Core i5-8400vsRyzen Threadripper 7970X
The Intel Core i5-8400 is a sensible, everyday chip for a standard desktop PC, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a workstation monster for heavy multi-threaded tasks like 3D rendering or video encoding.
Core i5-8400
Coffee Lake-S · 14 nm · 2017
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Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023
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Overall Performance Score
A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.
Side-by-Side Specs
Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.
Which should you buy?
The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X wins overall for its vastly superior multi-core performance and modern design, leaving the Core i5-8400 far behind.
For budget buyers, the older Core i5-8400 is the smarter pick if you need a cheap, low-power chip for basic tasks.
Choose the Core i5-8400 when building an ultra-low-cost office PC where you don't need heavy processing power.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-8400 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 6 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-8400 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i5-8400?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 900% faster than the Core i5-8400 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i5-8400 or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i5-8400 is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.