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Overall rank

Core i5-9400

6 cores · 6 threads · up to 4.1 GHz on FCLGA1151.

4.1 · 103 votes

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Cores
6
Threads
6
Boost
4.1 GHz
L3 cache
9 MB
TDP
65W
Socket
FCLGA1151

Performance breakdown

Gaming6
Productivity6
Single-core6
Multi-core25
Power efficiency5

Lab scores

Performance score6
Cores6
Threads6
Boost clock (GHz)4.1 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p13 fps
1440p11 fps
4K7 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores
Architecture
Coffee Lake
Process node
14 nm
Socket
FCLGA1151
Release year
2019
Total cores
6
Threads
6
Integrated graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Clocks & cache
Base clock
2.9 GHz
Boost clock
4.1 GHz
Multiplier
29
L1 cache
384 KB
L2 cache
1.5 MB
L3 cache
9 MB
Memory & platform
Memory support
DDR4-2666
Max capacity
128 GB
Channels
2
Max bandwidth
42.671 GB/s
Base power (TDP)
65W
Max temperature
100°C
PCIe
PCIe 3.0
Launch price
$182
Technologies
Instruction sets
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
Extensions
AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d
Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners praise its solid everyday speed and low heat output. The usual gripe is the lack of hyperthreading, which limits multitasking performance.

Pros
  • Six cores handle games easily
  • Great for everyday multitasking
  • Stays cool with stock cooler
  • Works in cheap H310 boards
Cons
  • No overclocking support at all
  • Only six threads for multitasking
  • Locked to slower DDR4 memory
Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i5-9400

A solid six-core Coffee Lake chip for mainstream builds, held back by lacking hyper-threading in a multi-threaded era.

Get it if you need a no-fuss six-core for a basic office PC or light gaming and want something that runs cool and quiet. Skip it if you multitask heavily or edit video, because it lacks hyperthreading and newer chips offer much better performance.

Buy it if…

  • You need a solid, no-fuss CPU for a basic office PC.
  • You're building a budget gaming rig with a mid-range graphics card.
  • You want a reliable upgrade for an older LGA1151 motherboard.
4.1

103 votes

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