Core i5-9400F vs Core i5-10400F
Core i5-9400F
Core i5-10400F
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 i5-9400F
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400F
Why is Core i5-10400F better than Core i5-9400F?
The Core i5-9400F and i5-10400F represent the transition to Intel's 10th-gen platform, which brought a major feature: Hyper-Threading. The i5-10400F featured 6 cores and 12 threads, compared to the 6 cores and 6 threads of the 9400F. This change leads to significantly better performance in multi-threaded games and multitasking, often providing a 15-20% boost in overall smoothness and 1% lows.
While the i5-9400F is still a capable entry-level gaming CPU for moderate titles, the i5-10400F is far better equipped for modern AAA games that crave more than 6 threads. For users on an older LGA 1151 rig, the jump to the LGA 1200 platform with the 10400F is a meaningful upgrade that provides much-needed multi-threaded breathing room for a smoother gaming experience in 2024 and beyond.
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
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 i5-9400F and Core i5-10400F
Core i5-9400F
The Core i5-9400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) 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: 9,462 points. Launch price was $182.
Core i5-10400F
The Core i5-10400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,029 points. Launch price was $155.
Processing Power
The Core i5-9400F packs 6 cores / 6 threads, matching the Core i5-10400F's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 4.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-9400F uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400F scores 9,462 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 31.7% lead for the Core i5-10400F. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.
| Feature | Core i5-9400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.3 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 9,462 | 13,029+38% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,191 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,454 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,783 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-9400F uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i5-9400F) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).
| Feature | Core i5-9400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-9400F targets Desktop, Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Core i5-9400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-9400F launched at $182 MSRP, while the Core i5-10400F debuted at $160. At current prices ($80 vs $102), the Core i5-9400F is $22 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-9400F delivers 118.3 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 7.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-9400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $182 | $160-12% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-22% | $102 |
| Performance per Dollar | 118.3 | 127.7+8% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2020 |
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