Core i5-10400F vs Phenom II X3 720

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

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Phenom II X3 720

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+714.3%

1,600

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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: +528.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 561.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 12.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
23.1% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$130 MSRP

Phenom II X3 720

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($130 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (980 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Phenom II X3 720

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +528.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 561.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 12.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($130 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
23.1% HIGHER MSRP
$160 MSRPvs$130 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (980 vs 5,783).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Phenom II X3 720?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 528.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 490.1% better Geekbench multi-core, 714.3% 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 528.1% 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 490.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 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 23.1% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $130 MSRP, and it gives you a 528.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 561.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 12.3 PassMark/$), 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 2010), 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 3/3. 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

Phenom II X3 720 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	192 FPS	40 FPS
medium	152 FPS	40 FPS
high	123 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	40 FPS
medium	119 FPS	40 FPS
high	97 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	40 FPS
medium	70 FPS	40 FPS
high	55 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	31 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X3 720

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	318 FPS	40 FPS
high	290 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	292 FPS	40 FPS
high	267 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	40 FPS
medium	258 FPS	40 FPS
high	235 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	27 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X3 720

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	326 FPS	40 FPS
high	326 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	326 FPS	40 FPS
high	326 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	326 FPS	40 FPS
high	289 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X3 720

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
1080p
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	326 FPS	40 FPS
high	326 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	326 FPS	40 FPS
high	326 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	40 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	40 FPS
medium	326 FPS	40 FPS
high	326 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X3 720

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Phenom II X3 720

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.

Phenom II X3 720

The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Phenom II X3 720 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 — a 42.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 156.3% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 380, a 117.1% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 980 (142% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+100%	3 / 3
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+54%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+4%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+100%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Heka (2009−2010)
PassMark	13,029+714%	1,600
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454+283%	380
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783+490%	980

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X3 720 — 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
Socket	LGA1200	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+700%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Phenom II X3 720 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 (Phenom II X3 720). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X3 720
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Legacy Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Phenom II X3 720 debuted at $130. On MSRP ($160 vs $130), the Phenom II X3 720 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 12.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 720 — making the Core i5-10400F the 147.5% better value option.