Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020
VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 1500

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 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 PRO 1500 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 PRO 1500: 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

  • βœ…Better for gaming: +17.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • βœ…Costs $29 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
  • βœ…Delivers 69.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 47.9 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 PRO 1500.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Ryzen 5 PRO 1500

2017

Why buy it

  • βœ…+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower PassMark (9,062 vs 13,029).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.9 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Ryzen 5 PRO 1500?
Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 17.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 43.8% better 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, Core i5-10400F is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 17.5% 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, Core i5-10400F is the stronger fit. You are getting 43.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i5-10400F is the better buy right now. Core i5-10400F comes in $29 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you a 17.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 69.8% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 47.9 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-10400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 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 (2020βˆ’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 PRO 1500

The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017βˆ’2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 9,062 points. Launch price was $149.

⚑

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 offers 4 cores / 8 threads β€” the Core i5-10400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 β€” a 15% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020βˆ’2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 uses Zen (2017βˆ’2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500's 9,062 β€” a 35.9% lead for the Core i5-10400F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 PRO 1500
Cores / Threads
6 / 12+50%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+16%
3.7 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
3.5 GHz+21%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512K (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020βˆ’2025)
Zen (2017βˆ’2020)
PassMark
13,029+44%
9,062
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191
β€”
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454
β€”
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
β€”
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 PRO 1500
Socket
LGA1200
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
β€”
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
β€”
RAM Channels
2
β€”
ECC Support
No
β€”
PCIe Lanes
16
β€”
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) / not specified (Ryzen 5 PRO 1500). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 PRO 1500
Integrated GPU
No
β€”
Unlocked
No
β€”
AVX-512
No
β€”
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
β€”
Target Use
Gaming
β€”
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-10400F was priced at $160, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 came in at $189. On launch pricing ($160 vs $189), Core i5-10400F was $29 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 47.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 β€” making the Core i5-10400F the 51.8% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 5 PRO 1500
MSRP
$160-15%
$189
Performance per Dollar
81.4+70%
47.9
Release Date
2020
2017

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