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: +805.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+1100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 1 MB).
✅Delivers 580.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 12.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $84 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
90.5% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$84 MSRP

Pentium E2210

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $76 less on MSRP ($84 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (1 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($84 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Core i5-10400F

2020

Pentium E2210

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +805.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+1100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 1 MB).
✅Delivers 580.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 12.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $84 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $76 less on MSRP ($84 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
90.5% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$84 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (1 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($84 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Pentium E2210?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 805.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1056.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 1196.4% 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 805.3% more average FPS across 3 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 1056.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 1 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-10400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-10400F is 90.5% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $84 MSRP, and it gives you a 805.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 580.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 12.0 PassMark/$), 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 2009), 1100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 1 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/2. 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.

Core i5-10400F Benchmark Check

Pentium E2210 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
1080p
low	192 FPS	25 FPS
medium	152 FPS	25 FPS
high	123 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	25 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	25 FPS
medium	119 FPS	25 FPS
high	97 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	25 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	25 FPS
medium	70 FPS	25 FPS
high	55 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	25 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium E2210

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
1080p
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	318 FPS	25 FPS
high	290 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	25 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	292 FPS	25 FPS
high	267 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	25 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	25 FPS
medium	258 FPS	25 FPS
high	235 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	18 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium E2210

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
1080p
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	326 FPS	25 FPS
high	326 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	25 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	326 FPS	25 FPS
high	326 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	25 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	326 FPS	25 FPS
high	289 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	25 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium E2210

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
1080p
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	326 FPS	25 FPS
high	326 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	25 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	326 FPS	25 FPS
high	326 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	25 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	25 FPS
medium	326 FPS	25 FPS
high	326 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	25 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium E2210

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Pentium E2210

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.

Pentium E2210

The Pentium E2210 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium E2210 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 4 more cores. The Core i5-10400F is built on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Pentium E2210's 1,005 — a 171.4% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 300, a 131.6% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 500 (168.2% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 1 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium E2210.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+200%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	—
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+32%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+1100%	1 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	—
PassMark	13,029+1196%	1,005
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454+385%	300
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783+1057%	500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium E2210 uses LGA775 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR2 on the Pentium E2210 — the Core i5-10400F supports 66.7% 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 4 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 0 (Pentium E2210) — 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 Intel P35,Intel G33,Intel G31,Intel G41 (Pentium E2210).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
Socket	LGA1200	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+100%	DDR2
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+3100%	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs false (Pentium E2210). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium E2210
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	false
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Pentium E2210 debuted at $84. On MSRP ($160 vs $84), the Pentium E2210 is $76 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 12.0 pts/$ for the Pentium E2210 — making the Core i5-10400F the 148.8% better value option.