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 i9-10920X

2019

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.6 vs 170.2 PassMark/$ ($689 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7400F moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 7400F

2025

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $539 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $689 MSRP).
✅Delivers 353.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 170.2 vs 37.6 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $689 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (25,529 vs 25,875).

Core i9-10920X

2019

Ryzen 5 7400F

2025

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Costs $539 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $689 MSRP).
✅Delivers 353.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 170.2 vs 37.6 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $689 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 165W, a 100W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 37.6 vs 170.2 PassMark/$ ($689 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌153.8% higher power demand at 165W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 7400F moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (25,529 vs 25,875).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10920X better than Ryzen 5 7400F?

Yes. Core i9-10920X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.4% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10920X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10920X is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i9-10920X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-10920X is 359.3% more expensive on MSRP at $689 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7400F is also 353.2% better value on MSRP (170.2 vs 37.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 7400F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Ryzen 5 7400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2019), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and 66.2% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 19 MB). 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 i9-10920X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
1080p
low	274 FPS	153 FPS
medium	240 FPS	129 FPS
high	202 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	236 FPS	137 FPS
medium	187 FPS	113 FPS
high	153 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	163 FPS	77 FPS
medium	131 FPS	68 FPS
high	101 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i9-10920X Open Ryzen 5 7400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
1080p
low	560 FPS	450 FPS
medium	459 FPS	378 FPS
high	381 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	345 FPS	281 FPS
1440p
low	464 FPS	384 FPS
medium	396 FPS	329 FPS
high	334 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	289 FPS	246 FPS
4K
low	288 FPS	256 FPS
medium	247 FPS	224 FPS
high	228 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	179 FPS

Open Core i9-10920X Open Ryzen 5 7400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
1080p
low	647 FPS	638 FPS
medium	647 FPS	638 FPS
high	616 FPS	638 FPS
ultra	521 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	647 FPS	638 FPS
medium	588 FPS	638 FPS
high	506 FPS	638 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	605 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	524 FPS
medium	431 FPS	452 FPS
high	385 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	320 FPS	322 FPS

Open Core i9-10920X Open Ryzen 5 7400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
1080p
low	647 FPS	638 FPS
medium	647 FPS	638 FPS
high	647 FPS	638 FPS
ultra	647 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	647 FPS	638 FPS
medium	647 FPS	638 FPS
high	647 FPS	638 FPS
ultra	587 FPS	612 FPS
4K
low	609 FPS	638 FPS
medium	543 FPS	590 FPS
high	487 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	425 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i9-10920X Open Ryzen 5 7400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-10920X and Ryzen 5 7400F

Core i9-10920X

The Core i9-10920X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 25,875 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 7400F

The Ryzen 5 7400F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,529 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-10920X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-10920X has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10920X versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7400F — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-10920X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-10920X uses the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7400F uses Raphael (2023−2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10920X scores 25,875 against the Ryzen 5 7400F's 25,529 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i9-10920X. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-10920X vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7400F.

Feature	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
Cores / Threads	12 / 24+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+2%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+66%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	1 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Cascade Lake-X (2019)	Raphael (2023−2025)
PassMark	25,875+1%	25,529
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,458	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,250	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-10920X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 7400F uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
Socket	LGA2066	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	—
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	44	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-10920X) / not specified (Ryzen 5 7400F). Primary use case: Core i9-10920X targets HEDT/Workstation.

Feature	Core i9-10920X	Ryzen 5 7400F
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	HEDT/Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-10920X launched at $689 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7400F debuted at $150. On MSRP ($689 vs $150), the Ryzen 5 7400F is $539 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-10920X delivers 37.6 pts/$ vs 170.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7400F — making the Ryzen 5 7400F the 127.7% better value option.