Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i5-7400

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i5-7400 and decide which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, programming, video editing, streaming. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as 7zip, Gears 5, SuperPi, Prime95, Blender, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, 3DMark, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Furmark, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-7400 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 i5-7400

51%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6400

51%

Core i5-7400

51%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.3	91.4
Valorant	103.7	103.9
Cyberpunk 2077	58.1	58.2
Apex Legends	97.5	97.6
Call of Duty Warzone	77.8	77.9
Overwatch	84.0	84.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.6	71.7
DOOM Eternal	51.9	51.9
Warzone	80.9	81.0
Assassin's Creed	87.1	87.3
Valheim	86.1	86.2

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 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 i5-7400

49%

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. 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. Because 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 i5-6400	Intel Core i5-7400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	140	149
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	497	564
Cinbench 20 Single-core	275	345
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1061	1266
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1001	820
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3997	2853

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

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i5-7400
Single-Core	1957	2131
Multi-Core	5167	5499

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

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i5-7400
Single-Core	959	959
Multi-Core	3221	3349

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even 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 i5-6400	Intel Core i5-7400
Announcement date	April 01, 2015	January 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA 1151	FCLGA1151
Core name	Skylake	Kaby Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	7
Turbo Frequency	3.3 MHz	3.5 MHz
Frequency	2.7 MHz	3 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	2460 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4-2133/2400, 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	6 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
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 i5-7400 is 9% 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 i5-7400 is better: 21
However, it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-6400 and Intel Core i5-7400 before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-6400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-7400 specs and review.