Athlon 3000G vs Core i5-10400F

CPU

GPU

Athlon 3000G

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2019

Similar parts

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Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Core family

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Athlon 3000G vs Core i5-10400F Performance Spectrum

Athlon 3000G

2 / 4

4,446

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+193.0%

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 3000G 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 3000G 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 3000G

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $111 less on MSRP ($49 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Delivers 11.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 90.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($49 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 3 Graphics, 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 Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,800 vs 8,191).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 12 MB).

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +99.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 90.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $49 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon 3000G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Athlon 3000G?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 99.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 355.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 193.0% 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 99.9% 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 355.1% better Cinebench R23 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 still the better call for a fresh build. Core i5-10400F comes in 226.5% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $49 MSRP, and it still gives you a 99.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 3000G only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. Giving up that much average FPS in the shared benchmark data is simply too much for that budget trade-off.

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 2019), 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 3000G vs Core i5-10400F Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 3000G

The Athlon 3000G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: 4,446 points. Launch price was $49.

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 3000G 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 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 3000G versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 20.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Athlon 3000G uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 3000G scores 4,446 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 98.2% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 1,800 vs 8,191 (127.9% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 956 vs 1,454, a 41.3% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,970 vs 5,783 (98.4% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 3000G vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-10400F
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.3 GHz+23%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+21%	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+ (2018−2019)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	4,446	13,029+193%
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,800	8,191+355%
Geekbench 6 Single	956	1,454+52%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,970	5,783+194%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 3000G uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 2666 memory speed. 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM4 (Athlon 3000G) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-10400F
Socket	AM4	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 3000G has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon 3000G) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). The Athlon 3000G includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3 Graphics), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon 3000G rivals Pentium Gold G6400; Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-10400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3 Graphics	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Gaming

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 3000G was priced at $49, while the Core i5-10400F came in at $160. On launch pricing ($49 vs $160), Athlon 3000G was $111 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 3000G delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 81.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Athlon 3000G the 10.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-10400F
MSRP	$49-69%	$160
Performance per Dollar	90.7+11%	81.4
Release Date	2019	2020

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