Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 5600H

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 5600H

6 Cores12 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2021
Ryzen family
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Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 5600H Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 5600H FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 5600H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600H.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 1,764).
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 10,126).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
  • Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 5600H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Ryzen 5 5600H

2021

Why buy it

  • +21.3% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • +33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
  • Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (7-core), while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600H better than Core i5-10400F?
Yes. Ryzen 5 5600H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 26.9% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600H is the stronger fit. You are getting 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 5600H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 5600H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 5 5600H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 5600H Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 5 5600H

The Ryzen 5 5600H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 3 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 16,533 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 5 5600H share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600H — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600H uses Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 5 5600H's 16,533 — a 23.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 10,126 (21.1% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,764, a 19.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 7,678 (28.2% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600H). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600H.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 5600H
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+2%
4.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
3.3 GHz+14%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
16 MB+33%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)+8433%
3 MB
Process
14 nm
7 nm-50%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark
13,029
16,533+27%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191
10,126+24%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454
1,764+21%
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
7,678+33%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600H uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4266 on the Ryzen 5 5600H — the Ryzen 5 5600H supports 20% 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 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 5600H
Socket
LGA1200
FP6
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4266+20%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB+100%
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600H). The Ryzen 5 5600H includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (7-core)), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 5600H targets Gaming Laptops. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 5 5600H rivals Core i5-11400H.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 5600H
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon Graphics (7-core)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Gaming Laptops