Name: Intel Core i5 8420
Brand: Intel

Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i5 8420

Overall score

6.0

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Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you prefer to choose a processor reviewed and selected by many other buyers.

Platform

7.9

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Brand name

What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.

When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel

Processor type

What it is: The kind of system the processor is built for, such as desktop PCs, laptops, workstations, or servers.

When it matters: When you want a processor meant for the kind of machine you are actually building or buying, rather than a chip aimed at a different class of system.

Importance: HIGH

CPU socket

What it is: The physical socket the processor fits into on the motherboard.

When it matters: When you need to make sure the CPU can actually be installed on a specific motherboard.

Importance: HIGH

Chipset

What it is: The motherboard chipset families officially meant to work with the processor.

When it matters: When you are checking whether a CPU will work with the motherboard features and platform you plan to use.

Importance: HIGH

CPU architecture

What it is: The processor family or design generation behind the chip, such as Zen 4 or Raptor Lake.

When it matters: When you are comparing CPUs across generations and want a clearer sense of their design age, feature level, and expected performance class.

Importance: HIGH

Performance

6.2

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N. of physical cores

What it is: The number of physical CPU cores on the processor.

When it matters: When you run workloads that benefit from more real cores.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 8+

CPU threads

What it is: The total number of processing threads the CPU can handle at once.

When it matters: When you run heavily threaded workloads or multitask a lot.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 16+

Threads per core

What it is: The number of threads each physical core can handle at once.

When it matters: When you want to understand how much thread-level parallelism each core can provide in multitasking or heavily threaded work.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 2

CPU boost clock speed

What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.

When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >4.7 GHz

CPU base clock speed

What it is: The processor's normal all-core starting frequency before boost behavior raises clocks temporarily.

When it matters: When you care about steadier performance in longer workloads rather than short burst speed alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

Cache & Architecture

4.9

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Semiconductor size

What it is: The manufacturing process node used to produce the processor, usually expressed in nanometers.

When it matters: When efficiency, heat, and the relative modernity of the chip-making process matter to your comparison.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <10 nm

Foundry

What it is: The semiconductor manufacturer that physically fabricates the processor chip.

When it matters: When process source, manufacturing generation, or foundry differences matter to your comparison more than day-to-day performance alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

L3 cache

What it is: The total amount of L3 cache available on the processor.

When it matters: When you want better performance in cache-sensitive workloads and games.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=16 MB

L2 cache

What it is: The total amount of L2 cache available across the processor.

When it matters: When you want to compare CPU design efficiency and how much fast intermediate cache the cores have available.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6 MB

L1 cache

What it is: The total amount of L1 cache built into the processor, which sits closest to the cores.

When it matters: When you are comparing low-level CPU design details rather than the broader performance picture buyers usually notice first.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=512 KB

Memory & PCIe

5.4

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DDR memory version

What it is: The RAM generation the processor is designed to support, such as DDR4 or DDR5.

When it matters: When you need the CPU to match the kind of memory platform you want to buy or reuse.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: DDR5

Maximum memory speed

What it is: The highest official memory speed supported by the processor.

When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4800 MHz

Max memory speed (JEDEC)

What it is: The highest official RAM speed the processor supports under standard JEDEC settings, before any memory overclocking profiles are applied.

When it matters: When officially supported stock RAM speed matters more than XMP, EXPO, or manual memory tuning.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5600 MHz

Max memory speed (XMP / EXPO)

What it is: The highest memory speed supported through XMP or EXPO profiles.

When it matters: When you want faster RAM through memory profiles.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5200 MHz

Maximum memory capacity

What it is: The largest total amount of memory officially supported by the processor.

When it matters: When you plan a system with very large RAM capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

Integrated Graphics

8.0

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Integrated graphics

What it is: Includes built-in graphics, so the system can output video without a separate graphics card.

When it matters: When you want the PC to work without a dedicated GPU, or you are building an office, media, compact, or troubleshooting-friendly system.

Importance: HIGH

Integrated GPU model

What it is: The model name of the integrated graphics processor, if present.

When it matters: When you plan to use the CPU's built-in graphics.

Importance: MEDIUM

Integrated GPU execution units

What it is: The number of execution units available in the integrated graphics part of the processor.

When it matters: When you plan to rely on built-in graphics and want a better sense of its light gaming, display, or media capability.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=24

Integrated GPU base frequency

What it is: The base operating frequency of the integrated GPU.

