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

✅Costs $19 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8500G across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 9,310).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8500G moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.5% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 47.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 740M, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
11.9% HIGHER MSRP
$179 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $19 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.5% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 47.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 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 Ryzen 5 8500G across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 9,310).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8500G moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
11.9% HIGHER MSRP
$179 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8500G better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 5 8500G is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 39.5% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 13.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 64.9% 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, Ryzen 5 8500G is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 39.5% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 8500G is the better fit. You are getting 13.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries 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 8500G is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 8500G is 11.9% more expensive on MSRP at $179 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 39.5% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 47.4% better value on MSRP (120.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10400F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 8500G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 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 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

Ryzen 5 8500G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	192 FPS	267 FPS
medium	152 FPS	238 FPS
high	123 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	173 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	231 FPS
medium	119 FPS	186 FPS
high	97 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	159 FPS
medium	70 FPS	130 FPS
high	55 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	326 FPS	455 FPS
medium	318 FPS	371 FPS
high	290 FPS	321 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	279 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	394 FPS
medium	292 FPS	338 FPS
high	267 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	287 FPS
medium	258 FPS	251 FPS
high	235 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	326 FPS	537 FPS
medium	326 FPS	537 FPS
high	326 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	537 FPS
medium	326 FPS	537 FPS
high	326 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	497 FPS
medium	326 FPS	418 FPS
high	289 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 8500G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	326 FPS	537 FPS
medium	326 FPS	537 FPS
high	326 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	537 FPS
medium	326 FPS	537 FPS
high	326 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	537 FPS
medium	326 FPS	519 FPS
high	326 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	393 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 5 8500G

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.

Ryzen 5 8500G

The Ryzen 5 8500G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,481 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 5 8500G share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8500G (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses Phoenix2 (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 5 8500G's 21,481 — a 49% lead for the Ryzen 5 8500G. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 9,310 (12.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8500G). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,500, a 52.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 8500G that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 10,000 (53.4% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8500G). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8500G.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.5 GHz+21%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Phoenix2 (2024)
PassMark	13,029	21,481+65%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	9,310+14%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,500+72%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	10,000+73%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 5 8500G — the Ryzen 5 8500G supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 8500G 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 5 8500G) — 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 A620,B650,B650E,X670,X670E,B840,B850,X870,X870E (Ryzen 5 8500G).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16+14%	14

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 8500G 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 (Ryzen 5 8500G). The Ryzen 5 8500G includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 8500G targets General Use. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 5 8500G rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 8500G
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 740M
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	General Use

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 8500G debuted at $179. On MSRP ($160 vs $179), the Core i5-10400F is $19 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 120.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8500G — making the Ryzen 5 8500G the 38.3% better value option.