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

✅Costs $819 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Delivers 147.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 32.9 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-10980XE.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 24,309).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i9-10980XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +101.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.9 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($979 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i9-10980XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $819 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Delivers 147.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 32.9 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $979 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-10980XE.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +101.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980XE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 24,309).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.9 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($979 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10980XE better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Core i9-10980XE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 101.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 196.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 147.0% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10980XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 101.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10980XE is the better fit. You are getting 196.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 106.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i9-10980XE is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-10980XE is 511.9% more expensive on MSRP at $979 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 101.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 147.7% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 32.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds 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 i5-10400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i9-10980XE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	192 FPS	280 FPS
medium	152 FPS	249 FPS
high	123 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	234 FPS
medium	119 FPS	189 FPS
high	97 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	165 FPS
medium	70 FPS	134 FPS
high	55 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10980XE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	326 FPS	550 FPS
medium	318 FPS	457 FPS
high	290 FPS	382 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	456 FPS
medium	292 FPS	394 FPS
high	267 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	290 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	285 FPS
medium	258 FPS	247 FPS
high	235 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	200 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10980XE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	326 FPS	805 FPS
medium	326 FPS	805 FPS
high	326 FPS	805 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	805 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	805 FPS
medium	326 FPS	805 FPS
high	326 FPS	768 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	596 FPS
medium	326 FPS	501 FPS
high	289 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	374 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10980XE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
1080p
low	326 FPS	805 FPS
medium	326 FPS	805 FPS
high	326 FPS	787 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	704 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	805 FPS
medium	326 FPS	722 FPS
high	326 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	552 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	574 FPS
medium	326 FPS	510 FPS
high	326 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-10980XE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i9-10980XE

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 i9-10980XE

The Core i9-10980XE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 32,187 points. Launch price was $979.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-10980XE offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Core i9-10980XE has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10980XE — a 11% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980XE (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-10980XE uses Cascade Lake-X (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i9-10980XE's 32,187 — a 84.7% lead for the Core i9-10980XE. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 24,309 (99.2% advantage for the Core i9-10980XE). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,242, a 15.7% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 16,275 (95.1% advantage for the Core i9-10980XE). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 24.75 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	18 / 36+200%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.8 GHz+12%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24.75 MB (total)+106%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Cascade Lake-X (2019)
PassMark	13,029	32,187+147%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	24,309+197%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454+17%	1,242
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	16,275+181%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-10980XE uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i9-10980XE supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 4 (Core i9-10980XE). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 48 (Core i9-10980XE) — the Core i9-10980XE offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and X299 (Core i9-10980XE).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
Socket	LGA1200	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	48+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-10980XE supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs Yes (Core i9-10980XE). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-10980XE
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Core i9-10980XE debuted at $979. On MSRP ($160 vs $979), the Core i5-10400F is $819 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 32.9 pts/$ for the Core i9-10980XE — making the Core i5-10400F the 85% better value option.