Intel Core i5-9400F

The Intel Core i5-9400F is a Desktop processor released on January 7, 2019. It uses the Coffee Lake architecture and is manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel. The chip has 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 2.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. It uses Intel Socket 1151 and has a 65 W TDP. The data lists no integrated graphics, so a discrete display adapter is required. Its aggregate benchmark score is 13035, which places it at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The production status is end-of-life.

How It Compares

The nearest rival in the data is the Intel Core i7-10750H. The i5-9400F’s average score of 13035 is level with the i7-10750H’s 13029, and the nearest-rival data records a delta of 0%. At the aggregate level, these two parts occupy the same performance tier.

The Intel Core i7-7700 has an average score of 12962. The i5-9400F holds a 0.6% lead over this rival. This is a narrow margin, but it places the i5-9400F above a desktop Core i7 part in the aggregate ranking.

The Intel Core i5-1230U averages 12864. The i5-9400F is 1.3% ahead of that part. The i5-1230U is another Intel part in the nearest-rival group, and the aggregate scores are close enough that the comparison is meaningful in the database.

The Intel Core i3-1215U averages 12853. The i5-9400F is 1.4% ahead here. Taken together, the four nearest rivals are separated from the i5-9400F by 0% to 1.4%, which means the surrounding competitive field is tight.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 65 W. For a 6-core desktop processor, this is a modest thermal class. It implies a conventional air cooler is adequate; there is no need for an exotic cooling solution based on the power data. The absence of an integrated graphics field means the CPU package is not carrying a graphics controller in the power budget. The 14 nm process and locked multiplier are the other power-relevant identifiers in the record. The data does not include measured power draw, so the 65 W TDP is the sole thermal figure available. The end-of-life production status does not change the cooling requirement. Because the multiplier is locked, the listed clock range remains the fixed envelope for this processor.

Benchmark Performance

Cinebench R15 scores are 810 multi-core and 114 single-core. Cinebench R20 scores are 3375 multi-core and 476 single-core. Cinebench R23 scores are 8037 multi-core and 1134 single-core. Geekbench multi-core is 4933 and single-core is 1406. Passmark multithread is 9455 and single-thread is 2428.

The Passmark suite provides a broader workload breakdown. Integer math scores 26155, floating point math scores 22465, extended instructions scores 11684, random string sorting scores 16298, data compression scores 132877, and data encryption scores 2902. The Passmark physics subtest is 653, while the find-prime-numbers test is 38. The contrast between data compression at 132877 and data encryption at 2902 is the largest spread in the Passmark sub-scores. That indicates throughput depends strongly on the instruction mix and data pattern.

Against the nearest rivals, the aggregate position is confirmed. The i5-9400F is 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i7-7700, 1.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-1230U, and 1.4% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1215U. It is level with the Intel Core i7-10750H at 0%. The 72nd percentile rank means most indexed CPUs score lower, but the nearest rivals are close enough that the absolute delta is small. There is no dominant gap within this rival cluster.

The Cinebench R23 result of 8037 multi-core and 1134 single-core is the newest rendering pair in the data. The R20 result of 3375 and 476, along with the R15 result of 810 and 114, follow the same ordering. Across all three Cinebench generations, the multi-core result is the larger of the pair, so rendering workloads that use all cores are the clear beneficiary.

Who Should Consider It

Users who already own a discrete graphics adapter are the natural fit. The data lists no integrated graphics, so every build using this processor must include a separate display solution. For gaming workloads, the per-core scores are the relevant figures: Geekbench single-core 1406, Cinebench R23 single-core 1134, and Passmark single-thread 2428. These are in a range that suits games that depend on one or a few fast threads.

For creation workloads, the multi-core results matter more. Cinebench R23 multi-core 8037, Cinebench R20 multi-core 3375, and Passmark multithread 9455 show a processor that can handle rendering and batch tasks that spread across all 6 cores. The integer math result of 26155 and floating point math result of 22465 add further evidence for compute-heavy creation tasks.

For office and productivity systems, the data compression score of 132877 and random string sorting score of 16298 are useful indicators. These scores suggest compression, archiving, and text/data processing tasks will respond well. The encryption score of 2902 is much smaller than the compression score, so encryption-heavy workloads are not the primary strength. A 6-core/6-thread layout means software that can use more than 6 threads will not see additional logical-thread scaling.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The i5-9400F has 6 cores and 6 threads, so each core is assigned one thread. The multi-core results are consistently larger than the single-core results across every benchmark family. Cinebench R23 shows 8037 multi-core against 1134 single-core. Cinebench R20 shows 3375 multi-core against 476 single-core. Cinebench R15 shows 810 multi-core against 114 single-core. Geekbench shows 4933 multi-core against 1406 single-core. Passmark shows 9455 multithread against 2428 single-thread.

Because the core and thread counts match, this split is the product of 6 physical cores working together, not of additional logical threads. A single-thread-bound workload will run near the 4.10 GHz boost clock and will see a result closer to the single-core numbers. A multi-thread workload will use all 6 cores and approach the multi-core numbers. The base clock of 2.90 GHz and the boost clock of 4.10 GHz are the two clock figures recorded for this processor. The single-core scores reflect the upper part of that range, while the multi-core scores reflect combined throughput.

The Passmark math scores follow the same split. Integer math 26155 and floating point math 22465 are all-core results, while the single-thread score of 2428 is the baseline for software that does not scale. Applications with mixed demands will land somewhere between the two sets of numbers, depending on how many of the 6 cores they can activate.

Platform and Compatibility

The platform is built around Intel Socket 1151, Coffee Lake, and the Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation. The memory controller uses dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 9 MB shared L3.

The multiplier is locked, so processor overclocking via the multiplier is not available. The production status is end-of-life, which bounds the upgrade path to the Intel Socket 1151 platform. The 65 W TDP keeps cooling requirements in a mainstream range. The 14 nm process node is fixed in the record. The release date of January 7, 2019 places the processor in the Coffee Lake Refresh period, and the F designation in the part name corresponds to the absence of integrated graphics in the data.