i5-9400 vs i7-990X EE

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-990X EE
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.19
Core i5-9400
2019
6 cores / 6 threads, 65 Watt
5.92
+41.3%

Core i5-9400 outperforms Core i7-990X EE by a considerable 41% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13781099
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data8.98
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i5
Power efficiency3.048.58
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release dateno data (2024 years ago)7 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$182

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads126
Base clock speedno data2.9 GHz
Boost clock speed3.73 GHz4.1 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate6400 MHz4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data29
L1 cacheno data384 KB
L2 cacheno data1.5 MB
L3 cacheno data9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data149 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 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 configurationno data1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketLGA-1366FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data-
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+

Security technologies

Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4-2666
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

i7-990X EE 4.19
i5-9400 5.92
+41.3%

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.

i7-990X EE 6624
i5-9400 9373
+41.5%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.19 5.92
Threads 12 6
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 65 Watt

i7-990X EE has 100% more threads.

i5-9400, on the other hand, has a 41.3% higher aggregate performance score, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 100% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-9400 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-990X EE in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-990X EE and Core i5-9400, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-990X EE
Core i7-990X EE
Intel Core i5-9400
Core i5-9400

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.3 45 votes

Rate Core i7-990X EE on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4 1010 votes

Rate Core i5-9400 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-990X EE or Core i5-9400, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.