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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11980HK across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 14,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Core i9-11980HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Core i9-11980HK

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +45.8% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 32EUs, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i9-11980HK

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +45.8% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 32EUs, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-11980HK across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 14,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Core i9-11980HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-11980HK better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Core i9-11980HK is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 45.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data, 71.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 70.7% 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 i9-11980HK is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 45.8% more average FPS across 7 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-11980HK is the better fit. You are getting 71.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i9-11980HK is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-11980HK is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 45.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i9-11980HK is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 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 i9-11980HK Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
1080p
low	192 FPS	247 FPS
medium	152 FPS	230 FPS
high	123 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	166 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	220 FPS
medium	119 FPS	185 FPS
high	97 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	154 FPS
medium	70 FPS	131 FPS
high	55 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-11980HK

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
1080p
low	326 FPS	556 FPS
medium	318 FPS	533 FPS
high	290 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	408 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	544 FPS
medium	292 FPS	484 FPS
high	267 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	351 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	322 FPS
medium	258 FPS	291 FPS
high	235 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	242 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-11980HK

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
1080p
low	326 FPS	556 FPS
medium	326 FPS	556 FPS
high	326 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	388 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	556 FPS
medium	326 FPS	501 FPS
high	326 FPS	426 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	345 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	430 FPS
medium	326 FPS	369 FPS
high	289 FPS	325 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	260 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-11980HK

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
1080p
low	326 FPS	556 FPS
medium	326 FPS	556 FPS
high	326 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	556 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	556 FPS
medium	326 FPS	556 FPS
high	326 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	484 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	515 FPS
medium	326 FPS	462 FPS
high	326 FPS	410 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i9-11980HK

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i9-11980HK

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 i9-11980HK

The Core i9-11980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-HK (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,244 points. Launch price was $583.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-11980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-11980HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-11980HK — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-11980HK (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-11980HK uses Tiger Lake-HK (2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i9-11980HK's 22,244 — a 52.2% lead for the Core i9-11980HK. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 14,029 (52.5% advantage for the Core i9-11980HK). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,129, a 37.7% lead for the Core i9-11980HK that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 9,766 (51.2% advantage for the Core i9-11980HK). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-11980HK.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+12%	2.6 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 SuperFin-29%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Tiger Lake-HK (2021)
PassMark	13,029	22,244+71%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	14,029+71%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,129+46%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	9,766+69%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-11980HK uses FCBGA1787 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Core i9-11980HK) — the Core i9-11980HK offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and HM570,WM590 (Core i9-11980HK).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
Socket	LGA1200	FCBGA1787
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-11980HK has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-11980HK supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-11980HK). The Core i9-11980HK includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EUs), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Core i9-11980HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Core i9-11980HK rivals Ryzen 9 5900HX.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i9-11980HK
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 32EUs
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming	Enthusiast Gaming Laptop