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 $2,739 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $2,899 MSRP).
✅Delivers 152.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 32.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $2,899 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 60,336).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +106.3% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($2,899 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,739 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $2,899 MSRP).
✅Delivers 152.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 32.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $2,899 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +106.3% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅Newer platform on sTR5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅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 9965WX across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 60,336).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX moves to sTR5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($2,899 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX better than Core i5-10400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX 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 9965WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 106.3% more average FPS across 2 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 Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the better fit. You are getting 636.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 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 Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is 1711.9% more expensive on MSRP at $2,899 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 106.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2020 platform. Even with 152.0% better value on paper (81.4 vs 32.3 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1200.

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020), a healthier platform with sTR5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 12 MB, more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 Threadripper PRO 9965WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
1080p
low	192 FPS	314 FPS
medium	152 FPS	290 FPS
high	123 FPS	241 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	203 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	278 FPS
medium	119 FPS	231 FPS
high	97 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	158 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	191 FPS
medium	70 FPS	158 FPS
high	55 FPS	121 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	826 FPS
medium	318 FPS	704 FPS
high	290 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	677 FPS
medium	292 FPS	601 FPS
high	267 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	390 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	378 FPS
medium	258 FPS	341 FPS
high	235 FPS	311 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	272 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	893 FPS
medium	326 FPS	724 FPS
high	326 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	716 FPS
medium	326 FPS	581 FPS
high	326 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	428 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	509 FPS
medium	326 FPS	420 FPS
high	289 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	312 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
1080p
low	326 FPS	1116 FPS
medium	326 FPS	1002 FPS
high	326 FPS	879 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	792 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	873 FPS
medium	326 FPS	769 FPS
high	326 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	588 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	637 FPS
medium	326 FPS	568 FPS
high	326 FPS	505 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

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 9965WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 93,660 points. Launch price was $2,899.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX's 93,660 — a 151.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 60,336 (152.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 3,349, a 78.9% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 30,722 (136.6% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 128 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	24 / 48+300%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	4.2 GHz+45%
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)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	13,029	93,660+619%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	60,336+637%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	3,349+130%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	30,722+431%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX 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 9965WX). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and WRX90,TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
Socket	LGA1200	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-6400+25%
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 9965WX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX targets High-end Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX rivals Xeon w9-3595X.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true
Target Use	Gaming	High-end Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX debuted at $2899. On MSRP ($160 vs $2899), the Core i5-10400F is $2739 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 32.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX — making the Core i5-10400F the 86.4% better value option.