Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i5-6400

Processor comparisons   18-02-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Core i5-6400 tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, rendering, programming, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like VeraCrypt, WPrime, SuperPi, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, Furmark, Blender, PCMark 10, PassMark, Prime95, Handbrake, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Halo Infinite
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Fallout 76
Borderlands 3
Valorant
Red Dead Redemption 2
Grand Theft Auto V
Cyberpunk 2077
Last Man Standing
DOOM: Eternal
Valheim
Death Stranding
Apex Legends
Overwatch
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Fortnite
Watch Dogs Legion
Rainbow Six Siege

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-6400 or Intel Core i3-7350K.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-7350K

51%

Core i5-6400

51%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-7350K

51%

Core i5-6400

51%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	90.6	91.3
Valorant	102.9	103.7
Cyberpunk 2077	57.6	58.1
Apex Legends	96.8	97.5
Call of Duty Warzone	77.2	77.8
Overwatch	83.4	84.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.0	71.6
DOOM Eternal	51.5	51.9
Warzone	80.3	80.9
Assassin's Creed	86.5	87.1
Valheim	85.4	86.1

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-7350K

62%

Core i5-6400

49%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-7350K is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6400 as it consumes less power: 60W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-7350K	Intel Core i5-6400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	181	140
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	458	497
Cinbench 20 Single-core	370	275
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	874	1061
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1251	1001
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3136	3997

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-7350K	Intel Core i5-6400
Single-Core	2467	1957
Multi-Core	4831	5167

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-7350K	Intel Core i5-6400
Single-Core	1122	959
Multi-Core	2531	3221

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-7350K	Intel Core i5-6400
Announcement date	March 21, 2017	April 01, 2015
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	LGA 1151
Core name	Kaby Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	7	6
Turbo Frequency		3.3 MHz
Frequency	4.2 MHz	2.7 MHz
Cores	2	4
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	2460 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	60 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth		34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	4 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-7350K is 35% better than Core i5-6400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-6400 has 2 more core than Core i3-7350K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-7350K is better: 10
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-6400 is better: 21
All the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-7350K and Intel Core i5-6400 before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-7350K - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-7350K specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-6400 specs and review.