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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-6100 vs Core i5-9400

The Core i3-6100 is slightly slower than the Core i5-9400 on average across 100+ games. However, it's a much better value for money, as it's $145.10 cheaper!

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CPU

$53.85View CPUAll CPUs

CPU

$198.95View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 17% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 3 years and 2 months newer

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i3-6100

200FPS

Core i5-9400

204FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i3-6100

187FPS

Core i5-9400

215FPS

Elden Ring2022

Core i3-6100

149FPS

Core i5-9400

152FPS

Apex Legends2019

Core i3-6100

366FPS

Core i5-9400

365FPS

Dota 22013

Core i3-6100

180FPS

Core i5-9400

189FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i3-6100

325FPS

Core i5-9400

327FPS

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i3-6100

215FPS

Core i5-9400

220FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i3-6100

597FPS

Core i5-9400

618FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i3-6100

22%

Core i5-9400

29%

Core i5-9400 ranks 7 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-6100

Core i5-9400

Core i5-9400 has 4 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-6100

Core i5-9400

Core i5-9400 has 2 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-6100

4 MB

Core i5-9400

9 MB

Core i5-9400 has 5 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-6100

3.7 GHz

Core i5-9400

2.9 GHz

Core i3-6100 has a 28% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-6100

Core i5-9400

4.1 GHz

TDPhelp

Core i3-6100

51W

Core i5-9400

65W

Core i3-6100 draws 14W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-6100

$53.85

Core i5-9400

$198.95

Core i3-6100 is $145.10 cheaper.

Core i3-6100Core i5-9400

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1151

Skylake

Codenamehelp

Coffee Lake

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD 530

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD 630

2133 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

2666 MHz (DDR4)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-6100 or Core i5-9400?expand_more

The Core i5-9400. It's 32% faster than the Core i3-6100 on average across 100+ games, scoring 29/100 vs 22/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i5-9400 than Core i3-6100?expand_more

32% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-6100 or Core i5-9400?expand_more

The Core i5-9400 is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i5-9400 worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 29/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-6100 and Core i5-9400?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-6100 scores 22/100, Core i5-9400 scores 29/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-6100 or Core i5-9400 bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-6100 or Core i5-9400?expand_more

The Core i5-9400 is the stronger pick at 29/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.