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 $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 134.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 34.8 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 39,929).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +73.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 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 34.8 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 3955WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $989 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 134.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 34.8 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +73.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 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 3955WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 39,929).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.8 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 3955WX better than Core i5-10400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX 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 3955WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 73.5% more average FPS across 3 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 3955WX is the better fit. You are getting 206.5% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 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 3955WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX is 618.1% more expensive on MSRP at $1,149 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 73.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 134.3% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 34.8 PassMark/$), 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 3955WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 433.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 12 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 3955WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	192 FPS	210 FPS
medium	152 FPS	170 FPS
high	123 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	186 FPS
medium	119 FPS	147 FPS
high	97 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	88 FPS
medium	70 FPS	74 FPS
high	55 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	557 FPS
medium	318 FPS	486 FPS
high	290 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	479 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 3955WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	773 FPS
medium	326 FPS	638 FPS
high	326 FPS	569 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	600 FPS
medium	326 FPS	495 FPS
high	326 FPS	437 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 3955WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	998 FPS
medium	326 FPS	970 FPS
high	326 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	847 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 3955WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

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 3955WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX 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 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 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: 39,929 points. Launch price was $1,149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX's 39,929 — a 101.6% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.9 GHz+34%
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	39,929+206%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX 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 3955WX).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
Socket	LGA1200	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+6553500%	2048
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	128+700%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX 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 Threadripper PRO 3955WX). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX rivals Xeon Silver 4314.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX 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 34.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX — making the Core i5-10400F the 80.4% better value option.