Xeon Silver 4208 vs Core i5-10400F
Xeon Silver 4208
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 Xeon Silver 4208 is positioned at rank #329 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 Xeon Silver 4208
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4208 | 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 (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4208 | 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 Xeon Silver 4208 and Core i5-10400F
Xeon Silver 4208
The Xeon Silver 4208 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 11,040 points. Launch price was $417.
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 Xeon Silver 4208 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon Silver 4208 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4208 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 29.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon Silver 4208 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Silver 4208 scores 11,040 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 16.5% lead for the Core i5-10400F. L3 cache: 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4208 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4208 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.3 GHz+34% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.9 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 11 MB | 12 MB (total)+9% |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 11,040 | 13,029+18% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,191 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,454 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,783 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Silver 4208 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2400 on the Xeon Silver 4208 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F — the Xeon Silver 4208 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Silver 4208 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Silver 4208) vs 2 (Core i5-10400F). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Silver 4208) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) — the Xeon Silver 4208 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Silver 4208) and H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F).
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4208 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2400+59900% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 | 128 GB+13107100% |
| RAM Channels | 6+200% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+200% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Silver 4208 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4208 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
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