Intel Core i5-6400
The current Intel Core i5-6400 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU
Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-6400. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 4C / 4T
- Boost clock
- 3300 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 154 W
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $57 the Intel Core i5-6400 is priced in line with its $57 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i5-6400: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
1 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-6400 | Newegg | New | $57 | 44 | 2026-11-08 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-6400Multiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#261 of 270 graded processors
- #258 IntelIntel Core i5-6600T 3
- #259 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 3
- #260 IntelIntel Core i5-6402P 3
- #261 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 3
- #262 IntelIntel Core i5-6500T 3
- #263 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 3
- #264 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G6400 2
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#77 of 270 currently priced processors
- #74 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 235 44
- #75 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2650 44
- #76 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 265KF 44
- #77 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 44
- #78 IntelIntel Core i5-14500 44
- #79 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2660 V3 44
- #80 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 44
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#255 of 270 graded processors
- #252 IntelIntel Core i5-6600T 49
- #253 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 49
- #254 IntelIntel Core i5-6402P 49
- #255 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 49
- #256 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 48
- #257 IntelIntel Core i5-6500T 48
- #258 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2650 v4 48
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#180 of 270 currently priced processors
- #177 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X 30
- #178 AMDAMD A8-7680 30
- #179 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 30
- #180 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 30
- #181 IntelIntel Core i9-10980XE 30
- #182 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 29
- #183 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 29
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#261 of 270 graded processors
- #258 IntelIntel Core i5-6600T 3
- #259 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 3
- #260 IntelIntel Core i5-6402P 3
- #261 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 3
- #262 IntelIntel Core i5-6500T 3
- #263 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 3
- #264 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G6400 2
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#243 of 270 currently priced processors
- #240 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G5400 15
- #241 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 15
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-7640X 15
- #243 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 15
- #244 IntelIntel Core i9-9900 15
- #245 IntelIntel Core i3-9350K 15
- #246 IntelIntel Celeron G5900 14
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#265 of 270 graded processors
- #262 AMDAMD A8-7680 7
- #263 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 6
- #264 IntelIntel Core i5-6402P 6
- #265 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 6
- #266 IntelIntel Celeron G5900 6
- #267 IntelIntel Xeon E5 1620 V4 5
- #268 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 5
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#88 of 270 currently priced processors
- #85 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 37
- #86 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D 37
- #87 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4600G 36
- #88 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 36
- #89 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 36
- #90 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 36
- #91 IntelIntel Core i5-14600KF 36
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value44 | Higher capability Intel Core i7-6850K 60 +119% capability · -2% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-8100 100 +17% capability · -45% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value30 | Higher capability Intel Core i3-8350K C 49 +10% capability · -13% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-8100 C 55 +3% capability · -45% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value15 | Higher capability Intel Core i7-6850K F 26 +119% capability · -2% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 2400G F 30 +68% capability · -4% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value36 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 2400G F 85 +211% capability · -4% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-8100 F 85 +22% capability · -45% price |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded C for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near $32, against a cheapest tracked $57
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i3-8100 holds Relative Value 100 against its 44 with Balanced priorities, at $31
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Gaming is your main useit grades C there; Intel Core i3-8350K grades C at $49
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i3-8100 holds Relative Value 55 against its 30 for Gaming, at $31
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades F there; Intel Core i7-6850K grades F at $56
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 2400G holds Relative Value 30 against its 15 for Productivity, at $55
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 5 2400G grades F at $55
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value for Performance per Watt — the calculation only gets there near $26, against a cheapest tracked $57
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i3-8100 holds Relative Value 85 against its 36 for Performance per Watt, at $31
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i5-6400
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 4
- Threads
- 4
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 2700 MHz
- Boost clock
- 3300 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Maximum memory
- 64 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel HD Graphics 530
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 1 MB
- L3 cache
- 6 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- BX80662I56400
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09
What to check in your build
LGA 1151 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1151. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
Unknown
Cooler rated for 154 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 154 W on socket LGA 1151.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i5-6400 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #261 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 146. Intel Core i3-8100 currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-6400 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #255 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 146. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-6400 offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #261 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 146. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-6400 offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #265 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 146. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.