Core i5-10400F vs Phenom II X6 1075T

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

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Phenom II X6 1075T

6 Cores6 Thrd125 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2010

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+272.3%

3,500

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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

✅Better for gaming: +185.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $85 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Delivers 470.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Phenom II X6 1075T

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,896 vs 8,191).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($245 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Phenom II X6 1075T

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +185.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $85 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Delivers 470.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,896 vs 8,191).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($245 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Phenom II X6 1075T?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 185.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 332% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 272.3% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-10400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 185.5% 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 i5-10400F is the better fit. You are getting 332% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 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 $85 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $245 MSRP, and it gives you a 185.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 470.0% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 14.3 PassMark/$), 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 2010), 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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

Phenom II X6 1075T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	192 FPS	88 FPS
medium	152 FPS	88 FPS
high	123 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	88 FPS
medium	119 FPS	88 FPS
high	97 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	62 FPS
medium	70 FPS	56 FPS
high	55 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1075T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	318 FPS	88 FPS
high	290 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	292 FPS	88 FPS
high	267 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	88 FPS
medium	258 FPS	88 FPS
high	235 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	72 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1075T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	326 FPS	88 FPS
high	326 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	326 FPS	88 FPS
high	326 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	326 FPS	88 FPS
high	289 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1075T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	326 FPS	88 FPS
high	326 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	326 FPS	88 FPS
high	326 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	88 FPS
medium	326 FPS	88 FPS
high	326 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1075T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Phenom II X6 1075T

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.

Phenom II X6 1075T

The Phenom II X6 1075T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,500 points. Launch price was $260.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, matching the Phenom II X6 1075T's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.5 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1075T — a 20.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1075T uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Phenom II X6 1075T's 3,500 — a 115.3% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 1,896 (124.8% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 679, a 72.7% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 1,960 (98.7% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1075T.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 6
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+23%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+100%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Thuban (2010)
PassMark	13,029+272%	3,500
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191+332%	1,896
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454+114%	679
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783+195%	1,960

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X6 1075T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X6 1075T — the Core i5-10400F supports 28.6% 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 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and 880G,890GX,890FX,970,990FX (Phenom II X6 1075T).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
Socket	LGA1200	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+300%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Phenom II X6 1075T has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X6 1075T). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Phenom II X6 1075T targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Phenom II X6 1075T rivals Core i5-750.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1075T
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Phenom II X6 1075T debuted at $245. On MSRP ($160 vs $245), the Core i5-10400F is $85 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 14.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X6 1075T — making the Core i5-10400F the 140.3% better value option.