Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-10400F

CPU

GPU

Athlon 220GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2018

Similar parts

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Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Core family

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Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-10400F Performance Spectrum

Athlon 220GE

2 / 4

4,441

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+193.4%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-10400F FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-10400F: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 220GE

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $95 less on MSRP ($65 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 3, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (2,023 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($65 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +102.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Delivers 19.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 68.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon 220GE.

Trade-offs

❌
146.2% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$65 MSRP
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon 220GE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Athlon 220GE?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 102.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 185.9% better Geekbench multi-core, 193.4% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-10400F is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 102.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10400F is the stronger fit. You are getting 185.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-10400F is the better buy right now. Core i5-10400F comes in 146.2% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $65 MSRP, and it still gives you a 102.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 19.2% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 68.3 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Athlon 220GE can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-10400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018), 200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 220GE vs Core i5-10400F Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 220GE

The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.

Core i5-10400F

The Core i5-10400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,029 points. Launch price was $155.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 220GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Athlon 220GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 220GE scores 4,441 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 98.3% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 886 vs 1,454, a 48.5% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,023 vs 5,783 (96.3% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 220GE vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-10400F
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.3 GHz+26%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+17%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	12 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	4,441	13,029+193%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	8,191
Geekbench 6 Single	886	1,454+64%
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,023	5,783+186%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 220GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Athlon 220GE versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F — the Athlon 220GE supports 0% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-10400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 220GE) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) — the Core i5-10400F offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Athlon 220GE) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-10400F
Socket	AM4	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2667	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

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Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 220GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 220GE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). The Athlon 220GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop, Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-10400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	Gaming

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 220GE was priced at $65, while the Core i5-10400F came in at $160. On launch pricing ($65 vs $160), Athlon 220GE was $95 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 220GE delivers 68.3 pts/$ vs 81.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 17.5% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Core i5-10400F
MSRP	$65-59%	$160
Performance per Dollar	68.3	81.4+19%
Release Date	2018	2020

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