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 $89 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800XT across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 15,036).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 112.4 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 5800XT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +62.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 38.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.4 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($249 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
55.6% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 7 5800XT

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $89 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +62.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 38.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.4 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($249 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800XT across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 15,036).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 112.4 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
55.6% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5800XT better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 7 5800XT is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 62.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 83.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 114.8% 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 7 5800XT is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 62.0% 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, Ryzen 7 5800XT is the better fit. You are getting 83.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 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 7 5800XT is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 5800XT is 55.6% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 62.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 38.1% better value on MSRP (112.4 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 7 5800XT is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 7 5800XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
1080p
low	192 FPS	256 FPS
medium	152 FPS	233 FPS
high	123 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	222 FPS
medium	119 FPS	182 FPS
high	97 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	154 FPS
medium	70 FPS	127 FPS
high	55 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 5800XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
1080p
low	326 FPS	533 FPS
medium	318 FPS	449 FPS
high	290 FPS	349 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	308 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	437 FPS
medium	292 FPS	386 FPS
high	267 FPS	312 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	271 FPS
medium	258 FPS	241 FPS
high	235 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	184 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 5800XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
1080p
low	326 FPS	700 FPS
medium	326 FPS	616 FPS
high	326 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	446 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	688 FPS
medium	326 FPS	540 FPS
high	326 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	388 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	483 FPS
medium	326 FPS	399 FPS
high	289 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	289 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 5800XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
1080p
low	326 FPS	700 FPS
medium	326 FPS	700 FPS
high	326 FPS	700 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	700 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	700 FPS
medium	326 FPS	700 FPS
high	326 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	541 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	559 FPS
medium	326 FPS	503 FPS
high	326 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	392 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 5800XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 7 5800XT

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 7 5800XT

The Ryzen 7 5800XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 July 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,992 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5800XT offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5800XT has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800XT — a 11% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800XT (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800XT uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 7 5800XT's 27,992 — a 73% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800XT. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 15,036 (58.9% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800XT). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,172, a 39.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800XT that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 10,940 (61.7% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800XT). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800XT.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.8 GHz+12%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.8 GHz+31%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	13,029	27,992+115%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	15,036+84%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,172+49%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	10,940+89%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800XT uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 5800XT) — the Ryzen 7 5800XT offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5800XT).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
Socket	LGA1200	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 5800XT 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, SVM (Ryzen 7 5800XT). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 7 5800XT targets Gaming / Content Creation (AM4 Legacy). Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 7 5800XT rivals Core i7-12700K.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 5800XT
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming / Content Creation (AM4 Legacy)

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800XT debuted at $249. On MSRP ($160 vs $249), the Core i5-10400F is $89 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 112.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800XT — making the Ryzen 7 5800XT the 32% better value option.