Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 9655P

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020
Core family
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VS
AMD

EPYC 9655P

96 Cores192 Thrd400 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2024
EPYC family
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Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 9655P Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 9655P FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 9655P: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

  • Costs $10,651 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $10,811 MSRP).
  • Delivers 448.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 14.8 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $10,811 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 400W, a 335W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9655P.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9655P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 24,287).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9655P, which brings 96 cores / 192 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
  • Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while EPYC 9655P moves to SP5 and DDR5.

EPYC 9655P

2024

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +40.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 96 cores / 192 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
  • Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
  • 700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.8 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($10,811 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • 515.4% higher power demand at 400W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9655P better than Core i5-10400F?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. EPYC 9655P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-10400F is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9655P is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 40.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 384 MB versus 12 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9655P is the stronger fit. You are getting 320% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 96 cores and 192 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 3100% larger total L3 cache (384 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 9655P is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 9655P comes in 6656.9% more expensive on MSRP at $10,811 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it still gives you a 40.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 448.5% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 14.8 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 9655P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 384 MB L3 cache instead of 12 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 96 cores / 192 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 9655P Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 9655P

The EPYC 9655P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 400 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 160,490 points. Launch price was $10,811.

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 9655P offers 96 cores / 192 threads — the EPYC 9655P has 90 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.5 GHz on the EPYC 9655P — a 4.5% clock advantage for the EPYC 9655P (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 9655P uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the EPYC 9655P's 160,490 — a 170% lead for the EPYC 9655P. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 24,287 (123.1% advantage for the EPYC 9655P). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9655P.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 9655P
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
96 / 192+1500%
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
4.5 GHz+5%
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+12%
2.6 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
384 MB (total)+3100%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)+25500%
1 MB (per core)
Process
14 nm
4 nm-71%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Turin (2024)
PassMark
13,029
160,490+1132%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
24,287+320%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 9655P uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9655P — the EPYC 9655P supports 125.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9655P supports up to 6 TB of RAM compared to 128 GB 4700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 12 (EPYC 9655P). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (EPYC 9655P) — the EPYC 9655P offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and SP5 (EPYC 9655P).

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 9655P
Socket
LGA1200
SP5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR5-6000+125%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
6 TB+4700%
RAM Channels
2
12+500%
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
16
128+700%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9655P). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, EPYC 9655P targets Data Center / Single Socket. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; EPYC 9655P rivals Xeon 6979P.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 9655P
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use
Gaming
Data Center / Single Socket
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-10400F was priced at $160, while the EPYC 9655P came in at $10811. On launch pricing ($160 vs $10811), Core i5-10400F was $10651 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 14.8 pts/$ for the EPYC 9655P — making the Core i5-10400F the 138.3% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FEPYC 9655P
MSRP
$160-99%
$10811
Performance per Dollar
81.4+450%
14.8
Release Date
2020
2024

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