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 $269 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7900 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 24,600).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 7900 moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 9 7900

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +78.7% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 37.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅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.

Trade-offs

❌
168.1% HIGHER MSRP
$429 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 9 7900

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $269 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +78.7% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 37.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($429 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅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.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7900 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 24,600).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $429 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 7900 moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
168.1% HIGHER MSRP
$429 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7900 better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 7900 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 78.7% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 200.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 269.7% 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 9 7900 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 78.7% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 7900 is the better fit. You are getting 200.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 7900 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 7900 is 168.1% more expensive on MSRP at $429 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 78.7% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 37.9% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 9 7900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 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 9 7900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	192 FPS	288 FPS
medium	152 FPS	259 FPS
high	123 FPS	218 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	270 FPS
medium	119 FPS	218 FPS
high	97 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	187 FPS
medium	70 FPS	151 FPS
high	55 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	101 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	326 FPS	706 FPS
medium	318 FPS	599 FPS
high	290 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	389 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	593 FPS
medium	292 FPS	522 FPS
high	267 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	322 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	335 FPS
medium	258 FPS	298 FPS
high	235 FPS	264 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	226 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	326 FPS	876 FPS
medium	326 FPS	699 FPS
high	326 FPS	608 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	518 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	702 FPS
medium	326 FPS	562 FPS
high	326 FPS	481 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	499 FPS
medium	326 FPS	414 FPS
high	289 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	312 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
1080p
low	326 FPS	1125 FPS
medium	326 FPS	987 FPS
high	326 FPS	860 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	892 FPS
medium	326 FPS	774 FPS
high	326 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	580 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	644 FPS
medium	326 FPS	570 FPS
high	326 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 9 7900

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 7900

The Ryzen 9 7900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 48,168 points. Launch price was $429.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7900 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 7900 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7900 — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7900 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7900 uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 9 7900's 48,168 — a 114.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 7900. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 24,600 (100.1% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7900). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,800, a 63.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 7900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 18,000 (102.7% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7900). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7900.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.7 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+433%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	13,029	48,168+270%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	24,600+200%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,800+93%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	18,000+211%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 7900 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 9 7900 — the Ryzen 9 7900 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 7900) — the Ryzen 9 7900 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and AMD X670E,AMD X670,AMD B650E,AMD B650,AMD A620 (Ryzen 9 7900).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7900 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 7900 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs true (Ryzen 9 7900). The Ryzen 9 7900 includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (Raphael)), 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 9 7900 rivals Core i9-13900.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7900
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics (Raphael)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 7900 debuted at $429. On MSRP ($160 vs $429), the Core i5-10400F is $269 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 7900 — making the Ryzen 9 7900 the 31.8% better value option.