Intel Core i5-9400 vs Core i7-3930K

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Combined performance score

i7-3930K
5.34

Core i5-9400 outperforms Core i7-3930K by 14% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking1071984
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Value for money1.8517.36
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i5
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date14 November 2011 (12 years old)19 October 2018 (5 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$611$182
Current price$210 (0.3x MSRP)$137 (0.8x MSRP)
Value for money

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-9400 has 838% better value for money than i7-3930K.

Technical specs

Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads126
Base clock speed3.2 GHz2.9 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz4.1 GHz
Bus supportno data4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache12 MB (shared)9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size435 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)67 °C72 °C
Number of transistors2,270 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplierYesNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSXno data-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPPno data-
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size64.23 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth51.2 GB/s41.6 GB/s
ECC memory support--

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Videono data+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes4016

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.

i7-3930K 5.34
i5-9400 6.10
+14.2%

Core i5-9400 outperforms Core i7-3930K by 14% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i7-3930K 8205
i5-9400 9373
+14.2%

Core i5-9400 outperforms Core i7-3930K by 14% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i7-3930K 607
i5-9400 1384
+128%

Core i5-9400 outperforms Core i7-3930K by 128% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i7-3930K 2962
i5-9400 4797
+62%

Core i5-9400 outperforms Core i7-3930K by 62% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 5.34 6.10
Recency 14 November 2011 19 October 2018
Threads 12 6
Cost $611 $182
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 65 Watt

The Core i5-9400 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-3930K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3930K and Core i5-9400, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-3930K
Core i7-3930K
Intel Core i5-9400
Core i5-9400

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Questions and comments

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