Core i5-10400F vs M2 Pro

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Core family

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M2 Pro

12 Cores12 Thrd36 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2023

Similar parts

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Core i5-10400F vs M2 Pro Performance Spectrum

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

0.0%

21,939

+68.4%

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 M2 Pro 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 M2 Pro: 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

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2 Pro.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than M2 Pro across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 14,450).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌80.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 36W.

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 36W instead of 65W, a 29W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M2 Pro GPU, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is M2 Pro better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. M2 Pro is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 9.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 149.9% better Geekbench multi-core, 68.4% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, M2 Pro is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 9.8% 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, M2 Pro is the stronger fit. You are getting 149.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 12 threads. It also has 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?

M2 Pro is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M2 Pro comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it still gives you a 9.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10400F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

M2 Pro makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-10400F vs M2 Pro Technical Specifications

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

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.

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the M2 Pro offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the M2 Pro has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro — a 20.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.42 GHz). The Core i5-10400F is built on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the M2 Pro's 21,939 — a 51% lead for the M2 Pro. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,650, a 58.3% lead for the M2 Pro that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 14,450 (85.7% advantage for the M2 Pro). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 24 MB on the M2 Pro.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	M2 Pro
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 12+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+23%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+20%	2.42 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+611%	36 MB
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	—
PassMark	13,029	21,939+68%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,650+82%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	14,450+150%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the M2 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus LPDDR5-6400 on the M2 Pro — the M2 Pro supports 140.1% 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 32 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 0 (M2 Pro) — 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 Apple Silicon (M2 Pro).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	M2 Pro
Socket	LGA1200	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	LPDDR5-6400+140%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+300%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	0

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro). The M2 Pro includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Pro GPU), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.