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 $989 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 179.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 18,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +66.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $989 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 179.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +66.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 18,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX better than Core i5-10400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-10400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 66.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better fit. You are getting 125.9% 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is 618.1% more expensive on MSRP at $1,149 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 66.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 179.7% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 29.1 PassMark/$), 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	192 FPS	202 FPS
medium	152 FPS	164 FPS
high	123 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	183 FPS
medium	119 FPS	145 FPS
high	97 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	86 FPS
medium	70 FPS	73 FPS
high	55 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	557 FPS
medium	318 FPS	485 FPS
high	290 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	478 FPS
medium	292 FPS	424 FPS
high	267 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	296 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	299 FPS
medium	258 FPS	268 FPS
high	235 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	772 FPS
medium	326 FPS	637 FPS
high	326 FPS	568 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	599 FPS
medium	326 FPS	494 FPS
high	326 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	431 FPS
medium	326 FPS	344 FPS
high	289 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	243 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	836 FPS
medium	326 FPS	836 FPS
high	326 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	836 FPS
medium	326 FPS	745 FPS
high	326 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	540 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	594 FPS
medium	326 FPS	540 FPS
high	326 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Castle Peak (2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,455 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX's 33,455 — a 87.9% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 18,500 (77.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,652, a 12.7% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 11,500 (66.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	4 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	64 MB+433%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Castle Peak (2020)
PassMark	13,029	33,455+157%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	18,500+126%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	1,652+14%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	11,500+99%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Socket	LGA1200	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	128+700%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX rivals Xeon w5-2455X.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX debuted at $1149. On MSRP ($160 vs $1149), the Core i5-10400F is $989 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 29.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — making the Core i5-10400F the 94.6% better value option.