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 $95 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $255 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 73.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $255 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 2,140).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 9,104).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1350, which brings 6 cores / 12 threads and 20 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while Xeon W-1350 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Xeon W-1350

2021

Why buy it

✅+47.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 6 cores / 12 threads, plus 20 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics P750, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($255 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Xeon W-1350

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $95 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $255 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 73.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $255 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+47.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 6 cores / 12 threads, plus 20 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics P750, while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 2,140).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 9,104).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1350, which brings 6 cores / 12 threads and 20 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while Xeon W-1350 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($255 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-1350 better than Core i5-10400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-1350 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 W-1350 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% 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 W-1350 is the better fit. You are getting 57.4% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Xeon W-1350 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Xeon W-1350 is 59.4% more expensive on MSRP at $255 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 10.8% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 73.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Xeon W-1350 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 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

Xeon W-1350 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
1080p
low	192 FPS	246 FPS
medium	152 FPS	229 FPS
high	123 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	164 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	217 FPS
medium	119 FPS	184 FPS
high	97 FPS	148 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	130 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	151 FPS
medium	70 FPS	128 FPS
high	55 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon W-1350

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
1080p
low	326 FPS	315 FPS
medium	318 FPS	267 FPS
high	290 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	221 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	280 FPS
medium	292 FPS	239 FPS
high	267 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	222 FPS
medium	258 FPS	191 FPS
high	235 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	146 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon W-1350

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
1080p
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	326 FPS	469 FPS
high	326 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	380 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	326 FPS	463 FPS
high	326 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	345 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	385 FPS
medium	326 FPS	337 FPS
high	289 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	242 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon W-1350

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
1080p
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	326 FPS	469 FPS
high	326 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	469 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	326 FPS	469 FPS
high	326 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	469 FPS
medium	326 FPS	469 FPS
high	326 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	392 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Xeon W-1350

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Xeon W-1350

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 W-1350

The Xeon W-1350 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake-S (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 18,742 points. Launch price was $255.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10400F and Xeon W-1350 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5 GHz on the Xeon W-1350 — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1350 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon W-1350 uses Rocket Lake-S (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Xeon W-1350's 18,742 — a 36% lead for the Xeon W-1350. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,140, a 38.2% lead for the Xeon W-1350 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 9,104 (44.6% advantage for the Xeon W-1350). Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.3 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Rocket Lake-S (2021)
PassMark	13,029	18,742+44%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,140+47%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	9,104+57%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1200 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Xeon W-1350) — the Xeon W-1350 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and W580,C252,C256 (Xeon W-1350).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Xeon W-1350 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs Yes (Xeon W-1350). The Xeon W-1350 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics P750), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Xeon W-1350
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics P750
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Xeon W-1350 debuted at $255. On MSRP ($160 vs $255), the Core i5-10400F is $95 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 73.5 pts/$ for the Xeon W-1350 — making the Core i5-10400F the 10.2% better value option.