Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i3-9100F

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the full tests Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i3-9100F and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, video editing, streaming, programming. Here you can find useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as VeraCrypt, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Gears 5, WPrime, SuperPi, Handbrake, PCMark 10, Furmark, Prime95, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, Blender, UserBenchmark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-9100F or Intel Core i5-6400.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-6400

51%

Core i3-9100F

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-9100F is 1% better than Core i5-6400. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6400

51%

Core i3-9100F

52%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low 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: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.3	91.8
Valorant	103.7	104.4
Cyberpunk 2077	58.1	58.4
Apex Legends	97.5	98.1
Call of Duty Warzone	77.8	78.3
Overwatch	84.0	84.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.6	72.0
DOOM Eternal	51.9	52.2
Warzone	80.9	81.4
Assassin's Creed	87.1	87.7
Valheim	86.1	86.6

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. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-6400

49%

Core i3-9100F

57%

To make a finishing 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 i3-9100F is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6400 as it consumes less power: 65W 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, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 benefit 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 i5-6400	Intel Core i3-9100F
Cinbench 15 Single-core	140	168
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	497	660
Cinbench 20 Single-core	275	445
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1061	1630
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1001	877
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3997	3405

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

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i3-9100F
Single-Core	1957	2502
Multi-Core	5167	6813

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

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i3-9100F
Single-Core	959	1130
Multi-Core	3221	3769

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 newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i3-9100F
Announcement date	April 01, 2015	April 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA 1151	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Skylake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	9
Turbo Frequency	3.3 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.7 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	2400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4-2400
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	Yes
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i3-9100F is 25% better than Core i5-6400 in terms of CPU frequency. 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 i5-6400 is better: 3
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-9100F is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the number 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 the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-6400 and Intel Core i3-9100F before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-6400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i3-9100F specs and review.