Intel Core i7-9700K vs Intel Core i5-8400

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i7-9700K vs Intel Core i5-8400 tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, rendering, programming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful 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 joint testing in special testing software such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Blender, PCMark 10, AIDA64, Blender, Gears 5, MATLAB, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, PassMark, SuperPi, Prime95, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, VeraCrypt, WPrime, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-8400 or Intel Core i7-9700K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-9700K

54%

Core i5-8400

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-9700K is 3% better than Core i5-8400. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-9700K

54%

Core i5-8400

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 the cost of this processor reaches 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 final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Control, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.4	93.5
Valorant	109.5	106.3
Cyberpunk 2077	61.3	59.5
Apex Legends	103.0	99.9
Call of Duty Warzone	82.2	79.7
Overwatch	88.7	86.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.6	73.3
DOOM Eternal	54.8	53.1
Warzone	85.4	82.9
Assassin's Creed	92.0	89.3
Valheim	90.9	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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i7-9700K

46%

Core i5-8400

56%

To make a finishing 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 i7-9700K as it consumes less power: 95W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can 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 i7-9700K	Intel Core i5-8400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	214	161
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1520	954
Cinbench 20 Single-core	481	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3656	2291
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1246	1023
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	9214	5457

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

	Intel Core i7-9700K	Intel Core i5-8400
Single-Core	2879	2442
Multi-Core	14607	9262

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

	Intel Core i7-9700K	Intel Core i5-8400
Single-Core	1320	1106
Multi-Core	8237	5408

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-9700K	Intel Core i5-8400
Announcement date	October 01, 2018	October 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151-2	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Coffee Lake	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	8
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	4 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	8	6
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	5600 millions	2470 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	12 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. Here Core i7-9700K is 22% better than Core i5-8400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-9700K has 2 more core than Core i5-8400. 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 i7-9700K is better: 28
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-8400 is better: 2
Although it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i7-9700K and Intel Core i5-8400 before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i7-9700K specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-8400 specs and review.