i5-9400F vs i9-9960X

Aggregate performance score

Core i9-9960X
2018
16 cores / 32 threads, 165 Watt
19.77
+219%

Core i9-9960X outperforms Core i5-9400F by a whopping 219% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking3001090
Place by popularitynot in top-10025
Cost-effectiveness evaluation5.039.66
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i9Intel Core i5
Power efficiency10.938.68
Architecture codenameSkylake (server) (2017−2019)Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
Release date8 October 2018 (6 years ago)7 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,684$182

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-9400F has 92% better value for money than i9-9960X.

Detailed specifications

Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F 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 cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads326
Base clock speed3.1 GHz2.9 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz4.1 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0DMI 3.0
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier3129
L1 cache1 MB385 KB
L2 cache16 MB1.5 MB
L3 cache22 MB (shared)9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size484 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature85 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F 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)
SocketFCLGA2066FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)165 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSX+-
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data

Security technologies

Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2666DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth85.33 GB/s42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/Ano data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4416

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.

i9-9960X 19.77
+219%
i5-9400F 6.19

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.

i9-9960X 30254
+220%
i5-9400F 9469

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.

i9-9960X 1385
i5-9400F 1403
+1.3%

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.

i9-9960X 10376
+112%
i5-9400F 4893

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 19.77 6.19
Recency 8 October 2018 7 January 2019
Physical cores 16 6
Threads 32 6
Power consumption (TDP) 165 Watt 65 Watt

i9-9960X has a 219.4% higher aggregate performance score, and 166.7% more physical cores and 433.3% more threads.

i5-9400F, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 2 months, and 153.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-9960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-9400F in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-9960X and Core i5-9400F, 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 i9-9960X
Core i9-9960X
Intel Core i5-9400F
Core i5-9400F

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.


4.8 321 vote

Rate Core i9-9960X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.9 56554 votes

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i9-9960X or Core i5-9400F, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.