Intel Core i5 9400 vs Intel Core i5 6600K Unlocked

The Intel Core i5-9400 and the Intel Core i5-6600K are merely passable for their respective price points and don't stand out from their competition in any meaningful way. We recommend that you take a look at some other CPUs that cost around $180.

However, if you're still interested in learning more about these two options, we wrote a short summary of what we know about them:

The Intel Core i5-9400 was well-received by reviewers at Windows Central, a trustworthy source that performs unbiased hands-on testing. It did great in their "Best Intel CPUs in 2020" roundup - they named it their "Best Value", which, by itself, suggests that it's a noteworthy product.

Taking a look at the Intel Core i5-6600K, it got featured in roundups from two reliable sources that conduct their own testing - Expert Reviews and PCmag - but it fell short of earning a top spot in either.