The Intel Core i5-9400F is part of the budget models in the Core 9000 series and features six cores. This mid-range CPU impresses with increased clock speeds and optimized boost functions compared to its predecessors, and its TDP is only 65 watts. The processor is compatible with Socket 1151 motherboards from the 300 series. With a base clock of 2.9 GHz, the Core i5-9400F offers a high clock rate that automatically increases when more performance is needed. Depending on the demands of the application or game, its Turbo Boost function raises the clock frequency up to 4.1 GHz. The processor supports a maximum standard clock of 2666 MHz for DDR4 memory and supports dual-channel mode. Depending on the motherboard, RAM kits with significantly higher clock rates can also be used through overclocking. Intel's ninth-generation Core processors are manufactured using the 14nm++ process. According to Intel, this allows for up to 26% more performance with approximately 50% lower power consumption.

The F version comes without integrated graphics. The "F" designation means that the CPU is delivered with the integrated graphics unit disabled. Therefore, a dedicated graphics card is required to operate a system with this processor.