Core i5-10400F vs EPYC 7742

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 7742

64 Cores128 Thrd225 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2019

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

0.0%

69,448

+433.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

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.

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 i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $6,790 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 714.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 225W, a 160W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 7742.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7742, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 7742

2019

Why buy it

✅+433% higher PassMark.
✅+2033.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌246.2% higher power demand at 225W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

EPYC 7742

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $6,790 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Delivers 714.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $6,950 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 225W, a 160W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 7742.

Why buy it

✅+433% higher PassMark.
✅+2033.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 16.
✅700% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 69,448).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7742, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($6,950 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌246.2% higher power demand at 225W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than EPYC 7742?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7742 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-10400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 7742 is the better fit. You are getting 433% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 2033.3% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i5-10400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-10400F is $6,790 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $6,950 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that EPYC 7742 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 433% better PassMark. It is also 714.9% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 10.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-10400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i5-10400F Benchmark Check

EPYC 7742 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	192 FPS	192 FPS
medium	152 FPS	172 FPS
high	123 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	157 FPS
medium	119 FPS	132 FPS
high	97 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	72 FPS
medium	70 FPS	65 FPS
high	55 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open EPYC 7742

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	326 FPS	247 FPS
medium	318 FPS	221 FPS
high	290 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	148 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	202 FPS
medium	292 FPS	186 FPS
high	267 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	126 FPS
medium	258 FPS	118 FPS
high	235 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	84 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open EPYC 7742

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	326 FPS	629 FPS
medium	326 FPS	536 FPS
high	326 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	415 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	524 FPS
medium	326 FPS	446 FPS
high	326 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	338 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	312 FPS
high	289 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	224 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open EPYC 7742

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
1080p
low	326 FPS	906 FPS
medium	326 FPS	828 FPS
high	326 FPS	713 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	618 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	711 FPS
medium	326 FPS	623 FPS
high	326 FPS	534 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	454 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	503 FPS
medium	326 FPS	454 FPS
high	326 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	346 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open EPYC 7742

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and EPYC 7742

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.

EPYC 7742

The EPYC 7742 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 225 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 69,448 points. Launch price was $6,950.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7742 offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the EPYC 7742 has 58 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7742 — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.25 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7742 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the EPYC 7742's 69,448 — a 136.8% lead for the EPYC 7742. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 7742.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	64 / 128+967%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+26%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+29%	2.25 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	256 MB (total)+2033%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 14 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	13,029	69,448+433%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7742 uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus 3200 on the EPYC 7742 — the EPYC 7742 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7742 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-10400F) vs 8 (EPYC 7742). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 128 (EPYC 7742) — the EPYC 7742 offers 112 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and SP3 (EPYC 7742).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
Socket	LGA1200	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	3200+79900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+3276700%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	128+700%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; EPYC 7742 rivals Xeon Platinum 8280.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	EPYC 7742
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the EPYC 7742 debuted at $6950. On MSRP ($160 vs $6950), the Core i5-10400F is $6790 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 10.0 pts/$ for the EPYC 7742 — making the Core i5-10400F the 156.3% better value option.