it posts 5088 against the i5-8500’s 4752, a 6.6% reversal of the usual trend. It also wins Geekbench single-core (1353 vs 1342, +0.8%), PassMark extended instructions (11543 vs 11480, +0.5%), PassMark find prime numbers (37 vs 36, +2.7%), and PassMark physics (635 vs 628, +1.1%). These wins are narrow, and the Geekbench multi-core result stands as an anomaly rather than a pattern.
Specification Differences
The only specification differences between the two CPUs are clock speeds, release date, launch MSRP, and part number. The i5-8500 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The i5-8400 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The i5-8500 was released on 2018-02-13, while the i5-8400 came out earlier on 2017-10-04. The launch MSRP is $192 for the i5-8500 and $182 for the i5-8400. The part numbers are SR3XE for the i5-8500 and SLAPL for the i5-8400.
All other specifications are identical: 6 cores, 6 threads, 65 W TDP, Intel Socket 1151, Coffee Lake architecture, 14 nm process, 154 mm² die size, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 9 MB shared L3, dual-channel DDR4 memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC support, Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes, integrated UHD Graphics 630, locked multiplier, and end-of-life production status. The average benchmark score difference is 13142 for the i5-8500 versus 12765 for the i5-8400, reflecting the i5-8500’s overall superiority.