Intel Core i5 8400 6-core LGA 1151

The Intel Core i5-8400 is a 6-core budget desktop CPU that still holds up for 1080p gaming and everyday use. It runs cool, uses just 65W, and is easy to install, making it a great drop-in upgrade for older systems. Just make sure you have a 300 series motherboard and don't overpay, prices vary a lot on the refurbished market.

In our database, the i5-8400 posts a PassMark multi-thread score of 9236 and a single-thread score of 2364. That puts it around the 58th percentile for multi-thread and 66th percentile for single-thread performance among all CPUs we track. Translation: it's a solid middle-of-the-pack performer that still handles everyday tasks and gaming without breaking a sweat. The 2.8GHz base clock with a 4.0GHz turbo means it idles efficiently but ramps up when you need it.

For gaming specifically, the 6 cores and 6 threads are the sweet spot for 1080p. You won't see the frame rates of a Ryzen 5 9600X or anything modern, but paired with something like a GTX 1660 Super or RTX 3060, this chip keeps up fine in most esports titles and AAA games at medium to high settings. The 9MB of L3 cache helps with frame pacing too. Where it falls behind is heavy multitasking, video editing, or streaming while gaming. Six threads get saturated fast when you're running OBS, Discord, and a game simultaneously. The 65W TDP is a real highlight though. It runs cool and quiet, even with the stock cooler in most cases.

The most obvious modern comparison is the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X. That chip absolutely demolishes the i5-8400 in every metric, but it also costs significantly more and requires a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 memory. If you're building from scratch with a real budget, the i5-8400 plus a cheap used B360 board is a fraction of the total cost. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is another budget option floating around, but it's an older server chip with worse single-thread performance and higher power draw. For gaming, the i5-8400 is the better pick. The ADVB3 Phenom II X6 is ancient by comparison and not worth considering unless you're building a retro rig. The be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5 is a cooler, not a CPU, so that's not really a fair fight. The DAKboard CPU v4 is a niche low-power option for digital signage, not a general purpose desktop chip.

If you're cross-shopping, the real question is whether to buy this used or stretch for something newer. A used Ryzen 5 3600 often goes for similar money and gives you 12 threads, which helps a lot with multitasking. But if you already have a 300 series motherboard lying around, the i5-8400 is a no-brainer drop-in upgrade.

Here's where things get interesting. USD prices range from USD 70 to USD 156 across four listings, and that's a pretty wide spread for a chip this old. If you can snag one near the USD 70 mark, it's an absolute steal. At USD 156, you're getting into territory where a used Ryzen 5 3600 or even a newer i3 starts making more sense. The best deals we're seeing are on Amazon Renewed, where the refurbished units come with a replacement or refund guarantee, which takes some of the sting out of buying used silicon. In EUR, prices run from EUR 167 to EUR 206, which honestly feels steep compared to the US market. European buyers might want to check local used marketplaces before pulling the trigger on a refurbished unit at those prices.

The Intel Core i5-8400 is a 6-core desktop CPU from Intel's 8th gen Coffee Lake lineup, and these days it lives almost entirely on the refurbished and used market. You'll find it floating around Amazon Renewed and Newegg for roughly USD 70 to USD 156 depending on the listing, which puts it squarely in budget build territory. It runs on the LGA 1151 socket with a 65W TDP, so it sips power compared to a lot of modern chips. The catch? You need a 300 series motherboard, which means pairing it with something like a B360 or Z370 board. If you're coming from an older 4th gen i7 or a laptop, this thing feels like a genuine leap forward.

People searching for this CPU usually want to know one thing: is the Core i5-8400 still good for gaming in 2025? The short answer is yes, for 1080p gaming on a budget. Six physical cores at up to 4.0GHz boost is still enough for most titles, especially paired with a mid-range GPU. It won't blow anyone away in heavy productivity workloads, but for the price, it's hard to argue with what you get.

One thing to keep in mind: this is a locked chip. No overclocking support, so what you see is what you get. That's fine for most people, but if you like tinkering with multipliers, look elsewhere. The included Intel UHD Graphics 630 is fine for basic display output and light tasks, but nobody should buy this expecting to game on integrated graphics.

Skip the i5-8400 if you do serious video editing, 3D rendering, or stream while gaming. Six threads get saturated quickly under those workloads, and you'll feel the stutter. Content creators should look at a used Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 7 2700X instead, both of which offer more threads for similar money on the used market. Also skip it if you don't already have a 300 series motherboard, since buying a board just for this chip limits your future upgrade path. And if you're the type who likes squeezing extra performance out of your hardware, the locked multiplier will frustrate you. Finally, if you're buying in Europe where refurbished units run EUR 167 to EUR 206, the value just isn't there compared to newer budget options.

Should you buy the Intel Core i5-8400 in 2025? If you're building a budget gaming PC and can find one for under USD 100, absolutely. It's still a capable 1080p gaming chip that runs cool, sips power, and delivers a smooth experience in most titles. The 4.7 out of 5 star rating across 3278 reviews tells you most people who bought this chip are happy with it. The main complaints are about defective refurbished units and the lack of overclocking, neither of which is a dealbreaker if you buy from a seller with a return policy.

But if you're paying closer to USD 150 or buying in Europe where prices hover around EUR 167 to EUR 206, the value proposition gets shaky. At that point, you're better off looking at a used Ryzen 5 3600 or saving a bit more for a modern budget chip. The i5-8400 is a great CPU for what it is, but it's a 2017 chip, and the market has moved on.