Skip to content
InnoReviews

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

WINNER
I
28.4Inno Score
VS
Intel Core i7-4790K
27.9Inno Score
30.3Single-core31.6
27.5Multi-core25.9
27.8Gamingspec-based26.9
8 spec wins — Intel Core i5-94005 spec wins — Intel Core i7-4790K

InnoReviews verdict

This one is close to a dead heat: Intel Core i5-9400 scores 28.4 against 27.9 for Intel Core i7-4790K. Pick by the categories that matter to you — Intel Core i5-9400 edges ahead in multi-core, or by price.

Which would you pick?

Key differences

Reasons to pick the Intel Core i5-9400

  • 300% higher Max memory: 128 GB vs 32 GB
  • 50% higher cores: 6 vs 4
  • 50% higher L2 cache: 1.5 MB vs 1 MB
  • 36% lower process: 14 nm vs 22 nm
  • 26% lower Base TDP: 65 W vs 88 W
  • Lower launch price: $182 vs $339

Reasons to pick the Intel Core i7-4790K

  • 38% higher Base clock: 4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz
  • 33% higher threads: 8 vs 6
  • Has Unlocked multiplier — the other doesn't

General

General comparison: Intel Core i5-9400 versus Intel Core i7-4790K
SpecIntel Core i5-9400Intel Core i7-4790K
Announced20192014
SocketLGA1151LGA1150
Process14 nm+36%22 nm
Base TDP65 W+26%88 W
Unlocked multiplierNoYes
Cooler includedYesYes

Cores & Clocks

Cores & Clocks comparison: Intel Core i5-9400 versus Intel Core i7-4790K
SpecIntel Core i5-9400Intel Core i7-4790K
Cores6+50%4
Performance cores—4
Efficiency cores—0
Threads68+33%
Base clock2.9 GHz4 GHz+38%
Boost clock4.1 GHz4.4 GHz+7%
L2 cache1.5 MB+50%1 MB
L3 cache9 MB+13%8 MB

Integrated GPU

Integrated GPU comparison: Intel Core i5-9400 versus Intel Core i7-4790K
SpecIntel Core i5-9400Intel Core i7-4790K
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 630Intel HD Graphics 4600
iGPU clock1,050 MHz1,250 MHz

Memory

Memory comparison: Intel Core i5-9400 versus Intel Core i7-4790K
SpecIntel Core i5-9400Intel Core i7-4790K
Memory supportDDR4-2666DDR3-1600
Max memory128 GB+300%32 GB
Memory channels22

Platform

Platform comparison: Intel Core i5-9400 versus Intel Core i7-4790K
SpecIntel Core i5-9400Intel Core i7-4790K
PCIe version33
CPU PCIe lanes1616

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: Intel Core i5-9400 versus Intel Core i7-4790K
SpecIntel Core i5-9400Intel Core i7-4790K
PassMark9,350+16%Bottom 15%8,062Bottom 11%
PassMark (single thread)2,412Bottom 16%2,464+2%Bottom 19%
Use this on your site or forum

Copy a ready-made link. Scores on this page update as new results are published, so the link always leads to the current figures.

HTML (for a website or blog)
Markdown (Reddit, GitHub, Discord)
BBCode (forums)

Related comparisons

Try another matchup