Core i9-10850K vs Core i5-10400F
Core i9-10850K
Core i5-10400F
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10850K
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10850K | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($102) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-S (2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10850K | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+74%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($102) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-10850K and Core i5-10400F
Core i9-10850K
The Core i9-10850K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-S (2020) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 21,964 points. Launch price was $453.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10850K packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-10850K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10850K versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 17% clock advantage for the Core i9-10850K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i9-10850K uses the Comet Lake-S (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10850K scores 21,964 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 51.1% lead for the Core i9-10850K. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10850K vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.
| Feature | Core i9-10850K | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+67% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+19% | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+24% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake-S (2020) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 21,964+69% | 13,029 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,191 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,454 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,783 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1200 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i9-10850K | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-10850K) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Core i9-10850K | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Core i9-10850K launched at $453 MSRP, while the Core i5-10400F debuted at $160. At current prices ($300 vs $102), the Core i5-10400F is $198 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-10850K delivers 73.2 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 54.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i9-10850K | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $453 | $160-65% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300 | $102-66% |
| Performance per Dollar | 73.2 | 127.7+74% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2020 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i9-10850K and Core i5-10400F
