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Intel Core i5-9600K vs Intel Core i9-9900K vs Intel Core i5-9400F

Intel Core i5-9600K

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The Intel Core i5-9600K is a high end desktop processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. It offers an open multiplicator for easy overclocking and integrates 6 cores (no Hyperthreading therefore also 6 threads) clocked at 3.7 - 4.6 GHz and it needs a new Z390 based mainboard. It is manufactured in the second iteration of the improved 14nm process (14nm++).

Compared to the older Core i5-8600K, the 9600K offers about 10 to 15% higher performance. As the CPU still offers 6 cores and threads, the improvements are mostly due to the higher clock speeds. As a fast mid range desktop CPU, the i5-9600K is suited even for very demanding applications and perfect for 3D gaming.

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics card is clocked at up to 1.15 GHz and offers no advantage compared to previous generations. As it is a very low end GPU, only some low demanding games like Hearthstone can be played with it (see GPU page for benchmarks).

Intel specifies the TDP at 95 Watt, so if the CPU is used in laptops a big and chunky cooling system is needed to avoid throttling and lower clock speeds under sustained loads. When overclocking the CPU, the power consumption can easily rise up to 150 Watt and higher.

Intel Core i9-9900K

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The Intel Core i9-9900K is a high end desktop processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture. At the time of announcement in late 2018, the 9900K is the fastest Coffee Lake CPU and offers an open multiplicator for easy overclocking. The CPU integrates 8 cores (16 threads) clocked at 3.6 - 5 GHz and it needs a new Z390 based mainboard.

Thanks to the two additional cores, the performance in multi-threaded applications is up to 25 % faster than the older Core i7-8700K. The single thread performance is only slightly faster due to the higher clock speeds. As a high end desktop CPU, the i9-9900K is suited even for very demanding applications and perfect for 3D gaming.

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics card is clocked at up to 1.2 GHz and offers no advantage compared to previous generations. As it is a very low end GPU, only some low demanding games like Hearthstone can be played with it (see GPU page for benchmarks).

Intel specifies the TDP at 95 Watt, so if the CPU is used in laptops a big and chunky cooling system is needed to avoid throttling and lower clock speeds under sustained loads. When overclocking the CPU, the power consumption can easily rise up to 200 Watt and higher.

Intel Core i5-9400F

► remove from comparison Intel i5-9400F

The Intel Core i5-9400F is a six-core desktop processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture introduced in October 2018 along with the flagship Intel Core i9-9900K. The processor clocks at 2.9-4.1 GHz and can process up to 6 threads simultaneously. The Intel Core i5-9400F is manufactured in the improved 14-nm process (14nm++).

Performance

Compared to the Intel Core i5-8400, the performance could only be increased slightly. Performance increases of up to 10 percent can be expected. Both processors (old and new) still do not offer hyperthreading. The performance increase therefore only adds up to small architecture improvements and a slightly higher basic and turbo clock rate. This CPU is suitable for everyday office use, which does not require large coolers due to the low waste heat. But games are also among the application areas, because in games the Intel Core i5-9400F clearly beats the Intel Core i3-9100F. Here the six cores are paying off in the meantime. 

Graphics unit

The Intel Core i5-9400F is a processor without integrated graphics unit. If you value an iGPU, you should take a closer look at the Intel Core i5-9400, as it offers the entry level Intel UHD Graphics 630.

Power consumption

Intel puts the Thermal Design Power (TDP) at 65 watts. This means there is no need for large cooling systems, which also allows installation in very compact housings.

