The i5-8400 is a competitively priced hex-core processor from Intel’s 8th generation of Core processors (Coffee Lake). Along with the release of the unlocked i5-8600K, this is the first time that six-core processors have featured in the i5 line-up. Like the other Coffee Lake processors, the i5-8400 is based upon an improved version of Intel’s 14nm architecture which featured in both Skylake and Kaby Lake. Early benchmarks reveal that for average quad core usage (most games employ a maximum of four cores) the i5-8400 performs way above its pay grade. It achieves quad core mixed speeds close to Intel’s outgoing 2017 flagship the $300, quad-core, 8 thread i7-7700k, which to date has been a strong favourite for high-end gaming setups. On paper, the i5-8400 has a base clock of 2.8 GHz (Intel are significantly downplaying the performance of this SKU by giving it a relatively low nominal base clock), an all core boost of 3.8 GHz (this is the effective base clock figure that counts) and a single core boost of 4 GHz. This compares reasonably well to the i5-8600K which has a base clock of 3.6 GHz, all core boost of 4.1 GHz and a single core boost of 4.3 GHz. The i5-8400 also features 9MB of L3 cache and an energy-thrifty TDP of 65W. Priced at under $190, the i5-8400 offers fantastic value for money. Unfortunately, like the other Coffee Lake processors, the i5-8400 will require a new 300 series motherboard, and at the time of writing, the only available version is Intel’s high-end Z370 which isn't an ideal pairing for the i5-8400. The Z series motherboards are designed to cater for the unlocked and overclockable "K" SKUs. Cheaper 300 series motherboards will be available in 2018 at which time the 8400 will offer even better value for money. [Oct '17CPUPro]
The Intel Core i9-10850K is one of the best valued high-end CPUs from Intel in the past few years. Essentially, the 10850K is a worse binned 10900K, meaning that it may be a hundred or two megahertz slower than the 10900K and may not overclock as well as a standard 10900K. Otherwise, the 10850K is nearly identical to the 10900K. The 10850K is a very strong gaming and workstation CPU. With a sub-$400 price-tag, the 10850K has a similar pricing to the Ryzen 7 5800X. Gamers who want the faster overall gaming performance should go with the Ryzen 7 5800X, while users who want the best overclocking and a slightly better workstation/multi-core performance may want to stick with the 10850K. Note that Intel will be switching to a new chipset with their 12th generation Alder Lake processors, so the upgrade path is limited to Intel's 11th generation Rocket Lake processors, which is mostly not worth the upgrade. Also, as of Q1 of 2020, the 10900K remains $75-100 more expensive than the 10850K. There is just not enough performance gain for most users to justify the extra cost, so most users would be better off with a 10850K. At the end of the day, the 10850K is still a very solid choice for anyone who wants a high-performing intel processor that will last for a good few years before really needing a upgrade. [May '21NorthStar]
We calculate effective speed which measures real world performance for typical users. Effective speed is adjusted by current prices to yield a value for money rating. Our calculated values are checked against thousands of individual user ratings. The customizable table below combines these factors to bring you the definitive list of top CPUs. [CPUPro]
Welcome to our PC speed test tool. UserBenchmark will test your PC and compare the results to other users with the same components. You can quickly size up your PC, identify hardware problems and explore the best value for money upgrades.