Intel Core i5-10400F vs Intel Core i5-9600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-9600K and Intel Core i5-10400F are both six-core desktop processors, but they come from different generations and target different priorities. The 10400F wins 13 of the 19 head-to-head tests in the database, while the 9600K takes 6. The 9600K holds a slightly higher average benchmark score of 14605 against 14185, and a 69th percentile versus 68th, but the 10400F's extra threads and larger cache give it a clear lead in multi-threaded workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear split. The 10400F wins 13 of 19 tests, including every Cinebench benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 10283 against 9055, an 11.9% advantage. Single-core R23 is 1451 vs 1278, also 11.9%. The pattern holds across R15 and R20, with margins between 11.9% and 12.3%. The 10400F also leads in PassMark multithread (12115 vs 10636, 12.2%), integer math (41471 vs 29215, 29.6%), data compression (185944 vs 148639, 20.1%), data encryption (4100 vs 3269, 20.3%), random string sorting (23185 vs 18313, 21%), and floating point math (25956 vs 24913, 4%). Geekbench multi-core goes to the 10400F by 2.9% (6257 vs 6075). The 10400F's wins are not limited to multi-threaded tests; it also takes single-core Cinebench by similar margins, which is notable given the 9600K's higher boost clock.

The 9600K takes the remaining six tests. Its largest win is in find prime numbers, 43 vs 35, a 22.9% margin. It also wins Geekbench single-core (1559 vs 1420, 9.8%), PassMark single-thread (2727 vs 2541, 7.3%), physics (746 vs 696, 7.2%), and extended instructions (12914 vs 12500, 3.3%). These are all single-thread or specialized workloads.

The 10400F's advantage is most pronounced in integer and data-heavy tasks, while the 9600K holds a narrower edge in single-thread and instruction-specific tests. The 9600K's average benchmark score of 14605 is slightly higher than the 10400F's 14185, but the 10400F wins the majority of head-to-head comparisons.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process and share the same 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core. The 9600K is a Coffee Lake part on Socket 1151, while the 10400F is Comet Lake on Socket 1200. The 10400F has 12 threads versus 6, thanks to Hyper-Threading, and a larger 12 MB shared L3 cache versus 9 MB. The 9600K has higher base and boost clocks, 3.70 GHz and 4.60 GHz, compared to 2.90 GHz and 4.30 GHz. Despite the lower clocks, the 10400F wins all Cinebench single-core tests, indicating architectural improvements in Comet Lake. The 9600K's higher base clock of 3.70 GHz versus 2.90 GHz does not translate to a win in Cinebench single-core, where the 10400F leads by 12%. The 9600K has a 95W TDP, the 10400F a 65W TDP. The 9600K includes UHD 630 integrated graphics, the 10400F has none. The 9600K has an unlocked multiplier, the 10400F is locked. The 9600K is end-of-life, the 10400F is active. Release dates are 2018-10-18 and 2020-04-29. The 9600K is part of the Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation, while the 10400F is Core i5 (Comet Lake) and carries the Core 10th Gen series label.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-10400F has 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-9600K has 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The 9600K boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the 10400F boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The 10400F has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 9 MB on the 9600K.

Q: Which processor supports overclocking?

A: The 9600K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The 10400F has a locked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The 9600K includes Intel UHD 630 graphics. The 10400F does not have integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The 9600K has an average benchmark score of 14605, slightly above the 10400F's 14185. However, the 10400F wins 13 of 19 head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

| Feature | Intel Core i5-9600K | Intel Core i5-10400F |

|---------|---------------------|----------------------|

| Series | None | Core 10th Gen |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Comet Lake |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) | Core i5 (Comet Lake) |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 65 W |

| Threads | 6 | 12 |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD 630 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2018-10-18 | 2020-04-29 |

| Part Number | SR3WZ | SRH3DSRH79 |

Where Each One Wins

The 10400F is the better choice for multi-threaded workloads. It wins every Cinebench test, PassMark multithread, integer math, data compression, encryption, random string sorting, and floating point math. These results make it well suited for video encoding, 3D rendering, and other heavily threaded applications. The 10400F's 13 wins include all six Cinebench tests, which are widely used for CPU performance evaluation. The 9600K, by contrast, wins in Geekbench single-core, PassMark single-thread, physics, extended instructions, and prime number finding. These are typically lightly threaded tasks. The 9600K also has integrated graphics, so it can operate without a discrete GPU, and its unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, which could improve performance in some scenarios. The 10400F's lower TDP (65W vs 95W) may be easier to cool, but it requires a discrete GPU. In summary, the 10400F is the stronger all-round performer in the database's head-to-head tests, while the 9600K retains specific strengths in single-thread and specialized instruction workloads.