Intel Core i5-8400 vs Intel Core i5-6500

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-8400 vs Intel Core i5-6500 tests and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, machine learning, rendering, streaming, programming. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as PassMark, VeraCrypt, RealBench, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, WPrime, Handbrake, Blender, PCMark 10, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, Gears 5, Blender, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, 7zip, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-6500 or Intel Core i5-8400.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-8400

52%

Core i5-6500

51%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-8400 is 1% better than Core i5-6500. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-8400

53%

Core i5-6500

51%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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 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: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.5	91.4
Valorant	106.3	103.9
Cyberpunk 2077	59.5	58.2
Apex Legends	99.9	97.6
Call of Duty Warzone	79.7	77.9
Overwatch	86.1	84.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.3	71.7
DOOM Eternal	53.1	51.9
Warzone	82.9	81.0
Assassin's Creed	89.3	87.3
Valheim	88.2	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 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-8400

56%

Core i5-6500

51%

To make a final resolution 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 i5-8400 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6500 as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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 video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i5-6500
Cinbench 15 Single-core	161	153
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	954	565
Cinbench 20 Single-core	411	354
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2291	1299
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1023	842
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	5457	2928

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

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i5-6500
Single-Core	2442	2149
Multi-Core	9262	5644

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

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i5-6500
Single-Core	1106	1004
Multi-Core	5408	3346

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i5-6500
Announcement date	October 01, 2017	April 01, 2015
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	LGA 1151
Core name	Coffee Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	8	6
Turbo Frequency	4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Frequency	2.8 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	6	4
Threads	6	4
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2470 millions	1760 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	9 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 i5-6500 is 12% better than Core i5-8400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-8400 has 2 more core than Core i5-6500. 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 i5-8400 is better: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-6500 is better: 1
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-8400 and Intel Core i5-6500 before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-8400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-6500 specs and review.