Intel Core i5-9400F

Intel Core i5-9400F in 2025: Is It Worth Getting This "Veteran" for a Budget Build?
Key Specifications: Coffee Lake in the Era of New Technologies
The Intel Core i5-9400F processor, released back in 2019, remains a popular choice for budget PCs even in 2025. Its Coffee Lake architecture (14 nm) features 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock speed of 2.9 GHz and turbo boost up to 4.1 GHz. The L3 cache is 9 MB, which is sufficient for most everyday tasks.
Key Features:
- No Integrated Graphics (the "F" designation in the name). A discrete graphics card is required for operation.
- Energy Efficiency: The TDP of 65 W reduces cooling requirements.
- Performance: In Geekbench 6 (2025), it scores about ~1368 points in single-threaded and ~4803 points in multi-threaded tests. In comparison, the Ryzen 5 3600 shows similar results but supports 12 threads.
The 14 nm manufacturing process in 2025 looks archaic compared to AMD's 7 nm Ryzen and Intel's 10 nm Alder Lake. However, this is not critical for basic tasks.
Compatible Motherboards: What to Choose in 2025?
The i5-9400F uses the LGA 1151 v2 socket, compatible with 300 series chipsets:
- H310/B360/H370 — basic options for office PCs. They support DDR4-2666 MHz but lack PCIe 4.0 and overclocking capabilities.
- Z390 — the top chipset with memory overclocking capabilities, although the processor itself does not support overclocking.
Examples of Motherboards:
- ASUS Prime B360M-A (2025 price: ~$60–$80) — optimal for a build without future upgrades.
- MSI Z390-A Pro (~$90–$110) — for enthusiasts planning to upgrade to i7-9700K.
Important! New motherboards for LGA 1151 are no longer being produced — only remnants are available on the market. An alternative is to purchase used ones, but this article focuses only on new devices.
Supported Memory: DDR4 as the Standard
The processor works with DDR4-2666 MHz (on H/B series chipsets). On Z390, memory can be overclocked, but the performance increase in games will be minimal (5–8%).
Recommendations:
- For office tasks: 8–16 GB (2x4 GB or 2x8 GB).
- For gaming: 16 GB (2x8 GB) with CL16 timings.
DDR5 is not supported — this is the main downside in 2025, where DDR5 has become the standard for new systems.
Power Supply: How Many Watts Are Needed?
With a TDP of 65 W, the i5-9400F does not require a powerful PSU. However, it's important to consider the graphics card:
- RTX 3050 or RX 6600: a 450–500 W power supply should suffice (e.g., EVGA 500 BR, ~$50).
- RTX 3060 or RX 6700 XT: a 550 W PSU is recommended (Corsair CX550M, ~$70).
Tip: Don’t skimp on the power supply. Cheap models (like Apevia) might work unstably under load.
Pros and Cons of the i5-9400F in 2025
Pros:
- Price: ~$120–$150 for a new processor (from stock).
- Energy Consumption: suitable for compact builds.
- Gaming: handles most titles at Full HD (for instance, Cyberpunk 2077 at medium settings gives ~60 FPS with an RTX 2060).
Cons:
- 6 threads: multitasking performance is weaker compared to the Ryzen 5 3600 (12 threads).
- Outdated platform: lacks PCIe 4.0, DDR5, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.
- No upgrade potential: the next step would be to switch to the LGA 1700 or AM5 platform.
Use Cases: Where Is the i5-9400F Still Relevant?
1. Gaming. Paired with a graphics card like the RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT, the processor provides a comfortable gaming experience at Full HD. For example, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 delivers stable 80–90 FPS on high settings.
2. Office Tasks. Working with documents, browsers, Zoom — no problems.
3. Multimedia. Streaming video, editing basic clips in Premiere Pro (but rendering will be slower compared to Ryzen).
Not suitable for:
- Intensive 3D modeling or rendering in Blender.
- Streaming without using NVENC on the graphics card.
Comparison with Competitors
1. AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (6 cores/12 threads, ~$130–$150):
- Better in multi-threaded tasks (+30% in Cinebench R23).
- Supports PCIe 4.0 (on B550/X570 boards).
- But higher power consumption (65 W vs. 95 W for Ryzen).
2. Intel Core i3-12100F (4 cores/8 threads, ~$100–$120):
- Higher IPC, better single-threaded performance (+15% in Geekbench 6).
- But fewer cores — worse multitasking.
3. AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (6 cores/12 threads, ~$140–$160):
- More modern 7 nm manufacturing process.
- PCIe 4.0 support, but requires an AM4 board.
Conclusion: The i5-9400F falls behind in multi-threading but wins on price in the secondary market.
Practical Assembly Tips
1. Motherboard: Choose a B365/B360 with a warranty (e.g., ASRock B365M-HDV). Avoid H310 due to slot limitations.
2. Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quieter operation, consider the DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 (~$25).
3. Storage: An SSD is essential (Crucial P3 500 GB, ~$40) — HDDs will bottleneck performance.
4. Graphics Card: Opt for models with 8 GB VRAM (GTX 1660 Super, RTX 3050).
5. Case: Ensure it supports the motherboard size (Micro-ATX is most common).
Sample Build:
- CPU: i5-9400F ($130)
- Graphics Card: RX 6600 ($220)
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4-2666 ($45)
- Storage: 1 TB NVMe ($60)
- PSU: 550 W ($70)
- Total: ~$525 without the case.
Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the i5-9400F?
This processor is worth considering if:
- The budget is tight, and new platforms (AM5/LGA 1700) are not affordable.
- You need a PC for gaming at Full HD or office work.
- You do not plan to upgrade in the next 2–3 years.
Alternative: If you can add $50–$70 to your budget, it's better to go for the Ryzen 5 3600 or i3-13100F for a more modern platform. But for "here and now", the i5-9400F remains a viable option, especially if you can find components on sale.