Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 1400

Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 1400 Performance Spectrum

Core i5-9400H

4 / 8

7,794

+0.8%

7,731

0.0%

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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.

Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 1400 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 1400: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-9400H

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 1400 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
7.7% HIGHER MSRP
$182 MSRPvs$169 MSRP

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $13 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,731 vs 7,794).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-9400H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-9400H better than Ryzen 5 1400?

Yes. Core i5-9400H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-9400H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% 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 i5-9400H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-9400H is still the better call for a fresh build. Core i5-9400H comes in 7.7% more expensive on MSRP at $182 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 1400 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 7,731 PassMark with 4 cores and 8 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

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

Core i5-9400H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-9400H vs Ryzen 5 1400 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-9400H

The Core i5-9400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,794 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 1400

The Ryzen 5 1400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,731 points. Launch price was $169.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-9400H and Ryzen 5 1400 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-9400H versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1400 — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-9400H uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1400 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400H scores 7,794 against the Ryzen 5 1400's 7,731 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-9400H. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9400H vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1400.

Feature	Core i5-9400H	Ryzen 5 1400
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+26%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	7,794	7,731
Geekbench 6 Single	1,341	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9400H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 1400 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i5-9400H supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-9400H) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 1400) — the Ryzen 5 1400 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM370,QM370 (Core i5-9400H) and AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 1400).

Feature	Core i5-9400H	Ryzen 5 1400
Socket	BGA1440	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9400H) / not specified (Ryzen 5 1400). The Core i5-9400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 1400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.

Feature	Core i5-9400H	Ryzen 5 1400
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	High Performance Laptop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-9400H was priced at $182, while the Ryzen 5 1400 came in at $169. On launch pricing ($182 vs $169), Ryzen 5 1400 was $13 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-9400H delivers 42.8 pts/$ vs 45.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1400 — making the Ryzen 5 1400 the 6.6% better value option.

Feature	Core i5-9400H	Ryzen 5 1400
MSRP	$182	$169-7%
Performance per Dollar	42.8	45.7+7%
Release Date	2019	2017

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