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

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-10900T.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 1,710).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 7,476).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 122.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $120 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Core i9-10900T

2020

Why buy it

✅+17.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($120 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 122.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($120 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i9-10900T

2020

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-10900T.

Why buy it

✅+17.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($120 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 122.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($120 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 1,710).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 7,476).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 122.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $120 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10900T better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Core i9-10900T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 29.3% better Geekbench multi-core, 13.0% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10900T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10900T is the better fit. You are getting 29.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i9-10900T is the smarter buy today. Core i9-10900T is $40 cheaper on MSRP at $120 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 50.7% better value on MSRP (122.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-10900T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 66.7% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 12 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i9-10900T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
1080p
low	192 FPS	183 FPS
medium	152 FPS	149 FPS
high	123 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	149 FPS
medium	119 FPS	118 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	83 FPS
medium	70 FPS	72 FPS
high	55 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10900T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
1080p
low	326 FPS	287 FPS
medium	318 FPS	242 FPS
high	290 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	186 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	247 FPS
medium	292 FPS	215 FPS
high	267 FPS	185 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	159 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	153 FPS
medium	258 FPS	133 FPS
high	235 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	110 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10900T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
1080p
low	326 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	368 FPS
high	326 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	368 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	368 FPS
high	326 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	368 FPS
high	289 FPS	340 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10900T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
1080p
low	326 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	368 FPS
high	326 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	368 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	368 FPS
high	326 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	368 FPS
high	326 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	368 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10900T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i9-10900T

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 i9-10900T

The Core i9-10900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2020 (5 years ago). It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 14,727 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-10900T offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core i9-10900T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i9-10900T — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900T (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i5-10400F is built on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i9-10900T's 14,727 — a 12.2% lead for the Core i9-10900T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,710, a 16.2% lead for the Core i9-10900T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 7,476 (25.5% advantage for the Core i9-10900T). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i9-10900T.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 20+67%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.6 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+53%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	20 MB Intel® Smart Cache+67%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	—
PassMark	13,029	14,727+13%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	1,710+18%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	7,476+29%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1200 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and Z490,H470,B460,H410,Z590,B560,H510 (Core i9-10900T).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs Yes (Core i9-10900T). The Core i9-10900T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10900T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Core i9-10900T debuted at $120. On MSRP ($160 vs $120), the Core i9-10900T is $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 122.7 pts/$ for the Core i9-10900T — making the Core i9-10900T the 40.5% better value option.