Intel Core i5-14400 vs Intel Core i9-11900 Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900 and Intel Core i5-14400 occupy different generations of Intel's desktop lineup, yet their average benchmark scores place them within a razor-thin margin of each other. The i9-11900 posts an average benchmark score of 32226, while the i5-14400 sits at 32115, a difference of only 0.3 percent. This near-parity in overall performance, however, masks a decisive split in individual workloads, where the newer i5-14400 dominates the majority of tests while the older i9-11900 retains a narrow edge in a few specific tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14400 is the clear winner in the vast majority of tested workloads, taking 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its victories span the entire Cinebench suite, including both single-core and multi-core tests, as well as most PassMark workloads. This makes it the preferred choice for general productivity, content creation, and any application that relies on multithreaded performance or single-thread responsiveness. The data shows a consistent pattern: the i5-14400 leads by roughly 10 percent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, regardless of whether the test is single-core or multi-core.

The i9-11900 wins only two benchmarks: PassMark integer math and PassMark random string sorting. In integer math, it scores 83893 against the i5-14400's 82017, a 2.3 percent advantage. In random string sorting, it scores 33054 versus 32346, a 2.2 percent lead. These are narrow victories in specialized operations, suggesting the i9-11900 retains a slight edge in certain integer-heavy or sorting-focused tasks, but this does not translate into broader superiority. For most users, the i5-14400's broader dominance makes it the more versatile processor.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural eras. The i9-11900 is built on Rocket Lake, Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 276 mm². It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are provided by UHD Graphics 750.

The i5-14400 is based on Raptor Lake, using a 10 nm process with a smaller die size of 215 mm². It has 10 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, and a lower boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache is larger: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is more flexible, accommodating both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, though the fact pack does not list a memory bandwidth figure for this model. It also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i9-11900. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and integrated graphics are downgraded to UHD Graphics 730.

The core count difference is significant: the i5-14400 has 10 cores versus 8, yet both have 16 threads. This implies the i5-14400 uses a hybrid configuration, though the fact pack does not specify the P-core/E-core split. The socket also differs, with the i9-11900 using Intel Socket 1200 and the i5-14400 using Intel Socket 1700, meaning they are not interchangeable in existing motherboards.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a uniform 10.9 percent advantage for the i5-14400 across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-14400 scores 2148 against 1913 for the i9-11900. In single-core, it scores 303 versus 270. The same 10.9 percent delta appears in R20 multicore (8952 vs 7973) and single-core (1263 vs 1125), as well as R23 multicore (21315 vs 18985) and single-core (3009 vs 2680). This consistency indicates the i5-14400's architectural improvements translate equally to both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

PassMark results paint a more varied picture. The i5-14400 wins data compression with 314995 versus 285159, a 9.5 percent margin. Data encryption shows a larger gap: 16731 versus 13942, a 16.7 percent advantage for the i5-14400. Floating point math also favors the i5-14400 significantly, with 61549 against 48948, a 20.5 percent lead. The largest single delta is in physics, where the i5-14400 scores 1396 against 977, a 30 percent advantage. Prime number finding sees a 21.2 percent gap (80 vs 63). Multithreaded performance is 10.5 percent better on the i5-14400 (25080 vs 22456), and single-thread performance is 9.8 percent better (3741 vs 3373).

The i9-11900's two wins are narrow but real. In integer math, its 83893 beats the i5-14400's 82017 by 2.3 percent. In random string sorting, its 33054 beats 32346 by 2.2 percent. The extended instructions test is nearly a tie, with the i5-14400 winning by just 0.8 percent (19816 vs 19654). These results show that while the i5-14400 is broadly faster, the i9-11900 retains specific strengths in integer arithmetic and string operations, likely due to its higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz compared to 4.70 GHz on the i5-14400.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-14400 is the faster processor in almost every measurable way. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including all Cinebench tests, all major PassMark workloads, and both single-thread and multithread metrics. Its advantages range from 0.8 percent in extended instructions to 30 percent in physics. The only exceptions are integer math and random string sorting, where the i9-11900 leads by roughly 2 percent.

For users building a new system, the i5-14400 is the superior choice based purely on performance. It offers more cores, a larger cache, newer architecture, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, along with ECC memory capability. The i9-11900, despite its higher boost clock and older flagship status, cannot match the i5-14400's overall throughput. The i9-11900 may still appeal to those with an existing Socket 1200 motherboard who want a drop-in upgrade without changing platforms, but even then, the data shows it is slower in most tasks.

The i5-14400 also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score (32115 vs 32226 for the i9-11900, a 0.3 percent difference), though this is within the margin of error. Both CPUs sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing. However, the distribution of wins matters more than the average: the i5-14400's consistency across diverse workloads makes it the more reliable performer for general use, while the i9-11900's narrow wins in integer math and string sorting are too specialized to recommend it for most scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-11900 has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-14400 boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-14400 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i5-14400 supports ECC memory. The i9-11900 does not.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The i9-11900 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i5-14400 has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any single benchmark?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark physics, where the i5-14400 scores 1396 against 977 for the i9-11900, a 30 percent advantage.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the i9-11900 beats the i5-14400?

A: Yes, the i9-11900 wins PassMark integer math (83893 vs 82017, a 2.3 percent lead) and PassMark random string sorting (33054 vs 32346, a 2.2 percent lead).

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-14400 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-11900 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.