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 $439 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 9900X3D.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X3D across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 26,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 94.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 9900X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 9900X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 9900X3D

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +89.2% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 15.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2 Cores), while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
274.4% HIGHER MSRP
$599 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 9 9900X3D

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $439 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 9900X3D.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +89.2% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 15.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2 Cores), while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 9900X3D across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 26,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 94.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 9 9900X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 9900X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
274.4% HIGHER MSRP
$599 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 9 9900X3D better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 89.2% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 349.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 332.1% 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 9900X3D is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 89.2% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 12 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the better fit. You are getting 349.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 9 9900X3D is 274.4% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 89.2% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 15.4% better value on MSRP (94.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 9900X3D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 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 9900X3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	192 FPS	281 FPS
medium	152 FPS	257 FPS
high	123 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	265 FPS
medium	119 FPS	218 FPS
high	97 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	183 FPS
medium	70 FPS	150 FPS
high	55 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	326 FPS	824 FPS
medium	318 FPS	670 FPS
high	290 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	662 FPS
medium	292 FPS	562 FPS
high	267 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	335 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	369 FPS
medium	258 FPS	317 FPS
high	235 FPS	278 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	233 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	326 FPS	890 FPS
medium	326 FPS	722 FPS
high	326 FPS	649 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	559 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	716 FPS
medium	326 FPS	582 FPS
high	326 FPS	511 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	510 FPS
medium	326 FPS	420 FPS
high	289 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	316 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
1080p
low	326 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	326 FPS	1001 FPS
high	326 FPS	878 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	872 FPS
medium	326 FPS	766 FPS
high	326 FPS	673 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	584 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	637 FPS
medium	326 FPS	566 FPS
high	326 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	435 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 9 9900X3D

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 9900X3D

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 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: 56,301 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 9900X3D has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.5 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X3D — a 24.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 9 9900X3D's 56,301 — a 124.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 3,400, a 80.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 26,000 (127.2% advantage for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9900X3D.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.5 GHz+28%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	4.4 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	128 MB (total)+967%
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	56,301+332%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	3,400+134%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	26,000+350%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D 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 9 9900X3D — the Ryzen 9 9900X3D supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D 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 24 (Ryzen 9 9900X3D) — the Ryzen 9 9900X3D offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and X670,X670E,X870,X870E (Ryzen 9 9900X3D).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
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	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 9900X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 9900X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 9900X3D). The Ryzen 9 9900X3D includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2 Cores)), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 9900X3D targets High End Gaming/Creation. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 9 9900X3D rivals Core Ultra 9 285K.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	AMD Radeon Graphics (2 Cores)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	High End Gaming/Creation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D debuted at $599. On MSRP ($160 vs $599), the Core i5-10400F is $439 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 94.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 9900X3D — making the Ryzen 9 9900X3D the 14.3% better value option.