Intel Core i5-9400 vs Intel Core i5-9400F

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-9400 vs Intel Core i5-9400F and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming, programming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like 7zip, Furmark, WPrime, PCMark 10, Handbrake, 3DMark, Blender, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, PassMark, AIDA64, RealBench, Gears 5, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-9400F or Intel Core i5-9400.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-9400

52%

Core i5-9400F

52%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-9400

53%

Core i5-9400F

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.5	93.5
Valorant	106.3	106.2
Cyberpunk 2077	59.5	59.5
Apex Legends	99.9	99.8
Call of Duty Warzone	79.7	79.7
Overwatch	86.1	86.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.3	73.3
DOOM Eternal	53.1	53.1
Warzone	82.9	82.8
Assassin's Creed	89.3	89.2
Valheim	88.2	88.2

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 i5-9400

56%

Core i5-9400F

51%

To make a final choice 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 i5-9400 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-9400F as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software 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 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 i5-9400	Intel Core i5-9400F
Cinbench 15 Single-core	177	177
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	987	987
Cinbench 20 Single-core	403	423
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2284	2407
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1051	1115
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	5606	4981

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

	Intel Core i5-9400	Intel Core i5-9400F
Single-Core	2474	2464
Multi-Core	9515	9559

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

	Intel Core i5-9400	Intel Core i5-9400F
Single-Core	1107	1001
Multi-Core	5420	5360

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 you. 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 even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-9400	Intel Core i5-9400F
Announcement date	January 01, 2019	January 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop, Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Coffee Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	9
Turbo Frequency	4.1 MHz	4.1 MHz
Frequency	2.9 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	6	6
Threads	6	6
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	3600 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 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	9 MB	9 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. 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 i5-9400 is better: 9
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-9400F is better: 4
However, it should be understood 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 figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-9400 and Intel Core i5-9400F before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-9400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-9400F specs and review.