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 i3-14100F

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $190 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 93.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 141.1 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,381 vs 21,845).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 141.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i3-14100F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i3-14100F

2024

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $190 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 93.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 141.1 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +21.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,381 vs 21,845).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 141.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i3-14100F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600X better than Core i3-14100F?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 21.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 42% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 21.7% 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, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better fit. You are getting 42% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i3-14100F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 5600X is 174.3% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $109 MSRP, and it gives you a 21.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-14100F is also 93.1% better value on MSRP (141.1 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i3-14100F 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?

Core i3-14100F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 i3-14100F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	172 FPS	203 FPS
medium	147 FPS	174 FPS
high	116 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	149 FPS	169 FPS
medium	124 FPS	141 FPS
high	98 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	85 FPS
medium	75 FPS	76 FPS
high	59 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i3-14100F Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	317 FPS	464 FPS
medium	265 FPS	387 FPS
high	239 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	272 FPS	397 FPS
medium	233 FPS	334 FPS
high	215 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	203 FPS	263 FPS
medium	178 FPS	226 FPS
high	153 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i3-14100F Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	385 FPS	546 FPS
medium	385 FPS	473 FPS
high	385 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	385 FPS	508 FPS
medium	385 FPS	413 FPS
high	385 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	385 FPS	348 FPS
medium	385 FPS	292 FPS
high	371 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i3-14100F Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	385 FPS	546 FPS
medium	385 FPS	546 FPS
high	385 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	385 FPS	546 FPS
medium	385 FPS	546 FPS
high	385 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	385 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	385 FPS	529 FPS
medium	385 FPS	484 FPS
high	385 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i3-14100F Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-14100F and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i3-14100F

The Core i3-14100F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 15,381 points. Launch price was $109.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-14100F packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i3-14100F versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-14100F (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i3-14100F uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-14100F scores 15,381 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 34.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-14100F vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+2%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB+167%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	15,381	21,845+42%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-14100F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-14100F) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i3-14100F	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	—	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-14100F launched at $109 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($109 vs $299), the Core i3-14100F is $190 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-14100F delivers 141.1 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Core i3-14100F the 63.5% better value option.