Intel Core i5-9400F vs Intel Core i7-2600K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-9400F and Intel Core i7-2600K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i5-9400F

Intel Core i7-2600K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-9400F

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
Around 8% higher clock speed: 4.10 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Around 38% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 72.6°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 32 nm
4x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 32 GB
Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 39% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2430 vs 1742
Around 73% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 9458 vs 5481
Around 34% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1083 vs 811
Around 52% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 4737 vs 3117
2x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 3746 vs 1845

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Maximum frequency	4.10 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 72.6°C
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 32 nm
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 32 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2430 vs 1742
PassMark - CPU mark	9458 vs 5481
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1083 vs 811
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4737 vs 3117
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3746 vs 1845

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more threads: 8 vs 6

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of threads	8 vs 6

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-9400F
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2430

1742

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

9458

5481

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1083

811

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

4737

3117

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

3746

1845

Name	Intel Core i5-9400F	Intel Core i7-2600K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2430	1742
PassMark - CPU mark	9458	5481
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1083	811
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	4737	3117
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3746	1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		77.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		5.018

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-9400F	Intel Core i7-2600K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	Q1'19	3 January 2011
Place in performance rating	1348	2312
Processor Number	i5-9400F	i7-2600K
Series	9th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$317
Price now		$189.99
Value for money (0-100)		13.10
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.90 GHz	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3	5 GT/s DMI
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	4.10 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of threads	6	8
Die size		216 mm
L1 cache		64 KB (per core)
L2 cache		1024 KB
L3 cache		8192 KB
Transistor count		995 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR3 1066/1333
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	95 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015C (65W)
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Device ID		0x112
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.35 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support