Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 9 7940HX

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Core family

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Ryzen 9 7940HX

16 Cores32 Thrd55 WWMax: 5.2 GHz2024

Ryzen family

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Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 9 7940HX Performance Spectrum

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

0.0%

53,628

+311.6%

Ryzen 5 9600X

Ryzen 7 7700X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

About PassMark

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.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 9 7940HX FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 9 7940HX: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 53,628).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $160 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Ryzen 9 7940HX

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +46.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FL1 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Ryzen 9 7940HX is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 46.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 311.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 7940HX is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 46.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 7940HX is the stronger fit. You are getting 311.6% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also has 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 7940HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 9 7940HX comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it still gives you a 46.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 7940HX makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FL1 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 9 7940HX Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 7940HX

The Ryzen 9 7940HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2024-01-01. It is based on the Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 53,628 points. Launch price was $600.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940HX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen 9 7940HX has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940HX — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940HX (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940HX uses Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 9 7940HX's 53,628 — a 121.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940HX. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940HX.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940HX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.2 GHz+21%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+21%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+433%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+25500%	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024)
PassMark	13,029	53,628+312%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940HX uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 5200 on the Ryzen 9 7940HX — the Ryzen 9 7940HX supports 95% 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 7940HX) — the Ryzen 9 7940HX offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and FL1 (Ryzen 9 7940HX).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 7940HX
Socket	LGA1200	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	5200+95%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7940HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 7940HX 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 9 7940HX). The Ryzen 9 7940HX includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon 610M), 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 7940HX rivals Core i9-13900HX.