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

The Intel Core i5-9400 was introduced as part of the Coffee Lake S Refresh architecture and is aimed at price-conscious users in the mid-range segment.

Manufactured in the proven 14 nm process, this processor has six physical cores and six threads. In common benchmarks, the model shows solid computing performance that is well-suited for everyday tasks and moderate multitasking. A key feature is the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630, which enables image output without an additional graphics card.

With an L3 cache of 9 MB and a memory bandwidth of 43 GB/s, the CPU provides a solid foundation for office applications. The thermal design power is 65 watts, which favors efficient cooling in compact cases. The Intel Core i5-9400F appeared at the same time as its sister model and is also based on the 14 nm Coffee Lake S Refresh architecture.

The technical specifications regarding the number of cores and clock frequencies are identical, resulting in comparable performance in single-core and multi-core benchmarks. In gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i5-9400F delivers the same processing power as the standard model, but absolutely requires a dedicated graphics card as there is no integrated graphics unit.

This makes it the preferred choice for price-optimized gaming systems. With a TDP of 65 watts and support for PCIe 3.0, the system remains thermally stable. The price-performance ratio is often more attractive for users who want to install a separate graphics card anyway, as the purchase costs are usually lower.