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 $106 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $266 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900HX across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 13,955).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 5900HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 5900HX

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +50.5% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon RX Vega 8, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
66.3% HIGHER MSRP
$266 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 9 5900HX

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $106 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $266 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +50.5% higher average FPS across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon RX Vega 8, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900HX across 7 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 13,955).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 5900HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
66.3% HIGHER MSRP
$266 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900HX better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5900HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 50.5% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data, 70.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 70.4% 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 9 5900HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 50.5% more average FPS across 7 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5900HX is the better fit. You are getting 70.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 5900HX is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 5900HX is 66.3% more expensive on MSRP at $266 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 50.5% average FPS lead across 7 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2.5% better value on MSRP (83.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 9 5900HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 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 9 5900HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
1080p
low	192 FPS	189 FPS
medium	152 FPS	156 FPS
high	123 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	160 FPS
medium	119 FPS	129 FPS
high	97 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	88 FPS
medium	70 FPS	77 FPS
high	55 FPS	61 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 5900HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
1080p
low	326 FPS	555 FPS
medium	318 FPS	466 FPS
high	290 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	343 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	497 FPS
medium	292 FPS	417 FPS
high	267 FPS	358 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	342 FPS
medium	258 FPS	295 FPS
high	235 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 5900HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
1080p
low	326 FPS	555 FPS
medium	326 FPS	555 FPS
high	326 FPS	555 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	555 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	555 FPS
medium	326 FPS	546 FPS
high	326 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	431 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	477 FPS
medium	326 FPS	404 FPS
high	289 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	288 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 5900HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
1080p
low	326 FPS	555 FPS
medium	326 FPS	555 FPS
high	326 FPS	555 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	555 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	555 FPS
medium	326 FPS	555 FPS
high	326 FPS	555 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	488 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	528 FPS
medium	326 FPS	476 FPS
high	326 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	353 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 5900HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 9 5900HX

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 9 5900HX

The Ryzen 9 5900HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,198 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900HX offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900HX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900HX — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900HX (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900HX uses Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 9 5900HX's 22,198 — a 52.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900HX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 13,955 (52.1% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,845, a 23.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 7,587 (27% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900HX). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5900HX.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.6 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.3 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark	13,029	22,198+70%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	13,955+70%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	1,845+27%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	7,587+31%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900HX uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i5-10400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and FP6 (Ryzen 9 5900HX).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
Socket	LGA1200	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900HX 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 (Ryzen 9 5900HX). The Ryzen 9 5900HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon RX Vega 8), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 5900HX targets Gaming Laptop / Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 9 5900HX rivals Core i9-11980HK.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 5900HX
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon RX Vega 8
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming Laptop / Mobile Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900HX debuted at $266. On MSRP ($160 vs $266), the Core i5-10400F is $106 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 83.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900HX — making the Ryzen 9 5900HX the 2.5% better value option.