Ryzen 5 3500U vs Core i5-10400F
Ryzen 5 3500U
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. The Ryzen 5 3500U is positioned at rank #614 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Ryzen 5 3500U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3500U | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3500U | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 Ryzen 5 3500U and Core i5-10400F
Ryzen 5 3500U
The Ryzen 5 3500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,836 points. Launch price was $149.
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 Ryzen 5 3500U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500U versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 15% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3500U uses the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3500U scores 6,836 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 62.4% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3,545 vs 8,191 (79.2% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 876 vs 1,454, a 49.6% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 5,783 (101.2% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500U vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500U | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.3 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.9 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-14% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 6,836 | 13,029+91% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,545 | 8,191+131% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 876 | 1,454+66% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,898 | 5,783+205% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3500U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Core i5-10400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Ryzen 5 3500U) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) — the Core i5-10400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Mobile (Ryzen 5 3500U) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500U | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 3500U) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). The Ryzen 5 3500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3500U targets Budget, Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3500U rivals Core i5-10210U; Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500U | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 8 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget | Gaming |
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