Core i5-14400 vs Core i9-9920X

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-14400

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $968 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 445.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.6 vs 21.0 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i9-9920X

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,974 vs 25,329).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.0 vs 114.6 PassMark/$ ($1,189 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-14400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-14400

2024

Core i9-9920X

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $968 less on MSRP ($221 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 445.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.6 vs 21.0 PassMark/$ ($221 MSRP vs $1,189 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (24,974 vs 25,329).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.0 vs 114.6 PassMark/$ ($1,189 MSRP vs $221 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-14400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-14400 better than Core i9-9920X?

Yes. Core i5-14400 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-14400 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-14400 is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-14400 is the smarter buy today. Core i5-14400 is $968 cheaper on MSRP at $221 MSRP versus $1,189 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 445.7% better value on MSRP (114.6 vs 21.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-14400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 12/24. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-14400 Benchmark Check

Core i9-9920X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-14400	Core i9-9920X
1080p
low	170 FPS	173 FPS
medium	154 FPS	150 FPS
high	126 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	145 FPS
medium	126 FPS	122 FPS
high	100 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	77 FPS
medium	76 FPS	70 FPS
high	61 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i5-14400 Open Core i9-9920X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-14400	Core i9-9920X
1080p
low	548 FPS	508 FPS
medium	466 FPS	437 FPS
high	390 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	354 FPS	339 FPS
1440p
low	457 FPS	438 FPS
medium	402 FPS	385 FPS
high	345 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	288 FPS
4K
low	275 FPS	271 FPS
medium	244 FPS	237 FPS
high	229 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	202 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i5-14400 Open Core i9-9920X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-14400	Core i9-9920X
1080p
low	633 FPS	624 FPS
medium	610 FPS	547 FPS
high	540 FPS	499 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	435 FPS
1440p
low	633 FPS	577 FPS
medium	548 FPS	487 FPS
high	479 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	494 FPS	444 FPS
medium	412 FPS	364 FPS
high	370 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	268 FPS

Open Core i5-14400 Open Core i9-9920X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-14400	Core i9-9920X
1080p
low	633 FPS	624 FPS
medium	633 FPS	624 FPS
high	633 FPS	624 FPS
ultra	596 FPS	624 FPS
1440p
low	633 FPS	624 FPS
medium	633 FPS	624 FPS
high	565 FPS	624 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	620 FPS
4K
low	515 FPS	624 FPS
medium	471 FPS	582 FPS
high	418 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	363 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-14400 Open Core i9-9920X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-14400 and Core i9-9920X

Core i5-14400

The Core i5-14400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 25,329 points. Launch price was $221.

Core i9-9920X

The Core i9-9920X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 24,974 points. Launch price was $1,189.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-14400 packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-9920X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-9920X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i5-14400 versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9920X — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-14400 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-14400 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-9920X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-14400 scores 25,329 against the Core i9-9920X's 24,974 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i5-14400. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-14400 vs 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9920X.

Feature	Core i5-14400	Core i9-9920X
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	12 / 24+20%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+4%	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+4%	19.25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	25,329+1%	24,974

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-14400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-9920X uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-14400	Core i9-9920X
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0

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Value Analysis

The Core i5-14400 launched at $221 MSRP, while the Core i9-9920X debuted at $1189. On MSRP ($221 vs $1189), the Core i5-14400 is $968 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-14400 delivers 114.6 pts/$ vs 21.0 pts/$ for the Core i9-9920X — making the Core i5-14400 the 138% better value option.