When it matters: When integrated graphics performance matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=350 MHz

Integrated media encoders/decoders

What it is: The hardware media formats the processor can encode or decode directly.

When it matters: When you stream, edit video, or rely on hardware media acceleration.

Importance: LOW

Power & Thermal

6.4

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TDP (Thermal design power)

What it is: The rated thermal design power, which gives a general idea of cooling and power needs.

When it matters: When you choose a cooler or build in a tighter case.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <30 W

Base power (PL1)

What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.

When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <30 W

Boost power (PL2)

What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.

When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <50 W

Tau (power duration limit)

What it is: The time limit the CPU can stay at higher boost power before dropping toward sustained power.

When it matters: When you want to understand turbo behavior under longer loads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=28 s

Configurable TDP

What it is: Allows the processor to run in alternate power modes instead of being fixed to one default TDP target.

When it matters: When you want more control over heat, noise, and power draw in compact systems, quieter builds, or thermally limited machines.

Importance: LOW

Intel Core i5 8420 vs the average processor

Why is Intel Core i5 8420 better than the average processor?

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Includes stock cooler
Intel Core i5 8420 includes a stock cooler, the average processor does not.
What it is: A stock CPU cooler is included in the box with the processor.
When it matters: When total build cost matters and you need to know whether separate cooling must be bought right away.
Importance: MEDIUM
Intel Core i5 8420 includes a stock cooler, the average processor does not.
Supports memory overclocking
Intel Core i5 8420 supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
What it is: Allows memory speeds beyond official stock settings through manual tuning or profile-based overclocking.
When it matters: When you want to push RAM performance higher than stock support allows, especially in enthusiast or gaming builds.
Importance: MEDIUM
Intel Core i5 8420 supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
Modern CPU socket
Intel Core i5 8420 uses a more modern CPU socket than the average processor (LGA1,151 vs FP2).
What it is: The physical socket the processor fits into on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need to make sure the CPU can actually be installed on a specific motherboard.
Importance: HIGH
Intel Core i5 8420 uses a more modern CPU socket than the average processor (LGA1,151 vs FP2).LGA1151 vs FP2
Modern CPU socket
Intel Core i5 8420 uses a more modern CPU socket than the average processor (LGA1,151 vs FP2).
Supports memory overclocking
Intel Core i5 8420 supports memory overclocking, the average processor does not.
Includes stock cooler
Intel Core i5 8420 includes a stock cooler, the average processor does not.

Why is Intel Core i5 8420 worse than the average processor?

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No crypto acceleration
Intel Core i5 8420 does not include crypto acceleration, the average processor does.
2 year/s older release date
Intel Core i5 8420 has an older release date than the average processor (2,018 vs 2,020).
January 2018
No multithreading support
Intel Core i5 8420 does not support multithreading, the average processor does.
4.7% lower boost clock
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (4.1 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
1 fewer threads per core
Intel Core i5 8420 has fewer threads per core than the average processor (1 vs 2). The average processor offers 2 threads per core.
2 fewer CPU threads
Intel Core i5 8420 has fewer CPU threads than the average processor (6 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
16.7% larger process node
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
50% less L2 per core
Intel Core i5 8420 has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
12.5% less L3 per core
Intel Core i5 8420 has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
40% smaller L2 cache
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
9.1% lower memory speed
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower maximum memory speed than the average processor (2,666 MHz vs 2,933 MHz). The average processor supports memory speed of 2,933 MHz.
44.4% higher base power
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher base power draw than the average processor (65 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
No configurable TDP
Intel Core i5 8420 does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
44.4% higher TDP
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher TDP than the average processor (65 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
No multithreading support
Intel Core i5 8420 does not support multithreading, the average processor does.
What it is: Lets each physical core run more than one thread at the same time, such as with Hyper-Threading or SMT.
When it matters: When multitasking, rendering, compiling, virtualization, or other thread-heavy work benefits from more total processing threads.
Importance: HIGH
Intel Core i5 8420 does not support multithreading, the average processor does.
16.7% larger process node
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
What it is: The manufacturing process node used to produce the processor, usually expressed in nanometers.
When it matters: When efficiency, heat, and the relative modernity of the chip-making process matter to your comparison.
Importance: HIGH
Good value: <10 nm
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.14 nm vs 12 nm
44.4% higher base power
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher base power draw than the average processor (65 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.
Importance: MEDIUM
Good value: <30 W
Intel Core i5 8420 has a higher base power draw than the average processor (65 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.65 W vs 45 W
50% less L2 per core
Intel Core i5 8420 has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
What it is: The amount of L2 cache available to each CPU core.
When it matters: When you are comparing per-core cache resources in deeper architectural analysis.
Importance: LOW
Good value: >=1 MB/core
Intel Core i5 8420 has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.0.25 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core
No configurable TDP
Intel Core i5 8420 does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
What it is: Allows the processor to run in alternate power modes instead of being fixed to one default TDP target.
When it matters: When you want more control over heat, noise, and power draw in compact systems, quieter builds, or thermally limited machines.
Importance: LOW
Intel Core i5 8420 does not support configurable TDP, the average processor does.
12.5% less L3 per core
Intel Core i5 8420 has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
What it is: The amount of L3 cache effectively available per CPU core.
When it matters: When you are comparing how much shared cache each core can draw on in deeper technical analysis.
Importance: MEDIUM
Good value: >=2 MB/core
Intel Core i5 8420 has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.1.5 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core
4.7% lower boost clock
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (4.1 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.
Importance: HIGH
Good value: >4.7 GHz
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (4.1 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.4.1 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
40% smaller L2 cache
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
What it is: The total amount of L2 cache available across the processor.
When it matters: When you want to compare CPU design efficiency and how much fast intermediate cache the cores have available.
Importance: MEDIUM
Good value: >=6 MB
Intel Core i5 8420 has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.1.5 MB vs 2.5 MB

