Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 3 210

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 3 210

4 Cores8 Thrd28 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2025

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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: +5.9% 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 Ryzen 3 210.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 133.4 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).
  • 132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
  • Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 210 moves to FP7 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 210 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 3 210

2025

Why buy it

  • Costs $61 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • Delivers 63.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 133.4 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 740M, 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 Cinebench R23 multi-core (515 vs 8,191).
  • 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 Ryzen 3 210?
Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1490.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 5.9% 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 1490.5% better Cinebench R23 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 by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i5-10400F is 61.6% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 210 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 5.9% in the shared gaming data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 3 210 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with FP7 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
1080p
low192 FPS172 FPS
medium152 FPS141 FPS
high123 FPS112 FPS
ultra100 FPS90 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS149 FPS
medium119 FPS119 FPS
high97 FPS94 FPS
ultra79 FPS77 FPS
4K
low82 FPS84 FPS
medium70 FPS73 FPS
high55 FPS57 FPS
ultra43 FPS45 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
1080p
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium318 FPS273 FPS
high290 FPS238 FPS
ultra253 FPS199 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS289 FPS
medium292 FPS235 FPS
high267 FPS210 FPS
ultra234 FPS172 FPS
4K
low309 FPS214 FPS
medium258 FPS180 FPS
high235 FPS149 FPS
ultra199 FPS121 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
1080p
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium326 FPS330 FPS
high326 FPS330 FPS
ultra326 FPS330 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium326 FPS330 FPS
high326 FPS330 FPS
ultra326 FPS330 FPS
4K
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium326 FPS330 FPS
high289 FPS330 FPS
ultra229 FPS308 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
1080p
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium326 FPS330 FPS
high326 FPS330 FPS
ultra326 FPS330 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium326 FPS330 FPS
high326 FPS330 FPS
ultra326 FPS330 FPS
4K
low326 FPS330 FPS
medium326 FPS330 FPS
high326 FPS330 FPS
ultra326 FPS330 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 3 210

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 3 210

The Ryzen 3 210 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,209 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 210 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 210 — a 8.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 210 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 210 uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 3 210's 13,209 — a 1.4% lead for the Ryzen 3 210. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 515 (176.3% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,300, a 45.1% lead for the Ryzen 3 210 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 6,500 (11.7% advantage for the Ryzen 3 210). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 210.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
Cores / Threads
6 / 12+50%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
4.7 GHz+9%
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
3 GHz+3%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)+50%
8 MB (total)
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
1 MB (per core)+300%
Process
14 nm
4 nm-71%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Hawk Point (2024−2025)
PassMark
13,029
13,209+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191+1490%
515
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454
2,300+58%
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
6,500+12%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 210 uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 3 210 — the Ryzen 3 210 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 3 210 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 14 (Ryzen 3 210) — the Core i5-10400F offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and SoC (Ryzen 3 210).

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
Socket
LGA1200
FP7
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
256 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16+14%
14
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Ryzen 3 210 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 3 210). The Ryzen 3 210 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 3 210 targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon 740M
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Laptop
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 210 debuted at $99. On MSRP ($160 vs $99), the Ryzen 3 210 is $61 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 133.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 210 — making the Ryzen 3 210 the 48.4% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 3 210
MSRP
$160
$99-38%
Performance per Dollar
81.4
133.4+64%
Release Date
2020
2025