I5 6400
Processor
Intel Core i5-6400 (Skylake) — 4 cores / 4 threads, 2.7–3.3GHz, 6MB SmartCache, HD Graphics 530; efficient 65W CPU for 1080p-era builds, office and light editing.
Product Details
Overview
The Intel Core i5-6400 is a 6th-generation Skylake desktop processor built on Intel's 14nm process. It features 4 physical cores and 4 threads (no Hyper-Threading), a base clock of 2.7GHz and a maximum Turbo Boost of 3.3GHz, with 6MB of Intel SmartCache and a 65W TDP. The chip uses the LGA1151 socket and includes Intel HD Graphics 530 integrated GPU for basic display and media tasks.
Performance & real-world use
Skylake's IPC and clocks give the i5-6400 solid single-thread performance for everyday desktop work. Typical benchmark ballpark figures are around Cinebench R15 ~120–130 single-thread and ~330–360 multi-thread, and a PassMark CPU mark in the ~6000 range — enough for snappy office apps, web browsing and light productivity. The lack of Hyper-Threading means multi-threaded workloads (heavy video encoding, large 3D renders) will be slower than modern 6+ core CPUs, but it still handles light media editing and batch photo work comfortably.
With the HD Graphics 530 (base ~350MHz, dynamic up to ~1.05GHz) you can run desktop, streaming video and casual games at modest settings; pair the i5-6400 with a discrete GPU and it becomes a competent 1080p gaming platform for medium settings in many titles. The processor supports dual-channel DDR4-1866 or DDR3L-1600 memory, and typical motherboards provide PCIe 3.0 lanes for modern GPUs and NVMe storage.
Specs summary
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 (6th Gen Skylake)
- Cores / Threads: 4 cores / 4 threads
- Clocks: 2.7GHz base, up to 3.3GHz Turbo Boost
- Cache: 6MB Intel SmartCache
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 (up to ~1.05GHz dynamic)
- Process / Socket: 14nm, LGA1151
- Memory support: DDR4-1866 or DDR3L-1600 (dual-channel)
- TDP: 65W
Who this CPU is best suited for
The i5-6400 is ideal for users building a budget-to-mainstream desktop focused on everyday productivity, office suites, web and media consumption, and light creative work. It pairs well with a mid-range discrete GPU for 1080p gaming on medium settings and is a good option for upgrading older LGA115x systems where a solid, power-efficient quad-core is required without the cost of newer multi-core CPUs. Ideal for students, home-office users and gamers on a sensible budget.