CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-11500 vs Intel Core i5-8400
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-11500 is the mainstream sweet spot of Intel's 11th Gen desktop stack. Featuring 6 cores and 12 threads with a 2.7 GHz base and a 4.6 GHz boost, it strikes an excellent balance between price and performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Highly capable for office work, programming, and everyday multi-tasking.
Handles office tasks and moderate programming workloads efficiently.
Gaming
Strong gaming performance with a discrete GPU, comparable to more expensive non-K i7s of the prior generation.
Capable of smooth 1080p gaming when paired with a mid-range discrete GPU.
Virtualization
Sufficient for development VMs and basic sandboxing.
Good for basic VMs, but 6 threads limit heavy parallel virtualization.
Efficiency
14nm limits efficiency under full load, but idle and light load power draw is acceptable.
Balanced performance within a standard 65W power envelope.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration
- Quick Sync can assist in specific video AI workloads
- No AI-specific hardware
- CPU inference is slow due to lack of threads
Content Creation
Gaming
- High boost clocks ensure strong frame rates
- iGPU allows troubleshooting without a discrete card
- Competes closely with the 11600 in most games
- Excellent for budget gaming builds
- Handles eSports titles flawlessly
- May bottleneck high-end modern GPUs at 1080p
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Includes UHD 750 integrated graphics
- Strong single-threaded performance
- Supports Quick Sync Video
- PCIe 4.0 ready
- Good out-of-the-box cooler included
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- Higher power draw than AMD equivalents under load
- Only 6 cores for multi-threaded tasks
- LGA 1200 platform is end-of-life
- iGPU not powerful enough for modern gaming
Pros
- Disruptive price-to-performance ratio
- 6 physical cores for modern gaming
- Includes integrated UHD Graphics 630
- Standard 65W TDP is easy to cool
- Wide compatibility with 300-series motherboards
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading (only 6 threads)
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- End-of-life platform (LGA 1151)
- Officially limited to DDR4-2666
- Not supported by Windows 11 officially
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-11500
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600XRival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i5-11400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700XRival
Mainstream Desktop
Cheaper if you already have a discrete graphics card.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Better multi-core performance and efficiency.
- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Newer generation with better IPC and efficiency.
More cores for heavy multi-tasking.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 7600Alt
Newer AM5 platform with DDR5 support.
Intel Core i5-8400
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-7500Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Intel Core i7-7700Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 2400GRival
Mainstream Desktop
Slightly newer generation with marginally higher clocks.
Compare head-to-headNewer platform with 8 threads and similar gaming performance.
Compare head-to-headLow power alternative for SFF builds.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A well-rounded processor that offers strong CPU performance and useful integrated graphics, making it perfect for versatile budget builds.
Best for: Building a versatile family PC or budget gaming rig with GPU fallback
Read the full reviewA legendary value CPU that forced the market to adopt 6 cores as the standard. Excellent for budget gaming, though lacking Hyper-Threading.
Best for: Upgrading an older LGA 1151 system on a budget, or building an office/HTPC machine.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-11500 or Intel Core i5-8400?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-8400 comes out ahead with a score of 8.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-11500 or Intel Core i5-8400?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-11500 leads with a gaming performance score of 80/100 among Intel Core i5-11500 and Intel Core i5-8400.
Do Intel Core i5-11500 and Intel Core i5-8400 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-11500: Intel Socket 1200, Intel Core i5-8400: Intel Socket 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-11500 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-11500 (9,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.