Intel Core i5-10400F vs Intel Core i9-9900K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-10400F vs Intel Core i9-9900K and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering, streaming. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, Blender, Prime95, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, RealBench, 7zip, MATLAB, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, Furmark, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, PassMark, AIDA64, Gears 5, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900K or Intel Core i5-10400F.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-10400F

53%

Core i9-9900K

55%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-9900K is 3% better than Core i5-10400F. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-10400F

53%

Core i9-9900K

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.6	98.2
Valorant	107.5	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	60.2	62.5
Apex Legends	101.0	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	80.6	83.7
Overwatch	87.0	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.1	77.0
DOOM Eternal	53.7	55.8
Warzone	83.8	87.0
Assassin's Creed	90.3	93.7
Valheim	89.2	92.6

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, 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 i5-10400F

58%

Core i9-9900K

45%

To make a final resolution 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 i5-10400F is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900K since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that 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 i5-10400F	Intel Core i9-9900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	190	219
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1341	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	450	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3197	4995
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1110	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7610	12450

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

	Intel Core i5-10400F	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	2608	2947
Multi-Core	12648	18753

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

	Intel Core i5-10400F	Intel Core i9-9900K
Single-Core	1150	1301
Multi-Core	6428	9986

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-10400F	Intel Core i9-9900K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Comet Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	9
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	2.9 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	6	8
Threads	12	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	4800 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9900K is 19% better than Core i5-10400F in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9900K has 2 more core than Core i5-10400F. 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 i5-10400F is better: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900K is better: 27
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Core i9-9900K before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-10400F specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9900K specs and review.