ModelIntel Core i5-9600KIntel Core i9-9900KIntel Core i5-9400F
SeriesIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee LakeIntel Coffee Lake
CodenameCoffee Lake-RCoffee Lake-RCoffee Lake-R
Series: Coffee Lake Coffee Lake-R
Intel Core i9-9900KS4 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900K3.6 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9700K3.6 - 4.9 GHz8 / 8 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-97003 - 4.7 GHz8 / 8 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9600K « 3.7 - 4.6 GHz6 / 6 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900T2.1 - 4.4 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9400F2.9 - 4.1 GHz6 / 6 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i3-9100F3.6 - 4.2 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900KS4 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900K « 3.6 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9700K3.6 - 4.9 GHz8 / 8 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-97003 - 4.7 GHz8 / 8 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9600K3.7 - 4.6 GHz6 / 6 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900T2.1 - 4.4 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9400F2.9 - 4.1 GHz6 / 6 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i3-9100F3.6 - 4.2 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900KS4 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900K3.6 - 5 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i7-9700K3.6 - 4.9 GHz8 / 8 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i7-97003 - 4.7 GHz8 / 8 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9600K3.7 - 4.6 GHz6 / 6 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i9-9900T2.1 - 4.4 GHz8 / 16 cores16 MB L3
Intel Core i5-9400F « 2.9 - 4.1 GHz6 / 6 cores9 MB L3
Intel Core i3-9100F3.6 - 4.2 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Clock3700 - 4600 MHz3600 - 5000 MHz2900 - 4100 MHz
L1 Cache512 KB512 KB384 KB
L2 Cache1.5 MB2 MB1.5 MB
L3 Cache9 MB16 MB9 MB
Cores / Threads6 / 68 / 166 / 6
TDP95 Watt95 Watt65 Watt
14++ nm14++ nm14 nm, 100
Die Size178 mm2178 mm2149 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1151LGA 1151-2
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR4-2666 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, AES-NI, TSX-NI, Quick Sync, Virtualization, vProDual-Channel DDR4-2666 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, AES-NI, TSX-NI, Quick Sync, Virtualization, vProDual-Channel DDR4-2666 Memory Controller, AVX, AVX2, AES-NI, TSX, Quick Sync, Virtualization
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1150 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 - 1200 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$262 U.S.$488 U.S.$182 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comwww.intel.de

