Intel Core i5-9400F vs Intel Core i7-6700

The Intel Core i7-6700 (Skylake S, 2015) for the high-end mainstream with Intel HD Graphics 530 offers 4 cores/8 threads, 8 MB L3 cache, and 34 GB/s memory bandwidth.

The Intel Core i5-9400F (Coffee Lake S Refresh, 2019) is aimed at gaming and productivity, without integrated graphics ("F" model), with 6 cores/6 threads, 9 MB L3 cache, and 43 GB/s memory bandwidth.

Both CPUs are manufactured using the 14 nm process and utilize PCIe 3.0. In performance comparisons, the Intel Core i5-9400F shows significantly higher single-core performance and is also noticeably superior in multi-core applications due to a higher core count. The Intel Core i7-6700 can keep up in some older multi-thread tests through Hyper-Threading.

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-9400F is the clearly better choice, requiring a dedicated graphics card. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 of the Intel Core i7-6700 is unsuitable for demanding games. Both CPUs have a TDP of 65 Watts, with similar cooling requirements and power consumption.

On the used market, the Intel Core i5-9400F offers a better price-performance ratio due to its superior overall performance. It is recommended for modern applications and gaming. The Intel Core i7-6700 is suitable for office or systems that require integrated graphics.