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 $199 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 9700X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9700X across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 37,145).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 103.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9700X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 9700X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +88.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 27.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
124.4% HIGHER MSRP
$359 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 7 9700X

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $199 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 9700X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +88.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 27.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 103.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9700X across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 37,145).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 103.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9700X moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
124.4% HIGHER MSRP
$359 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9700X better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 7 9700X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 88.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 185.1% better 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 9700X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 88.5% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 9700X is the better fit. You are getting 185.1% better PassMark, 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 9700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 9700X is 124.4% more expensive on MSRP at $359 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 88.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 27.1% better value on MSRP (103.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 7 9700X 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 8 cores / 16 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 7 9700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	192 FPS	265 FPS
medium	152 FPS	245 FPS
high	123 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	226 FPS
medium	119 FPS	188 FPS
high	97 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	157 FPS
medium	70 FPS	131 FPS
high	55 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	326 FPS	639 FPS
medium	318 FPS	526 FPS
high	290 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	392 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	545 FPS
medium	292 FPS	470 FPS
high	267 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	319 FPS
medium	258 FPS	281 FPS
high	235 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	326 FPS	929 FPS
medium	326 FPS	744 FPS
high	326 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	558 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	736 FPS
medium	326 FPS	589 FPS
high	326 FPS	506 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	431 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	508 FPS
medium	326 FPS	420 FPS
high	289 FPS	378 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
1080p
low	326 FPS	929 FPS
medium	326 FPS	929 FPS
high	326 FPS	850 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	889 FPS
medium	326 FPS	773 FPS
high	326 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	584 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	582 FPS
medium	326 FPS	517 FPS
high	326 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 7 9700X

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 9700X

The Ryzen 7 9700X 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 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: 37,145 points. Launch price was $359.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 9700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 9700X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9700X — a 24.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9700X (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 9700X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 7 9700X's 37,145 — a 96.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 9700X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9700X.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.5 GHz+28%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.8 GHz+31%
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	37,145+185%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 9700X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 5600 on the Ryzen 7 9700X — the Ryzen 7 9700X supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 9700X supports up to 256 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 24 (Ryzen 7 9700X) — the Ryzen 7 9700X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and X870E,X670E,B650 (Ryzen 7 9700X).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	5600+139900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+52428700%	256
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 9700X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 9700X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 7 9700X). The Ryzen 7 9700X 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. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 7 9700X rivals Core i7-14700K.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9700X
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 9700X debuted at $359. On MSRP ($160 vs $359), the Core i5-10400F is $199 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 103.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 9700X — making the Ryzen 7 9700X the 23.8% better value option.