Best GPU for the Core i5-6400
At 1440p, the fastest current card the Core i5-6400 keeps busy is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB: the processor limits it in 24% of 55 popular games (estimated).
Which graphics card should I pair with the Core i5-6400?
| Resolution | Enough for 60 fps | Fastest good match | CPU-limited games | Best NVIDIA | Best AMD | Best Intel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p high | — | Radeon RX 6500 XT | 22% | GeForce GTX 1630 | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Arc A380 |
| 1440p high | — | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | 24% | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | Radeon RX 9050 4GB | Arc A380 |
| 4K high | — | Radeon RX 7600 XT | 25% | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon RX 7600 XT | Arc A770 16GB |
Enough for 60 fps: the slowest (usually cheapest) current desktop card that reaches 60 fps at high in 80% of the games. Fastest good match: the fastest card the Core i5-6400 limits in no more than 25% of the games. Faster cards still gain FPS, but in more games the processor sets the ceiling.
Estimated FPS with the Core i5-6400 (high preset)
| Game | Radeon RX 6500 XT |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 142CPU |
| Dota 2 | 189CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 53 |
| WARDOGS | 21 |
| Apex Legends™ | 58 |
| Valheim | 49 |
| Game | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 142CPU |
| Dota 2 | 189CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 60 |
| WARDOGS | 23 |
| Apex Legends™ | 65 |
| Valheim | 55 |
| Game | Radeon RX 7600 XT |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 142CPU |
| Dota 2 | 189CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 60 |
| WARDOGS | 23 |
| Apex Legends™ | 65 |
| Valheim | 56 |
Every current graphics card with the Core i5-6400
Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+.
Current cards: desktop GPUs released since 2020. Values above 300 fps are shown as 300+. How we estimate FPS. Check any other pairing in the bottleneck calculator.