Intel Core i5-8300H

The Intel Core i5-8300H is a mobile processor designed for laptops, built on the Coffee Lake-H architecture and fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node. With four cores, eight threads, a base clock of 2.30 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, this chip targets the upper-midrange of the laptop market. Its benchmark results place it at the 46th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1985, indicating a solid but not exceptional performance tier for its generation.

Benchmark Performance

The Core i5-8300H delivers a multicore score of 632 in Cinebench R15, which rises to 2635 in Cinebench R20 and 6275 in Cinebench R23. These results show a linear scaling pattern across render workloads, with each successive benchmark generation increasing the computational demand while the chip maintains proportional output. In single-core tests, the processor scores 89 in Cinebench R15, 371 in R20, and 885 in R23, reflecting a modest single-threaded capability that is typical for a 45 W mobile part from its era. Geekbench results show a multicore score of 3725 and a single-core score of 1267, further confirming that the chip’s strength lies in multi-threaded throughput rather than raw single-thread speed.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the i5-8300H is effectively tied with the Intel Core i5-1035G7, as both have an average score of 1985 with a deltaPct of 0. This parity is notable because the i5-1035G7 is a newer, lower-power part, yet the older Coffee Lake chip matches it in aggregate performance. Against the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B, the i5-8300H again shows a 0% delta, meaning the two processors perform identically on average despite their different architectures and market positions. The gap widens slightly when compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 and the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, both of which hold an average score of 1989. Here, the i5-8300H trails by -0.2%, a margin so small that it falls within normal run-to-run variance and has no practical impact on real-world application behavior.

The percentile ranking of 46 places the i5-8300H slightly below the midpoint of all tested CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly 46% of the database while being surpassed by the remaining 54%. This position is consistent with a chip that offers competitive multicore performance for its laptop class but lacks the high-end core counts or clock speeds found in desktop parts or premium mobile H-series processors from later generations. The benchmark data indicates that the i5-8300H is best suited for workloads that can utilize its four cores and eight threads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or software compilation, where its multicore scores of 6275 in Cinebench R23 and 3725 in Geekbench represent the peak of its capability.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-8300H uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, which is a soldered, non-upgradeable connection point designed exclusively for mobile platforms. This means the processor is permanently attached to the motherboard, and end users cannot swap it for a different chip. The platform is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, with the codename Coffee Lake-H indicating a high-performance mobile variant. The chip integrates the UHD 630 graphics solution, providing basic display output and hardware acceleration for video playback without requiring a discrete GPU.

Memory support is limited to DDR4, with the chip lacking ECC memory capability, which positions it firmly in the consumer and mainstream business laptop segment rather than workstation territory. The process node is 14 nm, and the die size measures 126 mm², a relatively compact design that balances transistor density with thermal dissipation. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which provides a substantial buffer for frequently accessed data and helps mitigate the latency of main memory accesses.

The production status is listed as end-of-life, with a release date of April 2018. This means the chip is no longer manufactured and appears only in existing laptop inventories or the used market. The part number is SR3Z0, and the multiplier is locked, preventing overclocking. For users considering this platform, the key limitation is the lack of an upgrade path—the BGA 1440 socket precludes any CPU replacement, and the DDR4 memory support, while standard for its time, does not offer the bandwidth advantages of newer DDR5 platforms. The integrated UHD 630 graphics is sufficient for office tasks and media consumption but will struggle with modern gaming or GPU-accelerated creative workloads, making a discrete GPU a practical necessity for demanding applications.

Power and Thermals

The i5-8300H has a thermal design power (TDP) of 45 watts, which classifies it as a high-performance mobile processor intended for larger laptops with dedicated cooling solutions. This TDP level is typical for H-series chips, which are designed to sustain heavy multicore loads for extended periods, such as during video rendering or gaming sessions. The 45 W envelope requires a capable cooling solution—typically a dual-fan setup with multiple heat pipes—to maintain boost clocks of 3.90 GHz without thermal throttling.

