
Xeon D-1557 vs Core i5-9400

Xeon D-1557

Core i5-9400
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. The Xeon D-1557 is positioned at rank #303 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Xeon D-1557
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon D-1557 | Core i5-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon D-1557 | Core i5-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
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 Xeon D-1557 and Core i5-9400

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.

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.
Processing Power
The Xeon D-1557 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i5-9400 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Xeon D-1557 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Xeon D-1557 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9400 — a 64.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon D-1557 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-9400 uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon D-1557 scores 9,285 against the Core i5-9400's 9,372 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-9400. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1557 vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400.
| Feature | Xeon D-1557 | Core i5-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24+100% | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 4.1 GHz+95% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.9 GHz+93% |
| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 9 MB (total)+500% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,285 | 9,372 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon D-1557 uses the FCBGA1667 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-9400 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon D-1557 | Core i5-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1667 | LGA1151 |
| 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: not specified (Xeon D-1557) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-9400). 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 | Xeon D-1557 | Core i5-9400 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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