EPYC 9655 vs Core i5-10400F
EPYC 9655
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 EPYC 9655
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 9655 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11,852) | ✅ More affordable ($102) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Turin (2024) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 9655 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+870%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11,852) | ✅ 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 EPYC 9655 and Core i5-10400F
EPYC 9655
The EPYC 9655 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 400 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 156,110 points. Launch price was $11,852.
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 EPYC 9655 packs 96 cores / 192 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 9655 has 90 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the EPYC 9655 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 4.5% clock advantage for the EPYC 9655 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The EPYC 9655 uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9655 scores 156,110 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 169.2% lead for the EPYC 9655. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,830 vs 1,454, a 64.2% lead for the EPYC 9655 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 29,329 vs 5,783 (134.1% advantage for the EPYC 9655). L3 cache: 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9655 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.
| Feature | EPYC 9655 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 96 / 192+1500% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+5% | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.9 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 384 MB (total)+3100% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm-71% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Turin (2024) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 156,110+1098% | 13,029 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,191 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,830+95% | 1,454 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 29,329+407% | 5,783 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 9655 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9655 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F — the EPYC 9655 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-10400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 9 TB — 173.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9655) vs 2 (Core i5-10400F). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9655) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) — the EPYC 9655 offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 (EPYC 9655) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).
| Feature | EPYC 9655 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP5 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6000+25% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 9 TB+7100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 12+500% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+700% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the EPYC 9655 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9655) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). Primary use case: EPYC 9655 targets Data Center, Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: EPYC 9655 rivals Xeon 6979P; Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | EPYC 9655 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SEV-SNP | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Data Center | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The EPYC 9655 launched at $11852 MSRP, while the Core i5-10400F debuted at $160. At current prices ($11852 vs $102), the Core i5-10400F is $11750 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 9655 delivers 13.2 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 162.6% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 9655 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $11852 | $160-99% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $11852 | $102-99% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.2 | 127.7+867% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2020 |
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