Core i5-10400F vs FX-8370E

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

FX-8370E

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2014

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

  • Better for gaming: +102.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Costs $39 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • Delivers 204.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 26.8 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

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

FX-8370E

2014

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,878 vs 5,783).
    • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.8 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
    • 46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core i5-10400F better than FX-8370E?
    Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 102.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 207.9% better Geekbench multi-core, 144.7% 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 i5-10400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 102.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10400F is the better fit. You are getting 207.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Core i5-10400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-10400F is $39 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 102.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 204.4% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 26.8 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/8. 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.

    Path of Exile 2

    Path of Exile 2

    PresetCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    1080p
    low192 FPS133 FPS
    medium152 FPS133 FPS
    high123 FPS116 FPS
    ultra100 FPS97 FPS
    1440p
    low153 FPS133 FPS
    medium119 FPS118 FPS
    high97 FPS95 FPS
    ultra79 FPS79 FPS
    4K
    low82 FPS73 FPS
    medium70 FPS66 FPS
    high55 FPS52 FPS
    ultra43 FPS41 FPS
    Counter-Strike 2

    Counter-Strike 2

    PresetCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    1080p
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium318 FPS133 FPS
    high290 FPS133 FPS
    ultra253 FPS133 FPS
    1440p
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium292 FPS133 FPS
    high267 FPS133 FPS
    ultra234 FPS133 FPS
    4K
    low309 FPS133 FPS
    medium258 FPS133 FPS
    high235 FPS133 FPS
    ultra199 FPS133 FPS
    League of Legends

    League of Legends

    PresetCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    1080p
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium326 FPS133 FPS
    high326 FPS133 FPS
    ultra326 FPS133 FPS
    1440p
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium326 FPS133 FPS
    high326 FPS133 FPS
    ultra326 FPS133 FPS
    4K
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium326 FPS133 FPS
    high289 FPS133 FPS
    ultra229 FPS133 FPS
    Valorant

    Valorant

    PresetCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    1080p
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium326 FPS133 FPS
    high326 FPS133 FPS
    ultra326 FPS133 FPS
    1440p
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium326 FPS133 FPS
    high326 FPS133 FPS
    ultra326 FPS133 FPS
    4K
    low326 FPS133 FPS
    medium326 FPS133 FPS
    high326 FPS133 FPS
    ultra326 FPS133 FPS

    Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and FX-8370E

    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

    FX-8370E

    The FX-8370E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,324 points. Launch price was $199.

    Processing Power

    The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the FX-8370E offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8370E has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.3 GHz on the FX-8370E — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the FX-8370E uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the FX-8370E's 5,324 — a 84% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 512, a 95.8% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 1,878 (101.9% advantage for the Core i5-10400F).

    FeatureCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    Cores / Threads
    6 / 12
    8 / 8+33%
    Boost Clock
    4.3 GHz
    4.3 GHz
    Base Clock
    2.9 GHz
    3.3 GHz+14%
    L3 Cache
    12 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    256K (per core)
    8192 kB+3100%
    Process
    14 nm-56%
    32 nm
    Architecture
    Comet Lake (2020−2025)
    Vishera (2012−2015)
    PassMark
    13,029+145%
    5,324
    Cinebench R23 Multi
    8,191
    Geekbench 6 Single
    1,454+184%
    512
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    5,783+208%
    1,878
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-8370E uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR3-1866 on the FX-8370E — the Core i5-10400F supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-10400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 0 (FX-8370E) — the Core i5-10400F offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and AMD 990FX,AMD 970 (FX-8370E).

    FeatureCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    Socket
    LGA1200
    AM3+
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 3.0+50%
    PCIe 2.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR4-2666+33%
    DDR3-1866
    Max RAM Capacity
    128 GB+700%
    16 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    16
    0
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Only the FX-8370E has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (FX-8370E). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

    FeatureCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    Integrated GPU
    No
    No
    Unlocked
    No
    Yes
    AVX-512
    No
    No
    Virtualization
    VT-x, VT-d
    AMD-V
    Target Use
    Gaming
    💰

    Value Analysis

    The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the FX-8370E debuted at $199. On MSRP ($160 vs $199), the Core i5-10400F is $39 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 26.8 pts/$ for the FX-8370E — making the Core i5-10400F the 101.1% better value option.

    FeatureCore i5-10400FFX-8370E
    MSRP
    $160-20%
    $199
    Performance per Dollar
    81.4+204%
    26.8
    Release Date
    2020
    2014