Athlon II Neo K145 vs Core i5-10400F

AMD

Athlon II Neo K145

1 Cores1 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2010
VS
Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Athlon II Neo K145 vs Core i5-10400F Performance Spectrum

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 II Neo K145 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 II Neo K145 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 II Neo K145

2010

Why buy it

  • βœ…Costs $110 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • βœ…Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower PassMark (565 vs 13,029).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

  • βœ…Better for gaming: +1151.1% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • βœ…Delivers 620.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 11.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon II Neo K145.

Trade-offs

  • ❌
    220% HIGHER MSRP
    $160 MSRPvs$50 MSRP
  • ❌6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Athlon II Neo K145?
Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1151.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2206% 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 1151.1% more average FPS across 49 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 2206% 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 220.0% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $50 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1151.1% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 620.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 11.3 PassMark/$), 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 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II Neo K145 vs Core i5-10400F Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II Neo K145

The Athlon II Neo K145 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Nile (2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 565 points. Launch price was $149.

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 (2020βˆ’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 II Neo K145 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads β€” the Core i5-10400F has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K145 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F β€” a 82% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F. The Athlon II Neo K145 uses the Nile (2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020βˆ’2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II Neo K145 scores 565 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 β€” a 183.4% lead for the Core i5-10400F.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K145Core i5-10400F
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
6 / 12+500%
Boost Clock
1.8 GHz
4.3 GHz+139%
Base Clock
β€”
2.9 GHz
L3 Cache
β€”
12 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB
256K (per core)+25500%
Process
45 nm
14 nm-69%
Architecture
Nile (2010)
Comet Lake (2020βˆ’2025)
PassMark
565
13,029+2206%
Cinebench R23 Multi
β€”
8,191
Geekbench 6 Single
β€”
1,454
Geekbench 6 Multi
β€”
5,783
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II Neo K145 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II Neo K145 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F β€” the Core i5-10400F supports 150.1% 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 4 GB β€” 3100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II Neo K145) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) β€” the Core i5-10400F offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB2 (Athlon II Neo K145) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).

FeatureAthlon II Neo K145Core i5-10400F
Socket
S1
LGA1200
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1066
DDR4-2666+150%
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB
128 GB+3100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
16
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II Neo K145) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K145Core i5-10400F
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
β€”
No
AVX-512
β€”
No
Virtualization
β€”
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
β€”
Gaming
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II Neo K145 was priced at $50, while the Core i5-10400F came in at $160. On launch pricing ($50 vs $160), Athlon II Neo K145 was $110 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II Neo K145 delivers 11.3 pts/$ vs 81.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F β€” making the Core i5-10400F the 151.3% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K145Core i5-10400F
MSRP
$50-69%
$160
Performance per Dollar
11.3
81.4+620%
Release Date
2010
2020

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