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

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 7940H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940H across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 17,200).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Ryzen 9 7940H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +71.7% higher average FPS across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 9 7940H

2023

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 7940H.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +71.7% higher average FPS across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940H across 8 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 17,200).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7940H better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 7940H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 71.7% average FPS lead across 8 shared CPU game tests in our data, 110% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 123.7% 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 7940H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 71.7% more average FPS across 8 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 7940H is the better fit. You are getting 110% 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 7940H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 7940H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 71.7% average FPS lead across 8 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 7940H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FP8 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 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 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 7940H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	192 FPS	268 FPS
medium	152 FPS	241 FPS
high	123 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	234 FPS
medium	119 FPS	191 FPS
high	97 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	160 FPS
medium	70 FPS	132 FPS
high	55 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	326 FPS	502 FPS
medium	318 FPS	417 FPS
high	290 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	439 FPS
medium	292 FPS	385 FPS
high	267 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	282 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	291 FPS
medium	258 FPS	267 FPS
high	235 FPS	251 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	216 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	326 FPS	729 FPS
medium	326 FPS	729 FPS
high	326 FPS	729 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	650 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	729 FPS
medium	326 FPS	637 FPS
high	326 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	534 FPS
medium	326 FPS	460 FPS
high	289 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	344 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	326 FPS	729 FPS
medium	326 FPS	729 FPS
high	326 FPS	729 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	729 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	729 FPS
medium	326 FPS	729 FPS
high	326 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	619 FPS
medium	326 FPS	553 FPS
high	326 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 9 7940H

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 7940H

The Ryzen 9 7940H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 29,151 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 7940H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940H — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 9 7940H's 29,151 — a 76.4% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 17,200 (71% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,646, a 58.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 13,495 (80% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940H.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.2 GHz+21%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	4 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	4 nm-71%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	13,029	29,151+124%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	17,200+110%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,646+82%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	13,495+133%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 7940H — the Ryzen 9 7940H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 7940H supports up to 256 GB 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 20 (Ryzen 9 7940H) — the Ryzen 9 7940H offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 7940H).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940H
Socket	LGA1200	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7940H has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 7940H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 7940H). The Ryzen 9 7940H includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 7940H targets High-performance Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 9 7940H rivals Core i9-13900H.