Intel Core i5-10400H

The Intel Core i5-10400H is a mobile processor from Intel's 10th Generation Comet Lake-H series, built on a 14 nm process. It is a quad-core, 8-thread chip with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The data places this CPU at the 49th percentile of all tested processors, indicating a mid-pack position in the broader performance landscape.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark results for the i5-10400H paint a consistent picture across different testing methodologies. In Cinebench R23, the processor scores 7072 points in multi-core and 998 points in single-core tests. The Cinebench R20 results show 2970 points multi-core and 419 points single-core, while the older Cinebench R15 suite yields 712 points multi-core and 100 points single-core. Geekbench testing produces a multi-core score of 4007 and a single-core score of 1402.

The aggregate benchmark score for this processor is 2210, which serves as the primary point of comparison against its nearest rivals. The data shows that the i5-10400H sits in a tightly contested performance tier. It is exactly level with the Intel Core i7-1160G7, which also averages 2210 points, representing a 0% delta. Against the Intel Core i3-10100, the i5-10400H trails by a mere 0.5%, as that rival posts an average score of 2221. The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 edges ahead slightly with a score of 2227, a 0.8% advantage. Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U scores 2192, placing it 0.8% behind the i5-10400H.

These deltas are remarkably small, indicating that in aggregate performance, the i5-10400H is functionally interchangeable with its closest competitors. A 0.8% difference is well within run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites. The practical implication is that users should not base purchasing decisions on raw performance differences between these specific CPUs, as they all deliver nearly identical average results.

Power and Thermals

The i5-10400H carries a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 45 watts, which is a defining characteristic for this processor. This TDP class is typical for performance-oriented mobile chips designed for larger laptops and workstations. A 45 W TDP implies that the cooling solution must be more substantial than what is found in ultraportable devices, which typically use processors in the 15 W to 28 W range.

In practical terms, this TDP means the i5-10400H requires a capable cooling solution to sustain its boost clocks under load. The 14 nm process node, while mature and well-understood, is not as power-efficient as smaller nodes used in more recent processors. Consequently, the chip will generate significant heat during sustained multi-core workloads, necessitating a cooling solution with adequate heat dissipation capacity. The data does not include specific thermal measurements, but the 45 W TDP establishes the expected thermal envelope and cooling tier for system integrators.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The relationship between single-thread and multi-thread scores reveals how the i5-10400H handles different workload types. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 7072 is approximately 7.1 times higher than the single-core score of 998. This scaling factor is close to the theoretical maximum for a 4-core, 8-thread processor, suggesting that the chip's thread management and cache hierarchy are functioning efficiently under full load.

For Geekbench, the multi-core score of 4007 versus the single-core score of 1402 yields a scaling ratio of about 2.9 times. The discrepancy between the Cinebench and Geekbench scaling ratios reflects differences in how each benchmark utilizes threads and memory bandwidth. The Cinebench results indicate strong multi-threaded scaling, which benefits rendering and video encoding tasks. The Geekbench results show more modest scaling, which is typical for general-purpose applications that may not fully utilize all 8 threads simultaneously.

The single-core scores themselves are modest by current standards. A Cinebench R23 single-core score of 998 suggests that the 4.60 GHz boost clock is not sufficient to compete with newer architectures that achieve higher instructions-per-clock. For single-threaded tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light productivity work, the i5-10400H performs adequately but does not stand out.

How It Compares

Intel Core i7-1160G7: The i5-10400H matches this rival exactly, with both processors achieving an average benchmark score of 2210. The 0% delta means there is no measurable performance difference between them in aggregate. This is notable because the i7-1160G7 is a newer architecture, yet the i5-10400H's higher TDP and boost clock compensate for the architectural gap in overall throughput.

Intel Core i3-10100: The i3-10100 posts an average score of 2221, which is 0.5% higher than the i5-10400H. This is a negligible difference, effectively placing the two processors in the same performance class. The i3-10100 is a desktop part, which suggests that the i5-10400H's mobile design does not incur a significant performance penalty compared to its desktop counterpart in this specific benchmark aggregate.

Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3: This Xeon processor scores 2227, 0.8% ahead of the i5-10400H. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 is a server-class chip, but the data shows that in this benchmark aggregate, the two processors are nearly indistinguishable. This highlights how benchmark scores can sometimes obscure the significant differences in other characteristics like memory capacity support and multi-socket capabilities, which are not captured in these average scores.

AMD Ryzen 3 7320U: The Ryzen 3 7320U scores 2192, which is 0.8% lower than the i5-10400H. This is the only rival in the list that the i5-10400H leads, albeit by a very narrow margin. The Ryzen 3 7320U is a low-power mobile processor, so its near-parity with the 45 W i5-10400H is a testament to the efficiency of the Ryzen architecture.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Core i5-10400H?

A: The average benchmark score is 2210 points, which places it at the 49th percentile of all CPUs tested.

Q: How does the i5-10400H compare to the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U?

A: The i5-10400H is 0.8% faster, scoring 2210 versus the Ryzen 3 7320U's 2192.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor?

A: The TDP is 45 watts, which is typical for performance mobile processors.

Q: What memory types does the i5-10400H support?

A: It supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s.

Q: Does the i5-10400H have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel UHD Graphics.

Q: What is the boost clock speed of the i5-10400H?

A: The boost clock is 4.60 GHz, while the base clock is 2.60 GHz.

Who Should Consider It

The i5-10400H is best suited for users who need consistent multi-threaded performance in a mobile form factor. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 7072 indicates that rendering tasks, video encoding, and 3D modeling workloads will benefit from the 8 threads. Users engaged in content creation that can leverage multiple cores will see near-linear scaling, as evidenced by the strong multi-core to single-core ratio in Cinebench tests.

For gaming, the i5-10400H offers a single-core Geekbench score of 1402, which is sufficient for most modern titles that rely heavily on one or two cores. However, the 49th percentile ranking suggests that it is not a top-tier gaming CPU. Gamers who prioritize maximum frame rates in CPU-bound titles may find the performance adequate but not exceptional.

For office and productivity workloads, the i5-10400H is more than capable. The single-threaded scores in both Cinebench and Geekbench are adequate for spreadsheet manipulation, document editing, and web-based applications. The 45 W TDP means it will be found in larger laptops with better cooling, which is a benefit for sustained productivity sessions.

Users who require a processor for heavy multi-threaded workloads on the go, such as software developers compiling code or engineers running simulations, will find the i5-10400H's multi-core performance compelling relative to its rivals. The near-parity with the i7-1160G7 and i3-10100 in aggregate scores means there is no clear performance winner among these options, so the i5-10400H can be selected based on other factors like platform features or availability without sacrificing benchmark performance.