Core i5-10400F vs Phenom II X6 1100T BE

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

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Phenom II X6 1100T BE

6 Cores6 Thrd125 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2010

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+126.8%

Phenom II X6 1100T BE

6 / 6

5,745

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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: +88.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $105 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $265 MSRP).
✅Delivers 275.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 21.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $265 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 1100T BE

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,745 vs 13,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($265 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Phenom II X6 1100T BE

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +88.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $105 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $265 MSRP).
✅Delivers 275.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 21.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $265 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 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,745 vs 13,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($265 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 1100T BE?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 88.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 126.8% better 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 88.5% more average FPS across 50 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 126.8% better PassMark, 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 $105 cheaper on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $265 MSRP, and it gives you a 88.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 275.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 21.7 PassMark/$), 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 1100T BE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
1080p
low	192 FPS	144 FPS
medium	152 FPS	140 FPS
high	123 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	137 FPS
medium	119 FPS	116 FPS
high	97 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	63 FPS
medium	70 FPS	56 FPS
high	55 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1100T BE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
1080p
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	318 FPS	144 FPS
high	290 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	292 FPS	144 FPS
high	267 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	125 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	144 FPS
medium	258 FPS	137 FPS
high	235 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1100T BE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
1080p
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	326 FPS	144 FPS
high	326 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	144 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	326 FPS	144 FPS
high	326 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	144 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	326 FPS	144 FPS
high	289 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	134 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1100T BE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
1080p
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	326 FPS	144 FPS
high	326 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	144 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	326 FPS	144 FPS
high	326 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	144 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	144 FPS
medium	326 FPS	144 FPS
high	326 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	144 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Phenom II X6 1100T BE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Phenom II X6 1100T BE

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 1100T BE

The Phenom II X6 1100T BE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: 5,745 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, matching the Phenom II X6 1100T BE's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 3.7 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1100T BE — a 15% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1100T BE uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Phenom II X6 1100T BE's 5,745 — a 77.6% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 508, a 96.4% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1100T BE.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 6
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+16%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.3 GHz+14%
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+127%	5,745
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454+186%	508
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X6 1100T BE 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 / DDR2-1066 on the Phenom II X6 1100T BE — 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 AMD 870,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Phenom II X6 1100T BE).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
Socket	LGA1200	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066
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 1100T BE 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 1100T BE). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Phenom II X6 1100T BE targets Enthusiast Legacy. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Phenom II X6 1100T BE
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Enthusiast Legacy

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Phenom II X6 1100T BE debuted at $265. On MSRP ($160 vs $265), the Core i5-10400F is $105 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 21.7 pts/$ for the Phenom II X6 1100T BE — making the Core i5-10400F the 115.9% better value option.