Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 3 4100

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

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Ryzen 3 4100

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-10400F

6 / 12

13,029

+17.8%

11,062

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

Ryzen 9 7900

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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: +27.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+49.9% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 4100.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 111.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Ryzen 3 4100

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $61 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (11,062 vs 13,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 3 4100

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+49.9% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 4100.

Why buy it

✅Costs $61 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 111.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-10400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (11,062 vs 13,029).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-10400F better than Ryzen 3 4100?

Yes. Core i5-10400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 27.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data and 17.8% better PassMark, 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 27.3% more average FPS across 3 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 17.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 49.9% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-10400F is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 3 4100 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-10400F is 61.6% more expensive on MSRP at $160 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it gives you a 27.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 4100 is also 37.2% better value on MSRP (111.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 3 4100 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Ryzen 3 4100 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020). 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

Ryzen 3 4100 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
1080p
low	192 FPS	182 FPS
medium	152 FPS	145 FPS
high	123 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	155 FPS
medium	119 FPS	122 FPS
high	97 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	69 FPS
medium	70 FPS	58 FPS
high	55 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 3 4100

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
1080p
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	318 FPS	235 FPS
high	290 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	157 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	235 FPS
medium	292 FPS	203 FPS
high	267 FPS	177 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	142 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	181 FPS
medium	258 FPS	164 FPS
high	235 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 3 4100

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
1080p
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	326 FPS	277 FPS
high	326 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	326 FPS	277 FPS
high	326 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	326 FPS	277 FPS
high	289 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	247 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 3 4100

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
1080p
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	326 FPS	277 FPS
high	326 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	326 FPS	277 FPS
high	326 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	277 FPS
medium	326 FPS	277 FPS
high	326 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	277 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 3 4100

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 3 4100

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.

Ryzen 3 4100

The Ryzen 3 4100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8.00391 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 11,062 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 4100 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 4100 — a 7.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 4100 uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 3 4100's 11,062 — a 16.3% lead for the Core i5-10400F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 8.00391 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 4100.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+7%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.8 GHz+31%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8.00391 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	13,029+18%	11,062
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 Ryzen 3 4100 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
Socket	LGA1200	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) / not specified (Ryzen 3 4100). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 3 4100
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 4100 debuted at $99. On MSRP ($160 vs $99), the Ryzen 3 4100 is $61 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 111.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 4100 — making the Ryzen 3 4100 the 31.4% better value option.