Core i5-9400 vs Core i3-1125G4
Core i5-9400
Core i3-1125G4
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9400
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1125G4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9400 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9400 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-9400 and Core i3-1125G4
Core i5-9400
The Core i5-9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 9,372 points. Launch price was $182.
Core i3-1125G4
The Core i3-1125G4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1449. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,284 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Core i5-9400 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i3-1125G4 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-9400 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9400 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-1125G4 — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-9400 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-1125G4 uses Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400 scores 9,372 against the Core i3-1125G4's 9,284 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-9400. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-1125G4.
| Feature | Core i5-9400 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+11% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+45% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total)+13% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm SuperFin-29% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 9,372 | 9,284 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 5,112 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,560 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,770 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-9400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-1125G4 uses FCBGA1449 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i5-9400 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i5-9400 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1449 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i3-1125G4 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9400) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1125G4). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-9400) and UHD Graphics (48 EU) (Core i3-1125G4) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400 targets Desktop, Core i3-1125G4 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i3-1125G4 rivals Ryzen 3 5300U.
| Feature | Core i5-9400 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics (48 EU) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Desktop | Productivity |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-9400 and Core i3-1125G4