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Intel Core i5 8420?

Six physical cores provide a significant performance boost for multitasking and production tasks compared to previous quad-core generations.
Excellent value for budget-conscious builds, especially when sourced as a used or recycled office PC component.
Energy-efficient 65W TDP allows for cool operation and compatibility with quieter, less expensive cooling solutions.
Stable performance for everyday office tasks, video streaming, and basic productivity work.
Includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, which supports multi-monitor setups and basic gaming without a dedicated GPU.

What customers dislike about Intel Core i5 8420?

Lacks Hyper-Threading (6 cores / 6 threads), which limits its effectiveness in heavily multi-threaded professional applications.
Locked multiplier prevents overclocking, capping its performance growth and potential lifespan for enthusiasts.
Can create a bottleneck when paired with modern, high-end graphics cards, leading to frame rate drops or lag in demanding games.
Requires a 300-series motherboard; it is not backward compatible with older LGA 1151 motherboards despite having the same socket size.
Struggles with modern AAA titles (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077) and complex rendering tasks compared to newer CPU generations.

Expert reviews

intel.com

13/11/2018

Intel Core Processors i5-8400, i5-8400T, i5-8420, i5-8420T, i5 ... | Intel Official MDDS Data

The Intel Material Declaration Data Sheet (MDDS) covers 8th and 9th Generation "Coffee Lake" and "Coffee Lake Refresh" desktop processors (i5/i7 models) built on 14nm lithography. These processors offer increased core counts (up to 6 cores), robust single-core performance, and integrated UHD 630 graphics. Key pros include improved multi-media performance, support for DDR4-2666, and...Read more

laptopmedia.com

01/11/2022

HP EliteBook 840 G9 Review (Includes i5-8420 in business laptop spec lists). Interested in reviews for the nearly identical i5-8400, which was widely...

The HP EliteBook 840 G9 is a high-end 14-inch business laptop featuring a lightweight all-aluminum chassis, notable for its exceptional upgradeability with two SODIMM slots (supporting up to 64GB DDR5) and an M.2 Gen 4 slot. Its input devices are a key advantage, offering a tactile, spill-resistant keyboard and a precise glass touchpad. The 16:10 WUXGA IPS display boasts high...Read more

Intel Core i5 8420 Review | 78 Data compared

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Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i5 8420

Intel Core i5 8420 vs the average processor

Why is Intel Core i5 8420 better than the average processor?

Why is Intel Core i5 8420 worse than the average processor?

Graphic comparison of Intel Core i5 8420 and other processors

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Intel Core i5 8420?

What customers dislike about Intel Core i5 8420?

Expert reviews

Best alternatives

Compare Intel Core i5 8420 with other processors