Intel Core i5-11400F CPU Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The 11400F can currently be had for $174.99 / £149.99 in its respective markets, making it exceptional value for money. Pairing the 11400F with a B560 motherboard would allow for an amazing setup with great performance, especially in gaming and wouldn’t break the bank. If you are a casual PC gamer looking to get the most for your money, the 11400F/B560 combo is definitely one you are going to want to look into!

Overview

So far, the 11400F has to be my favourite CPU from the Intel 11th Gen launch! Even on paper, we were waiting for the day this CPU would arrive to see what it had to offer. A 6-core 65W CPU coming in at an affordable price and offering a decent turbo frequency? Yes please, we will take some of that! Looking back at the benchmarks and with our main focus being on gaming, you can see the 11400F isn’t far off from the 11600K; we are talking a few FPS in most of the games we tested, which is nothing at all.

Cores

The 11400F is a 6 core/12 thread processor similar to the 11600K we have reviewed previously. On first look, some may think it odd that it only has a 2.6GHz base clock in 2021! However, we are always hearing about that magical 5GHz mark these days, so how can the old 11400F still compete in today’s market? The answer is straightforward, and it’s all thanks to its turbo frequency which sees the 11400F boost to 4.40GHz. This turbo frequency will help the 11400F take on the hardest of tasks and make sure your system is ready for the challenge; especially when it comes to gaming.

Gaming & Beyond

Speaking of gaming, take a look back at the charts to see how well the 11400F stacks up to the likes of the 11600K and 11900K. Right on the tail of the 11600K and around 10-15 FPS away from the 11900K on average, the 11400F is taking no prisoners! So if gaming is all you’re worried about, the 11400F is a clear choice! It is only a few FPS behind the 11600K, but it is around $80 cheaper which means, you can spend that extra $80 on a better GPU or more RAM or even a 1TB SSD.

Should I Buy One?

Yes! If you are looking for a new CPU and your main focus is gaming, then yes! For your average gamer, the 11400F is going to be the sweet spot to give you those almighty frame rates you want to see in-game without breaking the bank. Gaming aside, the 11400F is a great all-around 6-core CPU that will see you through almost any task you need with ease. It is hard to go wrong with a CPU that offers this type of performance for the price.