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 i5-9400F

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $488 less on MSRP ($182 MSRP vs $670 MSRP).
✅Delivers 271.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 52.0 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $670 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (9 MB vs 12 MB).

Core i7-4930K

2013

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 9 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-9400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,379 vs 9,462).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 52.0 PassMark/$ ($670 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.

Core i5-9400F

2019

Core i7-4930K

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $488 less on MSRP ($182 MSRP vs $670 MSRP).
✅Delivers 271.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 52.0 vs 14.0 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $670 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 9 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (9 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-9400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,379 vs 9,462).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 52.0 PassMark/$ ($670 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-9400F better than Core i7-4930K?

Yes. Core i5-9400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 12.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.9% 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 i5-9400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 12.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9400F is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads.

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

Core i5-9400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-9400F is $488 cheaper on MSRP at $182 MSRP versus $670 MSRP, and it gives you a 12.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 271.4% better value on MSRP (52.0 vs 14.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-9400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 6 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i5-9400F Benchmark Check

Core i7-4930K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
1080p
low	179 FPS	168 FPS
medium	144 FPS	144 FPS
high	115 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	152 FPS	141 FPS
medium	122 FPS	118 FPS
high	96 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	64 FPS
medium	61 FPS	57 FPS
high	48 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-9400F Open Core i7-4930K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
1080p
low	237 FPS	212 FPS
medium	237 FPS	186 FPS
high	237 FPS	171 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	237 FPS	189 FPS
medium	237 FPS	164 FPS
high	226 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	202 FPS	128 FPS
4K
low	237 FPS	163 FPS
medium	216 FPS	143 FPS
high	196 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	95 FPS

Open Core i5-9400F Open Core i7-4930K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
1080p
low	237 FPS	234 FPS
medium	237 FPS	234 FPS
high	237 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	234 FPS
1440p
low	237 FPS	234 FPS
medium	237 FPS	234 FPS
high	237 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	234 FPS
4K
low	237 FPS	234 FPS
medium	226 FPS	234 FPS
high	192 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-9400F Open Core i7-4930K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
1080p
low	237 FPS	234 FPS
medium	237 FPS	234 FPS
high	237 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	234 FPS
1440p
low	237 FPS	234 FPS
medium	237 FPS	234 FPS
high	237 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	234 FPS
4K
low	237 FPS	234 FPS
medium	237 FPS	234 FPS
high	237 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-9400F Open Core i7-4930K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-9400F and Core i7-4930K

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 i7-4930K

The Core i7-4930K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,379 points. Launch price was $670.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-9400F packs 6 cores / 6 threads, matching the Core i7-4930K's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9400F versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-4930K — a 5% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-9400F uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4930K uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400F scores 9,462 against the Core i7-4930K's 9,379 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-9400F. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-4930K.

Feature	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
Cores / Threads	6 / 6	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+5%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.4 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)	12 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Ivy Bridge-E (2013)
PassMark	9,462	9,379

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9400F uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4930K uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
Socket	LGA1151	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9400F) / not specified (Core i7-4930K). Primary use case: Core i5-9400F targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i5-9400F	Core i7-4930K
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-9400F launched at $182 MSRP, while the Core i7-4930K debuted at $670. On MSRP ($182 vs $670), the Core i5-9400F is $488 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-9400F delivers 52.0 pts/$ vs 14.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-4930K — making the Core i5-9400F the 115.1% better value option.