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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-9400 vs Core i7-870

The Core i5-9400 is much faster than the Core i7-870 on average across 100+ games and it's also a much better value for money, as it's only $12.95 more expensive!

  • Up to 104% faster on average across 100+ games
  • Is 9 years and 3 months newer

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Scorehelp

Core i5-9400 ranks 25 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i5-9400 has 2 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i7-870 has 2 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-9400 has 1 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp
Intel Core i7-870 Logo
Core i7-870
2.933 GHz

Core i7-870 has a 1% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-9400 boosts 14% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-9400 draws 30W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i7-870 is $12.95 cheaper.

LGA1151
Sockethelp
LGA1156
Coffee Lake
Codenamehelp
Lynnfield
Desktop
Segmenthelp
Desktop
UHD 630
Integrated GPUhelp
No Integrated Graphics
2666 MHz (DDR4)
RAMhelp
DDR3
Not Overclockable
Overclock Supporthelp
Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-9400 or Core i7-870?expand_more
The Core i5-9400. It's 625% faster than the Core i7-870 on average across 100+ games, scoring 29/100 vs 4/100 in our gaming rating.
speedHow much faster is Core i5-9400 than Core i7-870?expand_more
625% 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 i5-9400 or Core i7-870?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 i5-9400 and Core i7-870?expand_more
Performance: Core i5-9400 scores 29/100, Core i7-870 scores 4/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.
compressWill the Core i5-9400 or Core i7-870 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 i5-9400 or Core i7-870?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.

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