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 $319 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 23,277).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +98.8% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅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.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
199.4% HIGHER MSRP
$479 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $319 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $479 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +98.8% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅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.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 9800X3D across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 23,277).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 9800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
199.4% HIGHER MSRP
$479 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 9800X3D better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 98.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data, 184.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 206.7% 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 9800X3D is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 98.8% more average FPS across 7 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 96 MB vs 12 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the better fit. You are getting 184.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 9800X3D is 199.4% more expensive on MSRP at $479 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 98.8% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2.5% better value on MSRP (83.4 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 9800X3D 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, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 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 9800X3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	192 FPS	276 FPS
medium	152 FPS	257 FPS
high	123 FPS	219 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	260 FPS
medium	119 FPS	217 FPS
high	97 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	179 FPS
medium	70 FPS	149 FPS
high	55 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	326 FPS	880 FPS
medium	318 FPS	713 FPS
high	290 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	697 FPS
medium	292 FPS	591 FPS
high	267 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	383 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	383 FPS
medium	258 FPS	328 FPS
high	235 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	263 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	326 FPS	944 FPS
medium	326 FPS	772 FPS
high	326 FPS	698 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	731 FPS
medium	326 FPS	598 FPS
high	326 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	452 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	506 FPS
medium	326 FPS	419 FPS
high	289 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	316 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
1080p
low	326 FPS	999 FPS
medium	326 FPS	999 FPS
high	326 FPS	907 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	885 FPS
medium	326 FPS	778 FPS
high	326 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	592 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	639 FPS
medium	326 FPS	568 FPS
high	326 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 7 9800X3D

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 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 November 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 39,966 points. Launch price was $479.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's 39,966 — a 101.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 23,277 (95.9% advantage for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 3,450, a 81.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 18,500 (104.7% advantage for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.2 GHz+21%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	4.7 GHz+62%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	96 MB (total)+700%
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	39,966+207%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	23,277+184%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	3,450+137%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	18,500+220%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D 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 7 9800X3D — the Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D 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 7 9800X3D) — the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and X670E,B650E,X870E,B850 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
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 7 9800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 7 9800X3D). The Ryzen 7 9800X3D includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 7 9800X3D targets Extreme Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 7 9800X3D rivals Core i9-14900K.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, AMD-Vi
Target Use	Gaming	Extreme Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 9800X3D debuted at $479. On MSRP ($160 vs $479), the Core i5-10400F is $319 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 83.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — making the Ryzen 7 9800X3D the 2.4% better value option.