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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅+226.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-14490F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 132.2 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-14490F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-14490F

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +87.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 62.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 132.2 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (2,510 vs 8,191).
❌
30.6% HIGHER MSRP
$209 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i5-14490F

2024

Why buy it

✅+226.3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +87.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 62.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 132.2 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-14490F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 132.2 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-14490F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (2,510 vs 8,191).
❌
30.6% HIGHER MSRP
$209 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-14490F better than Core i5-10400F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-14490F is ahead with a 87.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10400F pulls ahead with 226.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-14490F also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10400F is the better fit. You are getting 226.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-14490F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-14490F is 30.6% more expensive on MSRP at $209 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 87.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-10400F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 226.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 62.3% better value on MSRP (132.2 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10400F 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 i5-14490F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB). That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-10400F Benchmark Check

Core i5-14490F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	192 FPS	246 FPS
medium	152 FPS	231 FPS
high	123 FPS	196 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	169 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	215 FPS
medium	119 FPS	183 FPS
high	97 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	149 FPS
medium	70 FPS	127 FPS
high	55 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-14490F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	326 FPS	645 FPS
medium	318 FPS	549 FPS
high	290 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	411 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	555 FPS
medium	292 FPS	493 FPS
high	267 FPS	418 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	352 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	326 FPS
medium	258 FPS	293 FPS
high	235 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	238 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-14490F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	326 FPS	691 FPS
medium	326 FPS	691 FPS
high	326 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	691 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	691 FPS
medium	326 FPS	691 FPS
high	326 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	596 FPS
medium	326 FPS	502 FPS
high	289 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	376 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-14490F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
1080p
low	326 FPS	691 FPS
medium	326 FPS	691 FPS
high	326 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	691 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	691 FPS
medium	326 FPS	691 FPS
high	326 FPS	691 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	592 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	661 FPS
medium	326 FPS	585 FPS
high	326 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	436 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-14490F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i5-14490F

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.

Core i5-14490F

The Core i5-14490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,621 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-14490F offers 10 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-14490F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5 GHz on the Core i5-14490F — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-14490F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-14490F uses Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i5-14490F's 27,621 — a 71.8% lead for the Core i5-14490F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 2,510 (106.2% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,600, a 56.5% lead for the Core i5-14490F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 12,000 (69.9% advantage for the Core i5-14490F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-14490F.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 16+67%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+16%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	10 nm-29%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)
PassMark	13,029	27,621+112%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191+226%	2,510
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,600+79%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	12,000+108%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-14490F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-14490F — the Core i5-14490F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-14490F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Core i5-14490F) — the Core i5-14490F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and H610,B660,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i5-14490F).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Core i5-14490F targets Mid-Range. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Core i5-14490F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-14490F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	Mid-Range

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Core i5-14490F debuted at $209. On MSRP ($160 vs $209), the Core i5-10400F is $49 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 132.2 pts/$ for the Core i5-14490F — making the Core i5-14490F the 47.5% better value option.