i9-9900KF vs i5-6400

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6400
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.54
Core i9-9900KF
2019
8 cores / 16 threads, 95 Watt
11.94
+237%

Core i9-9900KF outperforms Core i5-6400 by a whopping 237% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1548672
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.688.31
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i9
Power efficiency4.9711.46
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)7 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$187$488

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-9900KF has 1122% better value for money than i5-6400.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads416
Base clock speed2.7 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier27no data
L1 cache256 KB512 KB
L2 cache1 MB2 MB
L3 cache6 MB (shared)16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size122 mm2no data
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++

Security technologies

Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX++
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEYes with Intel® ME
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 530no data
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency950 MHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-6400 3.54
i9-9900KF 11.94
+237%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-6400 5417
i9-9900KF 18266
+237%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-6400 1125
i9-9900KF 1725
+53.3%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-6400 3065
i9-9900KF 8139
+166%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.54 11.94
Recency 1 September 2015 7 January 2019
Physical cores 4 8
Threads 4 16
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 95 Watt

i5-6400 has 46.2% lower power consumption.

i9-9900KF, on the other hand, has a 237.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 3 years, and 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads.

The Core i9-9900KF is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6400 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6400 and Core i9-9900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i5-6400
Core i5-6400
Intel Core i9-9900KF
Core i9-9900KF

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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