Intel Core i7-4790 vs Intel Core i5-9400F

The Intel Core i7-4790 (Haswell S, 2014) was manufactured using a 22 nm process, features 4 cores, 8 threads, and Intel HD Graphics 4600.

The Intel Core i5-9400F (Coffee Lake S Refresh, 2019) is a 14 nm CPU with 6 cores, 6 threads and requires a dedicated graphics card.

Both support PCIe 3.0. In single-core performance, the Intel Core i5-9400F is slightly superior. For multi-core tasks, it offers over 25 percent higher performance due to its core count and more modern architecture. The maximum memory bandwidth for the Intel Core i5-9400F is 43 GB/s, compared to 26 GB/s for the Intel Core i7-4790.

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-9400F is clearly the better choice, as its newer architecture and more cores achieve higher performance. The Intel Core i7-4790, with its older technology and integrated graphics, is insufficient for modern gaming. In the used market, the Intel Core i5-9400F offers a better price-performance ratio for contemporary applications.

The Intel Core i7-4790 could be an option for budget-conscious upgrades of older LGA 1150 systems with basic requirements. The Intel Core i7-4790 is suitable for basic tasks. For significantly better overall performance, gaming, and modern software, the Intel Core i5-9400F is recommended, provided a dedicated graphics card is present.