Core i5-11400F vs Core i9-10980HK

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.

Core i5-11400F vs Core i9-10980HK FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-11400F vs Core i9-10980HK: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-11400F

2021

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core i9-10980HK.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10980HK across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,902 vs 17,037).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $157 MSRP, while Core i9-10980HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Core i9-10980HK

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-11400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10980HK better than Core i5-11400F?

Yes. Core i9-10980HK is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 27.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10980HK is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 27.2% 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, Core i9-10980HK is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i9-10980HK is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-11400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i9-10980HK comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $157 MSRP, and it still gives you a 27.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-11400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (107.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core i5-11400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-11400F vs Core i9-10980HK Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-11400F

The Core i5-11400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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: 16,902 points. Launch price was $157.

Core i9-10980HK

The Core i9-10980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,037 points. Launch price was $583.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-11400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-10980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-10980HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-11400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-11400F uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-10980HK uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11400F scores 16,902 against the Core i9-10980HK's 17,037 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i9-10980HK. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK.

Feature	Core i5-11400F	Core i9-10980HK
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+8%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Comet Lake-H (2020)
PassMark	16,902	17,037
Geekbench 6 Single	2,000	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,600	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-10980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-11400F	Core i9-10980HK
Socket	LGA1200	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-11400F) / not specified (Core i9-10980HK). Primary use case: Core i5-11400F targets Mainstream Desktop.