Intel Core i5-9600K vs Intel Core i5-10400

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say there are difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-9600K vs Intel Core i5-10400 and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here is all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, WPrime, 7zip, Furmark, Blender, SuperPi, PassMark, Blender, Gears 5, 3DMark, PCMark 10, Handbrake, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-10400 or Intel Core i5-9600K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-9600K

53%

Core i5-10400

53%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-9600K

53%

Core i5-10400

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.5	94.8
Valorant	107.4	107.7
Cyberpunk 2077	60.1	60.3
Apex Legends	101.0	101.2
Call of Duty Warzone	80.6	80.8
Overwatch	87.0	87.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.1	74.3
DOOM Eternal	53.7	53.9
Warzone	83.8	84.0
Assassin's Creed	90.2	90.5
Valheim	89.1	89.4

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 computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD 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 i5-9600K

48%

Core i5-10400

63%

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 i5-10400 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-9600K as it consumes less power: 95W 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether 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 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 i5-9600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	204	190
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1165	1341
Cinbench 20 Single-core	481	450
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2624	3197
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1276	1110
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7301	7610

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

	Intel Core i5-9600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Single-Core	2761	2626
Multi-Core	10894	12503

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

	Intel Core i5-9600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Single-Core	1396	1245
Multi-Core	6386	6654

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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. If 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 savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-9600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA1200
Core name	Coffee Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	10
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	6	6
Threads	6	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	3600 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	95 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	12 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 i5-9600K is 21% better than Core i5-10400 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 i5-9600K is better: 8
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10400 is better: 21
However, it should be realized that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-9600K and Intel Core i5-10400 before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-9600K specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-10400 specs and review.