Intel Core i5-11400F vs Intel Core i5-9400F

The Intel Core i5-9400F (Coffee Lake S Refresh) and the Intel Core i5-11400F (Rocket Lake S) are desktop processors for the mainstream market, both without integrated graphics ("F" models).

Both are manufactured using the 14nm process. The Intel Core i5-9400F features 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core i5-11400F also offers 6 cores, but with 12 threads through Hyper-Threading, which significantly expands its multitasking capabilities. The Intel Core i5-9400F has 9 MB of Level 3 cache; the Intel Core i5-11400F has 3 MB of Level 2 and 12 MB of Level 3 cache.

In benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-11400F shows over 39 percent higher performance in single-core and multi-core applications than the Intel Core i5-9400F, which is due to its more modern architecture with improved IPC and Hyper-Threading. This significant performance increase makes the Intel Core i5-11400F the better choice for demanding tasks and gaming.

Furthermore, it supports PCIe 4.0, which enables faster graphics cards and NVMe SSDs, while the Intel Core i5-9400F is limited to PCIe 3.0. Both CPUs have a comparable TDP, but the more powerful Intel Core i5-11400F can consume more power under load and benefits from better cooling.

As an older model, the Intel Core i5-9400F is more affordable and an option for budget builds or upgrades of existing LGA1151 systems. The Intel Core i5-11400F offers a better price-performance ratio for new systems and users seeking higher overall performance for gaming and productivity, even if the platform (LGA1200) can be more expensive.