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i9-9900K
37.2 pt (52%)
Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i5-9400F
30.9 pt (43%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
12397 Points (12%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1280 Points (54%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 495     avg: 502     median: 502 (56%)     max: 509 Points
416 Points (46%)
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 4816     avg: 4871     median: 4871 (12%)     max: 4926 Points
2378 Points (6%)
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
1094 Points (7%)
min: 1623     avg: 1939     median: 1979 (12%)     max: 2040 Points
984 Points (6%)
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
193 Points (58%)
min: 203     avg: 210.6     median: 212 (64%)     max: 218 Points
173 Points (52%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
11 Points (14%)
min: 17.37     avg: 20.7     median: 21.4 (28%)     max: 21.76 Points
11.3 Points (15%)
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
2.2 Points (56%)
min: 2.33     avg: 2.4     median: 2.4 (59%)     max: 2.44 Points
2 Points (49%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
7205 Points (44%)
min: 7786     avg: 7924     median: 7933 (48%)     max: 8042 Points
6490 Points (39%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
33950 Points (25%)
min: 36683     avg: 45846     median: 48778.5 (35%)     max: 49142 Points
31523 Points (23%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
39494 Points (27%)
min: 63009     avg: 63708     median: 63976 (44%)     max: 64138 Points
40065 Points (28%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
9318 Points (11%)
min: 10167     avg: 10218     median: 10192 (12%)     max: 10294 Points
8182 Points (10%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
176.2 s (2%)
min: 85.6     avg: 91.9     median: 91.3 (1%)     max: 98.7 s
198.7 s (2%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
6 s (1%)
min: 3.276     avg: 4     median: 3.6 (1%)     max: 5.203 s
6.8 s (1%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
5903 Points (9%)
min: 7315     avg: 7775     median: 7633 (12%)     max: 8518 Points
5794 Points (9%)
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
min: 43248     avg: 48207     median: 48207 (28%)     max: 53166 MIPS
25639 MIPS (15%)
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
min: 5311     avg: 5411     median: 5410.5 (65%)     max: 5510 MIPS
4678 MIPS (56%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
68.8 fps (24%)
min: 90.9     avg: 110     median: 114.3 (40%)     max: 120.5 fps
64 fps (22%)
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
250 fps (58%)
min: 252.7     avg: 260.9     median: 260.5 (60%)     max: 270 fps
234 fps (54%)
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
8 fps (14%)
min: 12.36     avg: 14.8     median: 15.8 (28%)     max: 16.3 fps
9.1 fps (16%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
0.4 GB/s (0%)
min: 0.8     avg: 1.1     median: 1.2 (0%)     max: 1.2 GB/s
0.5 GB/s (0%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
0.6 GB/s (11%)
min: 1.3     avg: 1.8     median: 1.9 (33%)     max: 2 GB/s
0.9 GB/s (15%)
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
5.6 GB/s (15%)
min: 7.8     avg: 10.4     median: 11.1 (29%)     max: 11.5 GB/s
5.2 GB/s (14%)
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
444.4 Seconds (3%)
min: 219.2     avg: 239.7     median: 223.8 (2%)     max: 276.1 Seconds
468.5 Seconds (3%)
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
0.7 sec (14%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
10974 Points (23%)
min: 10312     avg: 13253     median: 14281.5 (30%)     max: 14409 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
7.7 s (2%)
min: 7.545     avg: 7.7     median: 7.7 (2%)     max: 7.823 s
9.3 s (2%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
17.4 s (1%)
min: 16.73     avg: 17     median: 16.9 (1%)     max: 17.25 s
20.8 s (1%)
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
421.1 s (2%)
min: 413.8     avg: 429.5     median: 432.2 (2%)     max: 440 s
499.8 s (2%)
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
37593 Points (33%)
min: 58733     avg: 65154     median: 65153.5 (57%)     max: 71574 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
11938 Points (32%)
min: 16598     avg: 17566     median: 17264 (47%)     max: 19169 Points
11185 Points (30%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
78929 Points (64%)
min: 64697     avg: 67569     median: 67554.5 (55%)     max: 72059 Points
70546 Points (57%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
78531 Points (64%)
min: 67420     avg: 68874     median: 67813 (55%)     max: 72450 Points
70482 Points (57%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
80235 Points (68%)
min: 67259     avg: 68959     median: 68173.5 (57%)     max: 72229 Points
72413 Points (61%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
9031 Points (23%)
min: 16435     avg: 17955     median: 17969 (45%)     max: 18694 Points
8275 Points (21%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
13701 Points (24%)
min: 21585     avg: 24141     median: 24497.5 (44%)     max: 25010 Points
12616 Points (22%)
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
6071 Points (26%)
min: 9413     avg: 10630     median: 10593 (45%)     max: 11298 Points
5777 Points (24%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
1217 Points (51%)
1300 Points (55%)
1139 Points (48%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
5855 Points (10%)
8845 Points (16%)
5715 Points (10%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
1132 Points (5%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
5698 Points (18%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
5916 Points (59%)
min: 6014     avg: 6113     median: 6049 (60%)     max: 6339 Points
5347 Points (53%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
23810 Points (27%)
min: 26616     avg: 31703     median: 32981 (37%)     max: 34233 Points
21830 Points (24%)
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 919     avg: 937     median: 924 (1%)     max: 968 ms
867 ms (1%)
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
71 ms (1%)
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 38473     avg: 40081     median: 40081 (36%)     max: 41689 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
211 Points (44%)
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
145.9 Watt (25%)
202 Watt (35%)
131.6 Watt (23%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
134 Watt (24%)
203.2 Watt (37%)
122.5 Watt (22%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
8.2 Points per Watt (6%)
10 Points per Watt (7%)
8 Points per Watt (6%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-9600K → 100% n=32

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i9-9900K → 142% n=32

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-9400F → 97% n=32

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.26
log 04. 23:23:33

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#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Sat, 04 May 2024 05:40:37 +0200 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#5 composed specs +0.021s ... 0.021s

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#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 11231 +0.003s ... 0.024s

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#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.122s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.415s ... 0.537s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.537s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)