Intel Core i5-9400 vs Intel Core i7-5950HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear, if narrow, victory for the Intel Core i5-9400 across every recorded test. Out of eight head-to-head comparisons, the i5-9400 wins all eight, but the margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

In the Cinebench suite, the i5-9400 consistently edges out the i7-5950HQ by a slim margin. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i5-9400 scoring 668 against 656 for the i7-5950HQ, a delta of 1.8%. The single-core R15 result is closer in percentage terms but still favors the i5-9400: 94 points versus 92, a 2.2% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore score for the i5-9400 is 2784 compared to 2736, again a 1.8% lead. The R20 single-core test shows 392 versus 386, a 1.6% difference. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: the i5-9400 scores 6629 multicore and 935 single-core, while the i7-5950HQ scores 6516 and 920 respectively, with deltas of 1.7% and 1.6%.

The most decisive separation appears in Geekbench multicore. Here the i5-9400 scores 5141, while the i7-5950HQ manages 4601. That is an 11.7% gap, far larger than any other difference in the comparison. The Geekbench single-core test shows a smaller edge for the i5-9400: 1389 versus 1353, a 2.7% lead.

Looking at the overall averages, the i5-9400 holds an average benchmark score of 2254, while the i7-5950HQ sits at 2158. That places the i5-9400 about 4.4% higher on aggregate. Both CPUs land in the 47th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning neither is a standout performer in the broader market, but the i5-9400 is consistently ahead in this direct matchup.

The pattern across all tests is uniform: the i5-9400 wins every single benchmark, but in most cases by only 1.6% to 2.7%. The Geekbench multicore result breaks that pattern with its double-digit margin. For workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point tasks, the i5-9400 offers a substantially larger advantage than the Cinebench scores would suggest.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-9400 wins everywhere, but the degree of its advantage depends on the workload type. In render-style tasks represented by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i5-9400 leads by roughly 1.6% to 2.2%. These are tight margins that could easily be mistaken for run-to-run variance, but the consistency across three Cinebench versions strengthens the case that the i5-9400 is genuinely the faster part in threaded rendering.

The Geekbench multicore test is where the i5-9400 truly separates itself. An 11.7% advantage over the i7-5950HQ suggests that Geekbench's workload mix, which includes memory access patterns, cryptography, and compression tasks, plays to the strengths of the i5-9400's architecture. Users running applications with similar characteristics would notice the difference more clearly than they would in pure rendering.

For the i7-5950HQ, there is no benchmark in this dataset where it comes out ahead. Its closest result is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where it trails by 2.2%, and its worst is Geekbench multicore, where it trails by 11.7%. The i7-5950HQ does have the advantage of eight threads versus six, which helps it stay competitive in multicore Cinebench tests, but that thread advantage is not enough to overcome the i5-9400's newer architecture and higher boost clock.

The i7-5950HQ's mobile positioning also matters for use-case interpretation. It is a 47-watt part aimed at laptops, while the i5-9400 is a 65-watt desktop chip. In a pure performance-per-watt comparison, the i7-5950HQ delivers scores within 2% of the i5-9400 in most tests while consuming less power. That makes it the more efficient choice for constrained environments, even though it loses every performance benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i5-9400 is a Coffee Lake desktop chip, released in October 2018, while the i7-5950HQ is a Broadwell-H mobile chip from June 2015. Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process, but the architectural gap spans several generations.

The core counts differ significantly. The i5-9400 has six physical cores and six threads, while the i7-5950HQ has four cores and eight threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. This explains why the i7-5950HQ stays competitive in Cinebench multicore tests despite its older design: eight threads can partially offset a two-core deficit, but not fully.

Cache allocation also differs. The i5-9400 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, matching the i7-5950HQ on a per-core basis. The L3 cache, however, favors the i5-9400 with 9 MB shared, compared to 6 MB shared on the i7-5950HQ. That 50% L3 advantage gives the i5-9400 more room to hold working sets for its six cores.

Clock speeds favor the i5-9400 as well. Both chips have a base clock of 2.90 GHz, but the i5-9400 boosts to 4.10 GHz while the i7-5950HQ tops out at 3.80 GHz. The higher boost clock contributes to the i5-9400's single-core wins across all Cinebench versions and Geekbench.

Memory support is a major generational split. The i5-9400 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-5950HQ uses DDR3 with dual-channel and achieves 29.9 GB/s. This bandwidth difference likely plays a role in the Geekbench multicore gap, as memory-intensive workloads benefit from the i5-9400's faster memory subsystem.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-9400 carries UHD 630 graphics, while the i7-5950HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The i7-5950HQ's graphics solution was notable in its era for a mobile chip, but the i5-9400 pairs its GPU with the faster DDR4 memory controller.

Socket and form factor are fundamental differences. The i5-9400 uses Intel Socket 1151 and is a desktop part, while the i7-5950HQ is soldered via Intel BGA 1364 for mobile use. The i7-5950HQ also has a recorded die size of 182 mm², while no die size is listed for the i5-9400. Power envelopes differ: the i5-9400 has a TDP of 65 watts, the i7-5950HQ of 47 watts.

The i7-5950HQ has a launch MSRP of $623. The i5-9400 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are marked end-of-life in production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 wins all eight recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The i7-5950HQ does not win a single test.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multicore rendering?

A: In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-9400 scores 668 versus 656, a 1.8% lead. In R20 multicore it is 2784 versus 2736, also 1.8%. In R23 multicore, 6629 versus 6516, a 1.7% gap.

Q: Where does the i7-5950HQ come closest to winning?

A: The closest result is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i5-9400 leads by 2.2% (94 versus 92). The i7-5950HQ's eight threads keep it close in multicore tests, but it never overtakes the i5-9400.

Q: Why is the Geekbench multicore gap so much larger than the Cinebench gaps?

A: The Geekbench multicore test shows an 11.7% advantage for the i5-9400 (5141 versus 4601). This likely reflects the i5-9400's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, its 9 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB, and its DDR4 memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors use the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel's 14 nm process. The i5-9400 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, while the i7-5950HQ uses Broadwell-H.

Q: What is the thread count difference between the two?

A: The i5-9400 has six cores and six threads. The i7-5950HQ has four cores and eight threads, using Hyper-Threading to exceed its physical core count.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-9400 | Intel Core i7-5950HQ |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 6 | 8 |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 47 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1364 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Broadwell |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Broadwell-H |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) | Core i7 (Broadwell-H) |

| Die Size | Not listed | 182 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 29.9 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD 630 | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2018-10-18 | 2015-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $623 |

| Part Number | SR3X5 | SR2BJ |

The two chips share several traits: base clock of 2.90 GHz, 14 nm process, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, no ECC memory support, and a locked multiplier. Both also use 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i5-9400 leads in cores, cache, clock speed, memory bandwidth, and every benchmark. The i7-5950HQ counters with more threads, lower power draw, and a mobile form factor suited to laptops rather than desktop builds.