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: +33.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium Gold 8505.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Pentium Gold 8505 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Pentium Gold 8505 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium Gold 8505 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium Gold 8505

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (4,055 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Pentium Gold 8505

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium Gold 8505.

Why buy it

✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Pentium Gold 8505 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Pentium Gold 8505 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium Gold 8505 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (4,055 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Pentium Gold 8505?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 33.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 42.6% better Geekbench multi-core, and 42.1% higher PassMark, 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 33.6% 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 42.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 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 at an unclear MSRP at $160 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 33.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Pentium Gold 8505 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 Gold 8505 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium Gold 8505
1080p
low	192 FPS	182 FPS
medium	152 FPS	145 FPS
high	123 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	150 FPS
medium	119 FPS	118 FPS
high	97 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	84 FPS
medium	70 FPS	72 FPS
high	55 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium Gold 8505

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium Gold 8505
1080p
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	318 FPS	229 FPS
high	290 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	200 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	292 FPS	228 FPS
high	267 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	177 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	218 FPS
medium	258 FPS	183 FPS
high	235 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	128 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium Gold 8505

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium Gold 8505
1080p
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	326 FPS	229 FPS
high	326 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	229 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	326 FPS	229 FPS
high	326 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	229 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	326 FPS	229 FPS
high	289 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	168 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium Gold 8505

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Pentium Gold 8505
1080p
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	326 FPS	229 FPS
high	326 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	229 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	326 FPS	229 FPS
high	326 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	229 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	229 FPS
medium	326 FPS	229 FPS
high	326 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Pentium Gold 8505

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Pentium Gold 8505

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 Gold 8505

The Pentium Gold 8505 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Max frequency: 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 9,167 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium Gold 8505 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 8505 — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 8505. 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 Gold 8505's 9,167 — a 34.8% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,550, a 6.4% lead for the Pentium Gold 8505 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 4,055 (35.1% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium Gold 8505.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium Gold 8505
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+20%	5 / 6
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.4 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	—
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	—
PassMark	13,029+42%	9,167
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	1,550+7%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783+43%	4,055

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold 8505 uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-4800 on the Pentium Gold 8505 — the Pentium Gold 8505 supports 22.2% 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 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Pentium Gold 8505) — the Pentium Gold 8505 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and SoC (Pentium Gold 8505).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Pentium Gold 8505
Socket	LGA1200	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-4800+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs Yes (Pentium Gold 8505). The Pentium Gold 8505 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.