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Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Core i5-10400F

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

Athlon 64 FX-74

2 Cores2 Thrd125 WWMax: 3 GHz2006
Similar parts
·······
Buy on Amazon
VS
Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020
Core family
·······
Buy on Amazon

Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Core i5-10400F Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 FX-74
2 / 2
1,658
0.0%
brand logoAthlon X2 BE-2300
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 3800+
brand logoAthlon Neo MV-40
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 5000+
brand logoRyzen 7 PRO 5755GE
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 3990X
Core i5-10400F
6 / 12
13,029
+685.8%
brand logoCore i7-6920HQ
brand logoCore i7-1160G7
brand logoCore i5-10500T
brand logoCore i7-10850H
brand logoXeon W-3245
brand logoCore Ultra 7 265HX
brand logoCore Ultra 9 285K
brand logoXeon w9-3495X

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 64 FX-74 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low192 FPS
medium152 FPS
high123 FPS
ultra100 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low326 FPS
medium318 FPS
high290 FPS
ultra253 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low326 FPS
medium326 FPS
high326 FPS
ultra326 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low326 FPS
medium326 FPS
high326 FPS
ultra326 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low261 FPS
medium249 FPS
high230 FPS
ultra209 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low274 FPS
medium206 FPS
high174 FPS
ultra150 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low162 FPS
medium139 FPS
high116 FPS
ultra94 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low273 FPS
medium232 FPS
high207 FPS
ultra182 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
Athlon 64 FX-74
low41 FPS
medium41 FPS
high41 FPS
ultra41 FPS
1080P
Core i5-10400F
low231 FPS
medium212 FPS
high176 FPS
ultra164 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

Athlon 64 FX-74 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 64 FX-74

2006

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (750 vs 5,783).
    • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
    • ❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
    • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

    Core i5-10400F

    2020

    Why buy it

    • ✅Better for gaming: +339.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • ✅Costs $339 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
    • ✅Delivers 2350.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 3.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
    • ✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
    • ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon 64 FX-74.

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core i5-10400F better than Athlon 64 FX-74?
    Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 339.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 671.1% better Geekbench multi-core, 685.8% 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 339.2% 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 671.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
    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 $339 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it still gives you a 339.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2350.8% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 3.3 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    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 2006) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Athlon 64 FX-74 vs Core i5-10400F Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    Athlon 64 FX-74

    The Athlon 64 FX-74 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Novembro 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,658 points. Launch price was $500.

    Intel

    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.

    ⚡

    Processing Power

    The Athlon 64 FX-74 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-74 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 35.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F. The Athlon 64 FX-74 uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-74 scores 1,658 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 154.8% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 400 vs 1,454, a 113.7% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 750 vs 5,783 (154.1% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-74 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.

    FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Core i5-10400F
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    6 / 12+200%
    Boost Clock
    3 GHz
    4.3 GHz+43%
    Base Clock
    —
    2.9 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    12 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    1 MB
    256K (per core)+25500%
    Process
    90 nm
    14 nm-84%
    Architecture
    Windsor (2006−2007)
    Comet Lake (2020−2025)
    PassMark
    1,658
    13,029+686%
    Cinebench R23 Multi
    —
    8,191
    Geekbench 6 Single
    400
    1,454+264%
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    750
    5,783+671%
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon 64 FX-74 uses the F socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2 on the Athlon 64 FX-74 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F — the Core i5-10400F supports 133200% 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 16 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: nForce 680a (Athlon 64 FX-74) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).

    FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Core i5-10400F
    Socket
    F
    LGA1200
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 1.1
    PCIe 3.0+173%
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR2
    DDR4-2666+133200%
    Max RAM Capacity
    16 GB
    128 GB+700%
    RAM Channels
    2
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    16
    16
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Only the Athlon 64 FX-74 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 64 FX-74) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). Primary use case: Athlon 64 FX-74 targets Budget, Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon 64 FX-74 rivals Pentium Extreme Edition 965; Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

    FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Core i5-10400F
    Integrated GPU
    No
    No
    Unlocked
    Yes
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    No
    Virtualization
    AMD-V
    VT-x, VT-d
    Target Use
    Budget
    Gaming
    💰

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Athlon 64 FX-74 was priced at $499, while the Core i5-10400F came in at $160. On launch pricing ($499 vs $160), Core i5-10400F was $339 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 FX-74 delivers 3.3 pts/$ vs 81.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 184.3% better value option.

    FeatureAthlon 64 FX-74Core i5-10400F
    MSRP
    $499
    $160-68%
    Performance per Dollar
    3.3
    81.4+2367%
    Release Date
    2006
    2020
    Search Athlon 64 FX-74 on AmazonSearch Core i5-10400F on Amazon

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