CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10200H vs Intel Core i5-10400H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10200H is a 10th generation mobile processor targeting budget-friendly gaming laptops. Released in September 2020, it is part of the Comet Lake-H family and is built on the 14nm process. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, providing standard multi-tasking capabilities for entry-level gaming. The base clock is set at 2.4 GHz, with a maximum turbo boost of 4.1 GHz, making it the lowest-binned i5 in the 10th gen mobile H-series. It operates within a 45W TDP, fitting well into thinner budget laptop designs. The chip includes 6 MB of Intel Smart Cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 2933 MT/s. It integrates basic Intel UHD Graphics, but is universally paired with dedicated mobile GPUs for actual gaming. With 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, it provides adequate bandwidth for a discrete GPU and storage, serving as an affordable entry point into mobile gaming.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
4 cores at lower clocks limit multitasking capabilities.
4 cores hold it back in heavy multi-threaded productivity apps.
Gaming
Struggles with modern CPU-heavy games, but fine for low-end eSports.
Performs slightly better than 10300H due to higher clocks, good for 1080p.
Virtualization
Not recommended for virtual machines.
Basic VM support, but limited by core count.
Efficiency
14nm process is inefficient, leading to lower battery life.
Standard 14nm mobile efficiency, gets warm under load.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware.
- Low clock speeds make CPU inference very slow.
- No dedicated AI hardware.
- CPU-based inference is basic.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Lowest turbo speeds in the 10th gen mobile i5 stack.
- Will bottleneck modern GPUs in CPU-bound games.
- Best suited for GTX 1650 class laptops at 1080p Medium.
- Higher clock speeds give a slight edge over the 10300H.
- Good pairing for GTX 1660 Ti or RTX 2060 mobile.
- Bottlenecks can occur in modern CPU-heavy games.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Found in very cheap laptops
- Good enough for basic school work
- Supports DDR4-2933
- Has 8 threads for basic multitasking
Cons
- Lowest clock speeds in the lineup
- 4 cores are outdated for modern gaming
- 14nm process runs warm
- Soldered and non-upgradable
Pros
- Higher clock speeds than 10300H
- Good single-core performance
- Supports DDR4-2933
- Reliable for eSports and older AAA games
Cons
- Still only 4 cores
- Soldered and non-upgradable
- 14nm process is not power efficient
- Outclassed by AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-10200H
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10300HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550HRival
Mobile Budget
- Intel Core i5-9300HRival
Previous Gen Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10400HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i5-11400HAlt
Better architecture and 6 cores.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600HAlt
Vastly superior IPC and efficiency.
- Intel Core i3-12100HAlt
Modern 4-core with hyper-threading that beats it.
Intel Core i5-10400H
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10300HRival
Mobile Mainstream
- Intel Core i7-10750HRival
Mobile High-End
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HRival
Mobile High-End
- Intel Core i5-9300HRival
Previous Gen Mobile
- Intel Core i5-11400HAlt
Better IPC and architecture.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600HAlt
Much faster and more efficient.
Modern hybrid architecture.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
As the lowest-binned 10th gen mobile i5, it offers basic functionality for budget gaming but struggles with modern CPU demands and lacks efficiency.
Best for: Buying a used laptop for under $300 for basic eSports.
Read the full reviewA solid 4-core mobile CPU with slightly higher clocks than the 10300H, providing a small bump in performance for mainstream gaming laptops.
Best for: Buying a used mid-range gaming laptop at a discount.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10200H or Intel Core i5-10400H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-10400H comes out ahead with a score of 7.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-10200H or Intel Core i5-10400H?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-10400H leads with a gaming performance score of 72/100 among Intel Core i5-10200H and Intel Core i5-10400H.
Do Intel Core i5-10200H and Intel Core i5-10400H use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the BGA 1440 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-10400H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10200H (8,500), Intel Core i5-10400H (9,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.