Pcxdd · 09/07/2025
Hands-on review · gaming benchmarks and CPU comparison
Intel Core i5-9400F is still fine for 1080p gaming if you already own it, but Ryzen 5 3600 or 5500 are better buys.
Likes- Still runs modern games well at 1080p
- Good price and efficiency for its age
- Stable performance in recent gaming tests
Dislikes- Only six threads, weak for streaming and multitasking
- No integrated graphics, so a dedicated GPU is required
- Ryzen 5 3600 and 5500 offer more for the price
Eduardo TecnologÃa · 23/03/2021
Hands-on test · gaming PC performance in three games
The Intel Core i5-9400F runs well at high settings with 100+ fps, though Apex Legends has some optimization issues.
Likes- Smooth Fortnite performance at lower graphics settings
- Strong frame rates for a 144 Hz monitor in some titles
- Playable Warzone performance across graphics presets
Dislikes- Apex Legends stays capped at 75 fps and shows rendering glitches
- Fortnite at Epic settings drops to around 40-45 fps
benjaps07 · 28/07/2020
Buying advice · game benchmarks · Ryzen 5 2600 comparison
The Intel Core i5-9400F is very good value for gaming, with strong performance and a lower price than its AMD rival.
Likes- Strong frame rates in games compared with the Ryzen 5 2600
- Good overall performance for basic tasks and gaming
- Good price-to-performance for its class
Dislikes- Six cores and no hyperthreading, so fewer threads than hoped
- Small frame-rate gains over the rival in some games
- Not a fit for high-end systems, where top chips are far stronger
Ricardo AC · 07/07/2020
Long-term use · a year of gaming and streaming notes
Intel Core i5-9400F suits casual gaming but is not the right pick for streaming, editing or Warzone.
Likes- Good gaming performance in casual titles like Fortnite
- Low power draw with a 65W TDP
- Good value for the price paid
- Runs cool with a good cooler
Dislikes- Struggles with Warzone, pushing CPU load to near maximum
- Not suited to streaming or frequent video editing
- Locked CPU and no integrated graphics
Facussj3 - Hardware & Gaming · 26/05/2020
Hands-on review · benchmarks, game tests and unboxing
Intel Core i5-9400F is excellent value for money, especially for people upgrading an existing PC.
Likes- Excellent gaming performance across all tested titles
- Low temperatures in demanding games
- Strong value for money at its price
Dislikes- Turbo clock appears lower than the advertised frequency
- Upgrading also requires a new motherboard, not just the processor
LordsTecno · 01/05/2020
Benchmark review · Cinebench and game FPS tests
Intel Core i5-9400F is strongly recommended for gaming builds, with good price-performance against alternatives.
Likes- Good gaming performance for its price
- Clear gains in Cinebench and game FPS tests
- Strong value compared with similar-spec CPUs
Dislikes- Similar-spec alternatives cost only slightly more
- Older 2019 chip, so its value depends on current pricing
MAXIMUS TV · 05/06/2019
Combo review · FPS tests at 1080p
Intel Core i5-9400F in this combo performs very well at 1080p, running games smoothly and well online.
Likes- Strong frame rates in demanding games at 1080p
- Good performance for the price
- Smooth gameplay in competitive titles
- Plays well online
Dislikes- Weaker results in a few poorly optimised games
- Basic two-fan cooling on the graphics card
FULLH4RD · 20/04/2019
Benchmark comparison · i5-8400 in games and synthetic tests
Intel Core i5-9400F is good value for builds with a dedicated GPU, performing about the same as the i5-8400 for less money.
Likes- Performance about the same as the i5-8400
- Slightly cheaper than the i5-8400
- Small or no gap in the games tested
Dislikes- No integrated graphics, so a dedicated GPU is required
- Clear gain over the i5-8400 only in the most demanding test
OTAKUGAME FR · 15/07/2023
Hands-on test · bottleneck with RTX 4060 in Exoprimal
Intel Core i5-9400F is fine for 60 FPS on Ultra in Exoprimal, but it holds back the RTX 4060 at higher frame rates.
Likes- Runs Exoprimal at 60 FPS on Ultra settings
- GPU stays well used at a 60 FPS target
Dislikes- Cannot hit 90 or 120 FPS, leaving the graphics card waiting on it
- Bottlenecks the RTX 4060 in high frame rate scenarios
MVHardware · 23/04/2019
Hands-on review · benchmarks and gaming tests
Intel Core i5-9400F performs very well and is recommended for mid-to-high-end gaming builds at its price.
Likes- Strong gaming performance in Full HD and 1440p
- Good value for a mid-to-high-end gaming build
- Clear benchmark results in Cinebench, 7-Zip and games
Dislikes- Productivity clearly behind the AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Stock cooler is not good enough for this processor
Tweakers Tech Hub · 01/07/2019
Hands-on review · gaming benchmarks and AMD comparison
Intel Core i5-9400F is a very interesting chip that offers the best gaming price-performance in its segment.
Likes- Strong gaming performance at medium and ultra settings
- Best price-performance ratio in its price segment
- Clear benchmark results across games and applications
Dislikes- Weaker multithreaded performance than comparable AMD processors
- No integrated graphics, so you need a separate graphics card