Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i5-9400

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i5-9400 and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Blender, RealBench, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, WPrime, 7zip, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, UserBenchmark, Handbrake, PassMark, Blender, PCMark 10.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-9400 or Intel Core i3-9350K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i3-9350K

52%

Core i5-9400

52%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-9350K

52%

Core i5-9400

53%

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 run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.2	93.5
Valorant	105.9	106.3
Cyberpunk 2077	59.3	59.5
Apex Legends	99.5	99.9
Call of Duty Warzone	79.4	79.7
Overwatch	85.7	86.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.0	73.3
DOOM Eternal	52.9	53.1
Warzone	82.6	82.9
Assassin's Creed	88.9	89.3
Valheim	87.9	88.2

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i3-9350K

45%

Core i5-9400

56%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-9400 is more energy efficient than the Core i3-9350K since it has less power consumption: 91W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. 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. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 i3-9350K	Intel Core i5-9400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	165	177
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	832	987
Cinbench 20 Single-core	476	403
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1833	2284
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1000	1051
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3885	5606

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

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i5-9400
Single-Core	2875	2474
Multi-Core	7773	9515

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

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i5-9400
Single-Core	1254	1107
Multi-Core	5053	5420

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-9350K	Intel Core i5-9400
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	January 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Coffee Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.1 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	4	6
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2400 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	91 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	8 MB	9 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-9350K is 27% better than Core i5-9400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-9400 has 2 more core than Core i3-9350K. 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 i3-9350K is better: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-9400 is better: 25
However, it should be realized that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i3-9350K and Intel Core i5-9400 before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i3-9350K specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-9400 specs and review.