Intel Core i5 14400F vs Intel Core i5 14600K: Which Is the Better CPU?

Intel Core i5 14400F meets Core i5 14600K. Find out which one is better in gaming, benchmarks, and multithreading.

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On paper, the 14600K is a better buy due to its higher core count, boost clock, cache memory, and overclocking capabilities, as well as Intel QuickSync support. But the 14400F isn’t that far behind. The 14400F is a budget-focused powerhouse, whereas the 14600K is a performance-focused option. Between the two, let’s find out how much the difference is.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285K: Which Is the Better CPU?

Intel Core i5 14400F vs Intel Core i5 14600K: Detailed Comparison

14400F image — An image showing the I5 14400F processor (Image via Intel)

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs for the Core i5 14400F and Core i5 14600K:

Specification	Core i5 14400F	Core i5 14600K
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (14th Gen)	Raptor Lake-R (14th Gen)
Core/Thread count	10 cores (6P + 4E) / 16 threads	14 cores (6P + 8E) / 20 threads
Max clock speed	Up to 4.7GHz	Up to 5.3GHz
L3 cache	20MB	24MB
RAM support	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 (up to 2 channels, max 192 GB)	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 (up to 2 channels, max 192 GB)
PCIe Gen support	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 (up to 20 lanes)	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 (up to 20 lanes)
Platform Socket	LGA 1700	LGA 1700
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	58W base, 148W max turbo	125W base, 181W max turbo
Manufacturing nodes	Intel 7 (10nm)	Intel 7 (10nm)

Spec-wise, the 14600K has a higher-tier CPU in contrast to the 14400F. However, the 14600K is best paired with a Z series board for a heightened performance with overclocking, and possibly pairing a high-frequency DDR5 kit. Regarding the 14400F, you can pick up a used DDR4 B660 motherboard and call it a day, and still get incredible performance, but not the full potency that the 14600K offers.

Synthetic Performance Comparison

From the benchmark scores below, it is apparent that the 14600K will be miles ahead with content creation workloads, such as video editing and 3D rendering. This is mainly due to higher turbo states, an unlocked nature, more cache memory, and better binned silicon overall.

The 14400F does put up a decent performance, and since its power draw is significantly lower than the 14600K, you can get away with the stock cooler, cheap memory, and still enjoy good multicore performance. The 14600K also offers several advantages, including undervolting, and is compatible with both Z series and B series motherboards.

Benchmark	Core i5 14400F	Core i5 14600K
Cinebench R23 Single-Core	1816	2072
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core	16252	25270
Geekbench 6 Single-Core	2402	2812
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core	12600	17190

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Hardware Tested’s YouTube channel, where the person conducted the tests with all the mentioned games at the competitive (medium) settings using a low-latency Dual Channel Memory kit with the RTX 4090 at 1080p.

Games	Core i5 14400F	Core i5 14600K
PUBG	219 FPS	270 FPS
Cyberpunk: 2077	180 FPS	220 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2	173 FPS	197 FPS
Assetto Corsa	462 FPS	611 FPS
Rust	136 FPS	168 FPS

As mentioned earlier, better cache memory and higher sustained boost clock result in a considerable performance leap. If you are looking for the best gaming and multithreading workload CPU under $200, the 14600K, even with a B-series motherboard, is a worthwhile investment.

The results speak for themselves: paying more gets you incredibly higher performance, so much so that it’s pretty much everything you would want from a CPU, capable of gaming, content creation, and more.

Price Comparison

The Core i5 14400F currently retails at Newegg.com for $135, and the Core i5 14600K for $194. Pricing information is accurate as of August 4, 2025. and can change without notice.

Final Verdict: Core i5 14400F vs Intel Core i5 14600K

In every use case, the 14600K is the superior option. The only problem you might encounter is voltage-related, which you can fix by undervolting using the x104 microcode (on your motherboard’s BIOS). That said, the 14400F is best suited for budget gaming PCs, with GPU power lower than an RTX 4070. The 14600K can easily handle RTX 5080-tier GPUs without a problem, provided you are playing at 1440p or beyond.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core i5-14400: Which Is the Better CPU?

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Intel Core i5 14400F vs Intel Core i5 14600K: Which Is the Better CPU?