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 Ultra 9 285H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285H across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 26,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Core Ultra 9 285H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Core Ultra 9 285H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +85.8% 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.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

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

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core Ultra 9 285H

2025

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 9 285H.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +85.8% 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.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285H across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 26,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Core Ultra 9 285H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285H better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Core Ultra 9 285H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 85.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data, 223.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 163.5% 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 Ultra 9 285H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 85.8% 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 Ultra 9 285H is the better fit. You are getting 223.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 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 Ultra 9 285H is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core Ultra 9 285H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 85.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2020 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1200.

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

Core Ultra 9 285H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. 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 Ultra 9 285H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
1080p
low	192 FPS	300 FPS
medium	152 FPS	274 FPS
high	123 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	244 FPS
medium	119 FPS	199 FPS
high	97 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	169 FPS
medium	70 FPS	138 FPS
high	55 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core Ultra 9 285H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
1080p
low	326 FPS	749 FPS
medium	318 FPS	602 FPS
high	290 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	650 FPS
medium	292 FPS	544 FPS
high	267 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	383 FPS
medium	258 FPS	328 FPS
high	235 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	260 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core Ultra 9 285H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
1080p
low	326 FPS	858 FPS
medium	326 FPS	826 FPS
high	326 FPS	717 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	611 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	858 FPS
medium	326 FPS	684 FPS
high	326 FPS	591 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	599 FPS
medium	326 FPS	497 FPS
high	289 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	380 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core Ultra 9 285H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
1080p
low	326 FPS	858 FPS
medium	326 FPS	858 FPS
high	326 FPS	839 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	742 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	858 FPS
medium	326 FPS	780 FPS
high	326 FPS	680 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	587 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	594 FPS
medium	326 FPS	529 FPS
high	326 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	416 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core Ultra 9 285H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core Ultra 9 285H

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 Ultra 9 285H

The Core Ultra 9 285H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 34,327 points. Launch price was $651.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285H offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 9 285H has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285H — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285H (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 285H uses Arrow Lake-H (2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core Ultra 9 285H's 34,327 — a 89.9% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 26,500 (105.6% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,720, a 60.7% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 15,330 (90.4% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285H). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285H.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 16+167%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	3 MB (per core)+1100%
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Arrow Lake-H (2025)
PassMark	13,029	34,327+163%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	26,500+224%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,720+87%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	15,330+165%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 9 285H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus LPDDR5x-8400, DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 9 285H — the Core Ultra 9 285H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 9 285H 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 28 (Core Ultra 9 285H) — the Core Ultra 9 285H offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and SoC (Core Ultra 9 285H).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
Socket	LGA1200	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	LPDDR5x-8400, DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 9 285H). The Core Ultra 9 285H includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc 140T (8 Xe-cores)), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Core Ultra 9 285H targets High-end Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Core Ultra 9 285H rivals Ryzen AI 9 HX 375.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core Ultra 9 285H
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Arc 140T (8 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming	High-end Mobile Workstation