Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-9400F OEM/Tray. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i5-9400F
The current Intel Core i5-9400F price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 6C / 6T
- Boost clock
- 4100 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 154 W
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: MediumAt $86 the Intel Core i5-9400F is priced 11% below its $97 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i5-9400F: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-9400F | Newegg | New | $108 | 37 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-9400F OEM/Tray | Newegg | New | $86 | 28 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-9400FMultiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#210 of 264 graded processors
- #207 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 6
- #208 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 6
- #209 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 6
- #210 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 6
- #211 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 5
- #212 IntelIntel Core i3-10300 5
- #213 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 5
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#183 of 264 currently priced processors
- #180 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 3950X 29
- #181 IntelIntel Core i5-9500F 28
- #182 IntelIntel Core i9-10940X 28
- #183 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 28
- #184 IntelIntel Core i9-7940X 27
- #185 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X 27
- #186 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 2700 27
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#205 of 264 graded processors
- #202 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 53
- #203 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 53
- #204 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 53
- #205 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 53
- #206 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 53
- #207 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 53
- #208 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2643 v4 53
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#217 of 264 currently priced processors
- #214 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 12
- #215 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 12
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 12
- #217 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 12
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-10300 12
- #219 IntelIntel Core i7-9700F 12
- #220 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 12
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#210 of 264 graded processors
- #207 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 6
- #208 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 6
- #209 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 6
- #210 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 6
- #211 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 5
- #212 IntelIntel Core i3-10300 5
- #213 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 5
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#217 of 264 currently priced processors
- #214 IntelIntel Core i5-9500F 1
- #215 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 1
- #216 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 1
- #217 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 1
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 1
- #219 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 1
- #220 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#215 of 264 graded processors
- #212 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 12
- #213 IntelIntel Core i7-9800X 11
- #214 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 11
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 11
- #216 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 11
- #217 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 11
- #218 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 11
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#227 of 264 currently priced processors
- #224 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 6
- #225 IntelIntel Core i5-9500F 6
- #226 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 6
- #227 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 6
- #228 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 6
- #229 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 6
- #230 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2650 v4 6
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value28 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 41 +143% capability · +17% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 77 +104% capability · +10% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value12 | Higher capability Intel Core i3-9350K C 17 +16% capability · -9% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B 59 +11% capability · +10% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3800X C 3 +143% capability · +17% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 3700X C 8 +137% capability · +8% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value6 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3700X B 45 +324% capability · +8% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 60 +265% capability · +10% price |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded C for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallycompeting products deliver so much more per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Consider other options if
- Gaming is what you actually need it forit grades C there; Intel Core i3-9350K grades C at $78
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- You are buying for Gaming and want no asterisksthe rubric caps this grade: gaming index estimated from single-thread speed, cache and x3d — not a measured game benchmark for this exact chip
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 7 3800X grades C at $100
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 7 3700X grades B at $92
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i5-9400F
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 6
- Performance cores
- 6
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 2900 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4100 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- No
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 5 MB
- L3 cache
- 9 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8068403358819
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 1151 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1151. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
Unknown
Cooler rated for 154 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 154 W on socket LGA 1151.
Discrete GPU required
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i5-9400F offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #210 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 266. Intel Core i3-10100F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-9400F offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #205 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 266. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-9400F offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #210 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 266. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-9400F offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #215 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 266. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon is shown as a discovery link when we do not have a permitted verified price snapshot. It is excluded from price comparisons, rankings and Relative Value until a compliant tracked price exists.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-17 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.