CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10400H vs Core i5-7300HQ
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10400H is a 10th generation mobile processor tailored for mainstream gaming laptops and portable workstations. Launched in April 2020, it belongs to the Comet Lake-H family and is built on Intel's 14nm process. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, delivering reliable multi-threaded performance for its segment. The base clock speed is 2.6 GHz, which can boost up to 4.6 GHz under load, offering strong single-core performance for gaming. With a 45W TDP, it strikes a balance between power and thermal output, fitting well in mid-range laptop designs. It includes 6 MB of Intel Smart Cache and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 2933 MT/s. Like other H-series chips, it includes basic integrated graphics but is intended to be paired with a dedicated GPU. Its 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes ensure sufficient bandwidth for mobile graphics and fast storage solutions.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
4 cores hold it back in heavy multi-threaded productivity apps.
Smooth performance for everyday office applications and web browsing.
Gaming
Performs slightly better than 10300H due to higher clocks, good for 1080p.
Handles older eSports titles like CS:GO and LoL perfectly, but struggles with modern CPU-demanding games.
Virtualization
Basic VM support, but limited by core count.
Not recommended for virtualization due to lack of Hyper-Threading.
Efficiency
Standard 14nm mobile efficiency, gets warm under load.
High power draw relative to performance by modern mobile standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware.
- CPU-based inference is basic.
- No NPU or AI acceleration
- Insufficient threads for AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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.
- Great for older games and eSports
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs in AAA titles
- 4 cores are a strict limitation today
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Reliable quad-core performance for its era
- Good sustained thermal performance in laptop chassis
- Supports DDR4 memory
- Includes Quick Sync Video for fast media encoding
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Soldered to motherboard, not upgradeable
- Poor multi-tasking performance by modern standards
- Not supported by Windows 11 officially
Competitors & Alternatives
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
Core i5-7300HQ
- AMD A10-9620PRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-7700HQRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-6300HQRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-7200URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-9300HAlt
Modern alternative with 8 threads for better multi-threading.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3550HAlt
Better multi-threading and integrated graphics performance.
- Intel Core i5-8300HAlt
Direct successor offering 8 threads on the same tier.
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAlt
Vastly superior modern alternative with 6 cores and 12 threads.
Our Verdict on Each
A 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 reviewA highly popular mobile CPU that brought affordable quad-core performance to gaming laptops, though its 4-core/4-thread design is heavily outdated for modern workloads.
Best for: Buying a very cheap used laptop for basic retro gaming
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10400H or Core i5-7300HQ?
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 i5-10400H or Core i5-7300HQ?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-10400H leads with a gaming performance score of 72/100 among Intel Core i5-10400H and Core i5-7300HQ.
Do Intel Core i5-10400H and Core i5-7300HQ use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10400H: BGA 1440, Core i5-7300HQ: BGA1440), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-10400H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10400H (9,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.