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 $119 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 9600X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 9600X across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 17,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 9600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +63.8% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 32.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
74.4% HIGHER MSRP
$279 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $119 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 9600X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +63.8% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 32.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 107.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 9600X across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 17,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 9600X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
74.4% HIGHER MSRP
$279 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 9600X better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 5 9600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 63.8% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 113.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 130.3% 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, Ryzen 5 9600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 63.8% 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 9600X is the better fit. You are getting 113.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 5 9600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 9600X is 74.4% more expensive on MSRP at $279 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 63.8% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 32.1% better value on MSRP (107.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 9600X 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, 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 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 9600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	192 FPS	264 FPS
medium	152 FPS	243 FPS
high	123 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	225 FPS
medium	119 FPS	188 FPS
high	97 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	156 FPS
medium	70 FPS	131 FPS
high	55 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	326 FPS	546 FPS
medium	318 FPS	451 FPS
high	290 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	339 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	292 FPS	401 FPS
high	267 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	294 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	294 FPS
medium	258 FPS	256 FPS
high	235 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	326 FPS	750 FPS
medium	326 FPS	724 FPS
high	326 FPS	641 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	551 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	724 FPS
medium	326 FPS	565 FPS
high	326 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	471 FPS
medium	326 FPS	397 FPS
high	289 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	285 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 9600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	326 FPS	750 FPS
medium	326 FPS	750 FPS
high	326 FPS	750 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	750 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	750 FPS
medium	326 FPS	750 FPS
high	326 FPS	676 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	583 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	577 FPS
medium	326 FPS	512 FPS
high	326 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 5 9600X

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 9600X

The Ryzen 5 9600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 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: 30,003 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 5 9600X share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 5 9600X's 30,003 — a 78.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 17,500 (72.5% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 3,300, a 77.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 15,000 (88.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.9 GHz+34%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	13,029	30,003+130%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	17,500+114%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	3,300+127%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	15,000+159%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 5 9600X — the Ryzen 5 9600X supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 9600X supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 9600X) — the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and X870E,X870,X670E,X670,B650E,B650 (Ryzen 5 9600X).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 9600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 9600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 9600X). The Ryzen 5 9600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 9600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 5 9600X rivals Intel Core i5-14600K.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 5 9600X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 9600X debuted at $279. On MSRP ($160 vs $279), the Core i5-10400F is $119 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 107.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 9600X — making the Ryzen 5 9600X the 27.6% better value option.