In practice, the power characteristics of the i5-8300H mean that laptops equipped with this chip will be thicker and heavier than ultrabooks, as the chassis must accommodate a robust thermal system. The 14 nm process node is less efficient than newer 10 nm or 7 nm designs, so the chip draws more power for a given level of performance compared to later mobile processors. However, the 45 W TDP also enables the chip to sustain high clock speeds under load, which explains its competitive multicore scores against lower-power rivals like the i5-1035G7, which likely operates in a 15 W to 25 W envelope.

For thermal management, the data suggests that the i5-8300H requires a mid-range laptop cooler—neither a passive heatsink nor an exotic liquid-cooling solution is necessary, but a basic single-fan design will likely be inadequate. The end-of-life status of the chip means that replacement cooling parts may be harder to source, but the standard 45 W class coolers used in gaming laptops of the 2018-2020 era should be compatible. Users should also note that the locked multiplier prevents undervolting through overclocking controls, though some laptop BIOS implementations may allow voltage adjustments to reduce power draw and heat output.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark results indicate that the i5-8300H is a viable option for users engaged in multi-threaded productivity tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6275 and Geekbench multicore score of 3725 show that it can handle video editing, 3D modeling, and software development with reasonable efficiency, though it will not match the performance of high-core-count desktop processors. For gaming, the chip’s single-core scores of 885 in Cinebench R23 and 1267 in Geekbench are adequate for most titles, but the integrated UHD 630 graphics are not suitable for modern games; pairing this CPU with a discrete GPU is essential for any gaming use case.

Office workloads such as spreadsheet manipulation, web browsing, and document creation will run comfortably on the i5-8300H, as these tasks are largely single-threaded and the chip’s 3.90 GHz boost clock provides responsive performance. However, the 46th percentile ranking means that a significant portion of the CPU database offers better performance, so users with highly demanding applications like 4K video production or complex simulations should consider newer or higher-tier processors. The 45 W TDP also implies that this chip is best suited for desktop-replacement laptops where battery life is secondary to sustained performance, rather than thin-and-light portables.

How It Compares

Intel Core i5-1035G7: The i5-8300H and the i5-1035G7 are exact performance equals, with both achieving an average benchmark score of 1985 and a deltaPct of 0. This is a remarkable outcome because the i5-1035G7 is a newer Ice Lake part with a lower TDP, yet the older Coffee Lake chip matches its aggregate performance. The i5-8300H likely relies on its higher boost clock and larger L3 cache to compensate for architectural differences, but the data shows no practical advantage for either chip in overall throughput.

AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B: The i5-8300H also ties with the Ryzen Embedded V1756B, as both have an average score of 1985 and a deltaPct of 0. The V1756B is a specialized embedded processor, so this comparison is somewhat unusual, but it confirms that the i5-8300H delivers performance on par with a mid-range Ryzen embedded part. For laptop users, this means the i5-8300H is competitive with a broad range of Ryzen mobile chips from the same era, though the embedded variant’s different thermal and power profile makes direct application comparisons less meaningful.

Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4: The i5-8300H trails the Xeon E3-1285L v4 by -0.2%, with the Xeon scoring 1989 versus the i5’s 1985. This difference is negligible and falls within typical benchmark variance, so the two processors can be considered functionally equivalent in average performance. The Xeon is a desktop-class part with a lower TDP, but the i5-8300H’s higher boost clock helps it close the gap, resulting in a near-identical user experience for most workloads.

AMD Ryzen 7 3750H: The i5-8300H also falls behind the Ryzen 7 3750H by -0.2%, with the Ryzen scoring 1989. The Ryzen 7 3750H is a direct competitor in the mobile H-series segment, and the data shows that the i5-8300H is essentially on par with it, differing by less than one percent. This parity suggests that laptop buyers of that generation had no clear performance winner between these two chips, and other factors like GPU, display, or battery life would have been more decisive in a purchase decision.