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: +541.8% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Delivers 133.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 34.9 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $54 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium G3220.

Trade-offs

❌
196.3% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$54 MSRP
❌20.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium G3220 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium G3220

2013

Why buy it

✅Costs $106 less on MSRP ($54 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 65W, a 11W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,885 vs 13,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.9 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($54 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Pentium G3220

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +541.8% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Delivers 133.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 34.9 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $54 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium G3220.

Why buy it

✅Costs $106 less on MSRP ($54 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 65W, a 11W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
196.3% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$54 MSRP
❌20.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium G3220 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,885 vs 13,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.9 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($54 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Pentium G3220?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 541.8% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 591.2% better 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 541.8% 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 591.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 3 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 196.3% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $54 MSRP, and it gives you a 541.8% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 133.3% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 34.9 PassMark/$), 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 2013), 300% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 3 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 G3220 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
1080p
low	192 FPS	47 FPS
medium	152 FPS	47 FPS
high	123 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	47 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	47 FPS
medium	119 FPS	47 FPS
high	97 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	47 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	47 FPS
medium	70 FPS	47 FPS
high	55 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	32 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium G3220

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
1080p
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	318 FPS	47 FPS
high	290 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	47 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	292 FPS	47 FPS
high	267 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	47 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	47 FPS
medium	258 FPS	47 FPS
high	235 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	27 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium G3220

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
1080p
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	326 FPS	47 FPS
high	326 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	47 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	326 FPS	47 FPS
high	326 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	47 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	326 FPS	47 FPS
high	289 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium G3220

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
1080p
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	326 FPS	47 FPS
high	326 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	47 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	326 FPS	47 FPS
high	326 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	47 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	47 FPS
medium	326 FPS	47 FPS
high	326 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium G3220

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Pentium G3220

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 G3220

The Pentium G3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,885 points. Launch price was $71.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium G3220 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3 GHz on the Pentium G3220 — a 35.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium G3220 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Pentium G3220's 1,885 — a 149.4% lead for the Core i5-10400F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3220.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+200%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+43%	3 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+300%	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	13,029+591%	1,885
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 Pentium G3220 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR3-1333 on the Pentium G3220 — 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 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+300%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs VT-x (Pentium G3220). The Pentium G3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Pentium G3220 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium G3220
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x
Target Use	Gaming	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Pentium G3220 debuted at $54. On MSRP ($160 vs $54), the Pentium G3220 is $106 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 34.9 pts/$ for the Pentium G3220 — making the Core i5-10400F the 80% better value option.