Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 7573X

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

EPYC 7573X

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2022

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 $5,430 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $5,590 MSRP).
  • Delivers 555.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $5,590 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 7573X.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 7573X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 69,432).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7573X, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7573X

2022

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +61.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 12.4 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($5,590 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • 330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 7573X better than Core i5-10400F?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7573X 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 7573X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 61.7% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 768 MB vs 12 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7573X is the better fit. You are getting 432.9% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 6300% larger total L3 cache (768 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 7573X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 7573X is 3393.8% more expensive on MSRP at $5,590 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 61.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 555.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 12.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 7573X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 768 MB L3 cache instead of 12 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 6/12. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 7573X
1080p
low192 FPS205 FPS
medium152 FPS167 FPS
high123 FPS136 FPS
ultra100 FPS105 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS163 FPS
medium119 FPS127 FPS
high97 FPS100 FPS
ultra79 FPS79 FPS
4K
low82 FPS74 FPS
medium70 FPS61 FPS
high55 FPS48 FPS
ultra43 FPS40 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
1080p
low326 FPS463 FPS
medium318 FPS407 FPS
high290 FPS329 FPS
ultra253 FPS259 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS381 FPS
medium292 FPS343 FPS
high267 FPS286 FPS
ultra234 FPS218 FPS
4K
low309 FPS234 FPS
medium258 FPS215 FPS
high235 FPS180 FPS
ultra199 FPS144 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
1080p
low326 FPS865 FPS
medium326 FPS717 FPS
high326 FPS668 FPS
ultra326 FPS590 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS622 FPS
medium326 FPS514 FPS
high326 FPS472 FPS
ultra326 FPS412 FPS
4K
low326 FPS444 FPS
medium326 FPS345 FPS
high289 FPS308 FPS
ultra229 FPS249 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
1080p
low326 FPS992 FPS
medium326 FPS900 FPS
high326 FPS775 FPS
ultra326 FPS671 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS767 FPS
medium326 FPS668 FPS
high326 FPS572 FPS
ultra326 FPS492 FPS
4K
low326 FPS550 FPS
medium326 FPS490 FPS
high326 FPS430 FPS
ultra326 FPS372 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and EPYC 7573X

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 7573X

The EPYC 7573X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2022-03-01. It is based on the Milan-X (2022) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 768 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 69,432 points. Launch price was $5,590.

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7573X offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 7573X has 26 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.6 GHz on the EPYC 7573X — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7573X uses Milan-X (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the EPYC 7573X's 69,432 — a 136.8% lead for the EPYC 7573X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 768 MB (total) on the EPYC 7573X.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
32 / 64+433%
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+19%
3.6 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+4%
2.8 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
768 MB (total)+6300%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512K (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
7 nm-50%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Milan-X (2022)
PassMark
13,029
69,432+433%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7573X uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 3200 on the EPYC 7573X — the EPYC 7573X supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7573X supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 8 (EPYC 7573X). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (EPYC 7573X) — the EPYC 7573X 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 (EPYC 7573X).

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
Socket
LGA1200
SP3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB+3276700%
4096
RAM Channels
2
8+300%
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
16
128+700%
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; EPYC 7573X rivals Xeon Platinum 8280.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the EPYC 7573X debuted at $5590. On MSRP ($160 vs $5590), the Core i5-10400F is $5430 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 12.4 pts/$ for the EPYC 7573X — making the Core i5-10400F the 147.1% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 7573X
MSRP
$160-97%
$5590
Performance per Dollar
81.4+556%
12.4
Release Date
2020
2022