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 $3,955 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1256.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 6.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 145W, a 80W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2699 v4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2699 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 24,711).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 55 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2699 v4, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-2699 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+358.3% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅150% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($4,115 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌123.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Xeon E5-2699 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,955 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1256.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 6.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $4,115 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 145W, a 80W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2699 v4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+358.3% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅150% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2699 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 24,711).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 55 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2699 v4, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($4,115 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌123.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2699 v4 better than Core i5-10400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2699 v4 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, Xeon E5-2699 v4 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.8% 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, Xeon E5-2699 v4 is the better fit. You are getting 89.7% better PassMark, backed by 22 cores and 44 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 358.3% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2699 v4 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon E5-2699 v4 is 2471.9% more expensive on MSRP at $4,115 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 1256.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 6.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-10400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2016). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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

Xeon E5-2699 v4 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	192 FPS	187 FPS
medium	152 FPS	164 FPS
high	123 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	154 FPS
medium	119 FPS	130 FPS
high	97 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	70 FPS
medium	70 FPS	62 FPS
high	55 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	326 FPS	211 FPS
medium	318 FPS	192 FPS
high	290 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	132 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	182 FPS
medium	292 FPS	165 FPS
high	267 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	112 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	115 FPS
medium	258 FPS	105 FPS
high	235 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	74 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	326 FPS	618 FPS
medium	326 FPS	618 FPS
high	326 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	618 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	618 FPS
medium	326 FPS	618 FPS
high	326 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	532 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	326 FPS	382 FPS
high	289 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	289 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
1080p
low	326 FPS	618 FPS
medium	326 FPS	618 FPS
high	326 FPS	618 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	614 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	618 FPS
medium	326 FPS	618 FPS
high	326 FPS	572 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	484 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	551 FPS
medium	326 FPS	493 FPS
high	326 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon E5-2699 v4

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Xeon E5-2699 v4

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.

Xeon E5-2699 v4

The Xeon E5-2699 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 55 MB. L2 cache: 5.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 24,711 points. Launch price was $4,115.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon E5-2699 v4 has 16 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2699 v4 — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Xeon E5-2699 v4's 24,711 — a 61.9% lead for the Xeon E5-2699 v4. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 55 MB on the Xeon E5-2699 v4.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	22 / 44+267%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+19%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+32%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	55 MB+358%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	5.5 MB+2100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	13,029	24,711+90%
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 Xeon E5-2699 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 2400 on the Xeon E5-2699 v4 — the Xeon E5-2699 v4 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2699 v4 supports up to 1536 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2699 v4). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2699 v4) — the Xeon E5-2699 v4 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and C612 (Xeon E5-2699 v4).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
Socket	LGA1200	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	2400+59900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+8738033%	1536
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	40+150%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Xeon E5-2699 v4 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Xeon E5-2699 v4
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2699 v4 debuted at $4115. On MSRP ($160 vs $4115), the Core i5-10400F is $3955 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 6.0 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2699 v4 — making the Core i5-10400F the 172.5% better value option.