Intel Core i5-8400T vs Intel Core i7-10810U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record is unambiguous in this matchup. The Intel Core i7-10810U wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons, with margins that stay tightly clustered between 7.9% and 8.6%. The largest single gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-10810U scores 404 against the i5-8400T’s 372, a lead of 8.6%. The same 8.6% margin repeats in Cinebench R23 single-core, with scores of 962 and 886 respectively. These two results highlight a consistent advantage in lightly threaded workloads, where the i7-10810U’s higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz compared to the i5-8400T’s 3.30 GHz directly translates into measurable performance.

Multi-core results tell a similar story, though the percentage gaps are marginally smaller. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-10810U posts 686 versus 633 for the i5-8400T, an 8.4% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 2862 against 2638, an 8.5% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core has the i7-10810U at 6816 and the i5-8400T at 6282, again an 8.5% gap. The consistency of these margins across different Cinebench versions suggests a stable architectural and clock-speed advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

It is importantly the i7-10810U accomplishes this with 12 threads against the i5-8400T’s 6 threads, all while running at a significantly lower base clock of 1.10 GHz versus 1.70 GHz. The higher boost clock and the extra threads combine to produce a clean sweep. The i5-8400T does have one benchmark in the database that the i7-10810U lacks, a Geekbench multi-core score of 4011 and a single-core score of 1100, but since no comparable Geekbench result exists for the i7-10810U, these cannot be used for a head-to-head comparison.

When placed against the broader field, both chips sit near the middle of the database. The i7-10810U holds a 44th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1971. The i5-8400T sits at the 45th percentile with an average score of 2001. That 30-point difference in average score is small, but the head-to-head Cinebench data shows the i7-10810U winning every direct comparison. The nearest rivals for the i7-10810U include the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 at an average score of 1973, nearly identical, and the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X at 1968. The i5-8400T’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H at 2002 and the Intel Core i5-8400H at 2003, both essentially tied with its own average.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for the Intel Core i7-10810U if raw Cinebench performance is the sole criterion. It wins every recorded comparison, and the margins, while not enormous, are consistent and meaningful. A lead of roughly 8.5% across the board means that in CPU-bound tasks such as video rendering, 3D modeling, or batch photo processing, the i7-10810U will finish noticeably ahead. The 12 threads versus 6 threads matter in heavily parallel workloads, even if the per-core clock advantage also plays a role.

However, the i5-8400T is not without its own merits. It is a desktop part with a 35W TDP, which is higher than the i7-10810U’s 25W TDP, but that higher power envelope allows for a more predictable sustained performance profile in a desktop chassis with adequate cooling. The i7-10810U, being a mobile part on Intel BGA 1440, is designed for laptops and compact systems, where thermal constraints are tighter. If the use case is a small form factor desktop or an all-in-one system, the i7-10810U’s lower power draw is a practical advantage, but the i5-8400T’s desktop socket and higher base clock may make it easier to integrate into a standard build.

For users who already own a motherboard with Intel Socket 1151, the i5-8400T is the drop-in choice. The i7-10810U requires a BGA 1440 board, which is not a standard DIY upgrade path. The i5-8400T also has a recorded launch MSRP of $182, though pricing comparisons are not part of this analysis. The i7-10810U has no launch MSRP in the database, so no cost comparison is possible.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-10810U wins in every single benchmark category recorded. That includes single-core and multi-core Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The single-core wins, ranging from 7.9% to 8.6%, indicate that the i7-10810U will feel snappier in everyday responsive tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light code compilation. The higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz is the likely driver here, as single-threaded performance often scales closely with maximum clock speed.

For multi-threaded workloads, the i7-10810U’s 12 threads give it a structural advantage. Video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation that can utilize more than six threads will see the full benefit of the 8.4% to 8.5% multi-core lead. The i5-8400T, with only six threads, will still perform capably, but it will trail in any task that scales beyond six threads.

The i5-8400T’s wins are not in performance but in platform compatibility and sustained operation. It uses Intel Socket 1151, a widely available desktop socket, and has a 35W TDP that is well within the range of standard desktop coolers. The i7-10810U, with its BGA 1440 socket, is soldered to the board in most implementations, meaning no CPU upgrades or swaps. The i5-8400T also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i7-10810U, so in memory-intensive tasks that benefit from higher bandwidth, the i5-8400T may have an edge, though no direct benchmark confirms this.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-10810U scores 962, while the Intel Core i5-8400T scores 886. The i7-10810U leads by 8.6%.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare in Cinebench R20?

A: The i7-10810U scores 2862, and the i5-8400T scores 2638. The i7-10810U is ahead by 8.5%.

Q: Does the i5-8400T have any benchmark win over the i7-10810U?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the i7-10810U wins all six comparisons. The i5-8400T has zero wins.

Q: What is the thread count difference between the two?

A: The i7-10810U has 12 threads, while the i5-8400T has 6 threads. Both have 6 cores.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-10810U boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the i5-8400T boosts to 3.30 GHz.

Q: Are both CPUs on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i7-10810U is a Comet Lake-U part, part of the Core 10th Gen lineup, with a codename of Comet Lake-U. It is a mobile processor, as indicated by its Intel BGA 1440 socket and 25W TDP. The i5-8400T is a Coffee Lake desktop part, with the codename Coffee Lake, using Intel Socket 1151 and a 35W TDP. Both use a 14 nm process node, so the manufacturing technology is identical, but the design priorities differ.

The i7-10810U has 6 cores and 12 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading. The i5-8400T has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it does not support Hyper-Threading. This is a fundamental architectural difference. The i7-10810U’s L3 cache is 12 MB shared, while the i5-8400T has 9 MB shared. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The larger L3 cache on the i7-10810U likely contributes to its performance advantage, especially in workloads where data sharing between cores is frequent.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i7-10810U uses Intel UHD Graphics, while the i5-8400T uses Intel UHD Graphics 630. The i5-8400T has a specific graphics model named in the database, while the i7-10810U’s is listed more generically. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The i7-10810U supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5-8400T supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-8400T has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-10810U’s memory bandwidth is not listed.

The i7-10810U was released in April 2020, while the i5-8400T was released in April 2018. Both are end-of-life products. The i5-8400T has a part number of SR3X6, while the i7-10810U has no part number in the database. The i5-8400T also has a launch MSRP of $182, while the i7-10810U has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The core specifications where the two parts diverge are clear from the data. The i7-10810U has a base clock of 1.10 GHz, while the i5-8400T has a base clock of 1.70 GHz. The i7-10810U boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the i5-8400T boosts to 3.30 GHz. The i7-10810U has a TDP of 25W, while the i5-8400T has a TDP of 35W. The i7-10810U uses Intel BGA 1440, while the i5-8400T uses Intel Socket 1151.

The i7-10810U has 12 threads, while the i5-8400T has 6 threads. The L3 cache is 12 MB on the i7-10810U and 9 MB on the i5-8400T. Memory support differs, with the i7-10810U accepting both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5-8400T is limited to DDR4. The i5-8400T has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-10810U has no such figure. The integrated graphics are listed as UHD Graphics for the i7-10810U and UHD Graphics 630 for the i5-8400T. The i5-8400T has a die size of 154 mm², while the i7-10810U has no die size listed. The market segments are Mobile for the i7-10810U and Desktop for the i5-8400T. Release dates are April 2020 for the i7-10810U and April 2018 for the i5-8400T. The i5-8400T has a launch MSRP of $182 and a part number of SR3X6, neither of which is recorded for the i7-10810U. Both are end-of-life, both have 6 cores, both use a 14 nm process, both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, both have dual-channel memory buses, neither supports ECC, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.