Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 7352

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

EPYC 7352

24 Cores48 Thrd155 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2019

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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 $1,190 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $1,350 MSRP).
  • Delivers 172.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 29.9 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $1,350 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 155W, a 90W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 7352.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 7352 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 32,000).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7352, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7352

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +10.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
  • 700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.9 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($1,350 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • 138.5% higher power demand at 155W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7352 better than Core i5-10400F?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7352 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-10400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 7352 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7352 is the better fit. You are getting 290.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 7352 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 7352 is 743.8% more expensive on MSRP at $1,350 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 172.3% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 29.9 PassMark/$), 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 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
1080p
low192 FPS155 FPS
medium152 FPS128 FPS
high123 FPS108 FPS
ultra100 FPS86 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS130 FPS
medium119 FPS105 FPS
high97 FPS85 FPS
ultra79 FPS68 FPS
4K
low82 FPS63 FPS
medium70 FPS54 FPS
high55 FPS43 FPS
ultra43 FPS34 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
1080p
low326 FPS354 FPS
medium318 FPS312 FPS
high290 FPS259 FPS
ultra253 FPS210 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS301 FPS
medium292 FPS273 FPS
high267 FPS233 FPS
ultra234 FPS185 FPS
4K
low309 FPS193 FPS
medium258 FPS177 FPS
high235 FPS151 FPS
ultra199 FPS121 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
1080p
low326 FPS645 FPS
medium326 FPS526 FPS
high326 FPS468 FPS
ultra326 FPS410 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS500 FPS
medium326 FPS406 FPS
high326 FPS355 FPS
ultra326 FPS307 FPS
4K
low326 FPS368 FPS
medium326 FPS286 FPS
high289 FPS244 FPS
ultra229 FPS196 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
1080p
low326 FPS811 FPS
medium326 FPS735 FPS
high326 FPS637 FPS
ultra326 FPS555 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS652 FPS
medium326 FPS566 FPS
high326 FPS488 FPS
ultra326 FPS414 FPS
4K
low326 FPS445 FPS
medium326 FPS399 FPS
high326 FPS356 FPS
ultra326 FPS306 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and EPYC 7352

Intel

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.

AMD

EPYC 7352

The EPYC 7352 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 155 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 40,370 points. Launch price was $1,350.

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7352 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 7352 has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.2 GHz on the EPYC 7352 — a 29.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7352 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the EPYC 7352's 40,370 — a 102.4% lead for the EPYC 7352. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 32,000 (118.5% advantage for the EPYC 7352). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,112, a 26.7% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 7,276 (22.9% advantage for the EPYC 7352). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7352.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
24 / 48+300%
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+34%
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+26%
2.3 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512 kB (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
7 nm, 14 nm-50%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark
13,029
40,370+210%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191
32,000+291%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454+31%
1,112
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
7,276+26%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7352 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The EPYC 7352 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 8 (EPYC 7352). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (EPYC 7352) — the EPYC 7352 offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and SP3,Rome (EPYC 7352).

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
Socket
LGA1200
SP3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
4096 GB+3100%
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
16
128+700%
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V, SEV (EPYC 7352). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, EPYC 7352 targets High-density Computing / Server. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; EPYC 7352 rivals Xeon Gold 6242.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V, SEV
Target Use
Gaming
High-density Computing / Server
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the EPYC 7352 debuted at $1350. On MSRP ($160 vs $1350), the Core i5-10400F is $1190 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 29.9 pts/$ for the EPYC 7352 — making the Core i5-10400F the 92.6% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7352
MSRP
$160-88%
$1350
Performance per Dollar
81.4+172%
29.9
Release Date
2020
2019