Core i5-9400 vs Xeon D-1557
Core i5-9400
Xeon D-1557
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 Xeon D-1557
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9400 | Xeon D-1557 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9400 | Xeon D-1557 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon D-1557
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.
Xeon D-1557
The Xeon D-1557 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,285 points. Launch price was $694.
Processing Power
The Core i5-9400 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon D-1557 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon D-1557 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9400 versus 2.1 GHz on the Xeon D-1557 — a 64.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core i5-9400 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon D-1557 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400 scores 9,372 against the Xeon D-1557's 9,285 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-9400. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400 vs 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1557.
| Feature | Core i5-9400 | Xeon D-1557 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 12 / 24+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+95% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+93% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total)+500% | 1.5 MB (per core) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,372 | 9,285 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-9400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon D-1557 uses FCBGA1667 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-9400 | Xeon D-1557 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1667 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9400) / not specified (Xeon D-1557). The Core i5-9400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon D-1557 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-9400 | Xeon D-1557 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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