Intel Core i5-9400 vs Intel Core i7-1185GRE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly close contest between two processors from different eras and market segments. The Intel Core i5-9400, a desktop Coffee Lake chip with 6 cores and 6 threads, and the Intel Core i7-1185GRE, a mobile Tiger Lake part with 4 cores and 8 threads, end up with nearly identical average benchmark scores. The i5-9400 records an average score of 2254, while the i7-1185GRE scores 2178, a difference of roughly 3.5%. Both sit at the 47th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The split is clear: the i7-1185GRE wins in Cinebench tests across all versions, but the i5-9400 dominates in Geekbench multi-core. The i7-1185GRE takes 5 of the 8 head-to-head comparisons, but the i5-9400's single biggest win, a 26.6% advantage in Geekbench multi-core, is far larger than any margin the i7 achieves. For users running Geekbench-style workloads, the desktop chip is the stronger choice. For Cinebench rendering tasks, the mobile chip edges ahead, though by less than 1% in every case.

Given the i7-1185GRE carries a launch MSRP of $490, the data suggests it targets embedded and mobile systems where its 15W TDP and active production status matter more than raw performance. The i5-9400, marked as end-of-life, offers similar overall capability but with a desktop form factor, 65W TDP, and no current pricing data. Pick the i5-9400 if multi-threaded Geekbench performance is the priority. Pick the i7-1185GRE if you need Cinebench single-thread strength, ECC memory support, and a smaller footprint.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct Intel design philosophies. The i5-9400 uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, while the i7-1185GRE employs the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Willow Cove-U generation, on a 10 nm node. The process shrink gives the newer chip a smaller die size of 144 mm², though no die size is recorded for the i5-9400.

Core configurations differ significantly. The i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. The i7-1185GRE has 4 cores and 8 threads, indicating Hyper-Threading is enabled. This explains why the 4-core mobile chip can compete with the 6-core desktop part in multi-threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i5-9400 offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-1185GRE provides 80 KB of L1 per core, a substantial 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on Tiger Lake help offset the core count disadvantage.

Memory support differs in scope. The i5-9400 supports DDR4 memory only, with dual-channel configuration and a recorded bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-1185GRE supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, also dual-channel, though its bandwidth is not recorded. Notably, the i7-1185GRE supports ECC memory while the i5-9400 does not.

PCIe capabilities reflect their respective generations. The i5-9400 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i7-1185GRE provides PCIe Gen 4 but only 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-9400 uses UHD 630, while the i7-1185GRE features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-9400 wins decisively in Geekbench multi-core performance. Its score of 5141 versus the i7-1185GRE's 4060 represents a 26.6% advantage, the largest margin in any benchmark comparison. This suggests workloads that scale with physical core count, such as compilation, video encoding, or database operations, favor the desktop chip. The i5-9400 also wins Cinebench R15 tests, though by 0% margins, meaning the scores are identical at 668 for multi-core and 94 for single-core.

The i7-1185GRE wins every other benchmark comparison, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 2786 versus 2784, a 0.1% difference. In R20 single-core, it scores 393 versus 392, a 0.3% difference. In R23 multi-core, it scores 6635 versus 6629, another 0.1% difference. In R23 single-core, 936 versus 935, again 0.1%. The most meaningful win for the i7-1185GRE is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1848 against the i5-9400's 1389, a 24.8% advantage.

The pattern is clear: the i7-1185GRE excels in single-threaded performance, particularly in Geekbench, while the i5-9400 dominates in Geekbench multi-core. In Cinebench, the two are effectively tied across all versions, with differences under 1%. For single-thread-heavy applications like legacy software, web browsing, or lightly threaded games, the i7-1185GRE has the edge. For heavily multi-threaded Geekbench-style tasks, the i5-9400 is the clear winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185GRE scores 6635, slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-9400's 6629, a difference of 0.1%.

Q: How large is the Geekbench single-core gap?

A: The i7-1185GRE scores 1848, which is 24.8% higher than the i5-9400's 1389 in Geekbench single-core.

Q: Does the i5-9400 win any benchmark by a significant margin?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multi-core the i5-9400 scores 5141 versus 4060 for the i7-1185GRE, a 26.6% advantage, the largest margin in the comparison.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-1185GRE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-9400 does not.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The i7-1185GRE has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-1185GRE has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the i5-9400 boosts to 4.10 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is Geekbench multi-core, where the i5-9400 leads by 26.6%. This is the only benchmark where either processor achieves a double-digit percentage advantage. The 6-core, 6-thread configuration of the i5-9400 clearly handles Geekbench's parallel workload better than the 4-core, 8-thread i7-1185GRE.

Geekbench single-core shows the opposite trend. The i7-1185GRE leads by 24.8%, scoring 1848 against 1389. The newer Tiger Lake architecture, with its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 4.10 GHz, delivers substantially better single-thread performance in this test.

The Cinebench results paint a picture of near-perfect parity. In R15 multi-core, both score exactly 668, a 0% difference. In R15 single-core, both score exactly 94, again 0%. This is remarkable given the architectural differences. The R20 tests show the i7-1185GRE ahead by 0.1% in multi-core (2786 versus 2784) and 0.3% in single-core (393 versus 392). R23 follows the same pattern: the i7-1185GRE leads by 0.1% in multi-core (6635 versus 6629) and 0.1% in single-core (936 versus 935).

Across all eight head-to-head comparisons, the i7-1185GRE wins 5 and the i5-9400 wins 3. However, the i5-9400's wins include one blowout, while the i7-1185GRE's wins are all under 1% except for Geekbench single-core. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the i5-9400 has an average of 2254, while the i7-1185GRE averages 2178. The i5-9400's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (2259, 0.2% higher), Intel Core i3-10305 (2264, 0.4% higher), Intel Core i7-10710U (2248, 0.3% lower), and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, 0.4% lower). The i7-1185GRE's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE (2175, 0.2% higher), Intel Core i5-1145G7E (2174, 0.2% higher), Intel Core i5-7640X (2167, 0.5% higher), and Intel Core i7-5950HQ (2158, 1% higher).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The i5-9400 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i7-1185GRE has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are strikingly different: the i5-9400 runs at 2.90 GHz, while the i7-1185GRE has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz, reflecting its low-power mobile design. Boost clocks favor the i7-1185GRE at 4.40 GHz versus 4.10 GHz.

TDP is a major differentiator. The i5-9400 has a 65W TDP, while the i7-1185GRE is rated at just 15W. This makes the mobile chip far more suitable for compact or battery-powered systems. Sockets are incompatible: the i5-9400 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-1185GRE uses Intel BGA 1449.

Process technology differs, with the i5-9400 on 14 nm and the i7-1185GRE on 10 nm. The die size of the i7-1185GRE is 144 mm². Cache configurations differ per core: the i5-9400 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, while the i7-1185GRE has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Shared L3 cache is 9 MB for the i5-9400 and 12 MB for the i7-1185GRE.

Memory support shows the i5-9400 limited to DDR4, while the i7-1185GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The i5-9400 records 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i7-1185GRE has no recorded bandwidth. ECC support is present on the i7-1185GRE but absent on the i5-9400. PCIe capabilities differ: the i5-9400 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the i7-1185GRE has Gen 4 with 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD 630 for the i5-9400 and Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU for the i7-1185GRE.

Market positioning also differs. The i5-9400 is a desktop part marked end-of-life, released in 2018. The i7-1185GRE is an active mobile part released in 2020 with a launch MSRP of $490. The part numbers are SR3X5 for the i5-9400 and SRK0Y for the i7-1185GRE. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.