Core i5-9400vsRyzen Threadripper 7970X
The Core i5-9400 is a simple, low-power chip for everyday office or light gaming rigs, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a massive workstation monster built for heavy rendering and multi-tasking pros.
Core i5-9400
Coffee Lake · 14 nm · 2019
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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 heavy workloads, but the Core i5-9400 is a budget-friendly choice for basic tasks.
For budget buyers, the Core i5-9400 offers a lower-cost option, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is overkill for most price-conscious shoppers.
The weaker Core i5-9400 is the right pick for a simple office PC where extreme multi-core speed is unnecessary.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-9400 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 i5-9400 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i5-9400?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 900% faster than the Core i5-9400 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i5-9400 or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i5-9400 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.