Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core i5-10400F

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core i5-10400F Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

2 / 2

1,095

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+1089.9%

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 X2 3800+ 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 64 X2 3800+ 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 X2 3800+

2005

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,095 vs 13,029).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($354 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌36.9% higher power demand at 89W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +549.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $194 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2532.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 3.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 89W, a 24W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

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 X2 3800+?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 549.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1089.9% better 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 549.9% 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 1089.9% better PassMark, 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 $194 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $354 MSRP, and it still gives you a 549.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2532.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 3.1 PassMark/$), 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 2005) 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 X2 3800+ vs Core i5-10400F Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $149.

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 X2 3800+ 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 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 73% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ scores 1,095 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 169% lead for the Core i5-10400F. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core i5-10400F
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	2 GHz	4.3 GHz+115%
Base Clock	—	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256K (per core)
Process	90 nm	14 nm-84%
Architecture	Manchester (2005−2006)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	1,095	13,029+1090%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	8,191
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,454
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	5,783

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the 939 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 DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F — the Core i5-10400F supports 233.3% 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. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) — the Core i5-10400F offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core i5-10400F
Socket	939	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR4-2666+233%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core i5-10400F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ was priced at $354, while the Core i5-10400F came in at $160. On launch pricing ($354 vs $160), Core i5-10400F was $194 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ delivers 3.1 pts/$ vs 81.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 185.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core i5-10400F
MSRP	$354	$160-55%
Performance per Dollar	3.1	81.4+2526%
Release Date	2005	2020

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