Intel Core i5-8400 vs Intel Core i7-7700K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-8400 vs Intel Core i7-7700K and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, programming, machine learning, video editing, streaming. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, Gears 5, 7zip, PassMark, Blender, Prime95, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, RealBench, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-7700K 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 i7-7700K

52%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-8400

53%

Core i7-7700K

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.5	93.7
Valorant	106.3	106.5
Cyberpunk 2077	59.5	59.7
Apex Legends	99.9	100.1
Call of Duty Warzone	79.7	79.9
Overwatch	86.1	86.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.3	73.5
DOOM Eternal	53.1	53.3
Warzone	82.9	83.1
Assassin's Creed	89.3	89.5
Valheim	88.2	88.4

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-8400

56%

Core i7-7700K

49%

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 i7-7700K as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn 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. Because there are still many programs that 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 i7-7700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	161	200
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	954	995
Cinbench 20 Single-core	411	466
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2291	2257
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1023	1216
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	5457	6055

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

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i7-7700K
Single-Core	2442	2791
Multi-Core	9262	9750

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

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i7-7700K
Single-Core	1106	1412
Multi-Core	5408	5637

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-8400	Intel Core i7-7700K
Announcement date	October 01, 2017	October 01, 2016
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	LGA 1151
Core name	Coffee Lake	Kaby Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	8	7
Turbo Frequency	4 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	2.8 MHz	4.2 MHz
Cores	6	4
Threads	6	8
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	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	9 MB	8 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 i7-7700K is 33% better than Core i5-8400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-8400 has 2 more core than Core i7-7700K. 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: 9
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-7700K is better: 23
However, it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i5-8400 and Intel Core i7-7700K before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-8400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-7700K specs and review.