Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 7 5800

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5800

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2020

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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 $189 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
  • Delivers 10.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 73.7 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 5800.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 25,735).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 7 5800

2020

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +56.8% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
  • 50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.7 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($349 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5800 better than Core i5-10400F?
Yes. Ryzen 7 5800 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 56.8% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 97.5% 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, Ryzen 7 5800 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 56.8% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5800 is the better fit. You are getting 97.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 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 7 5800 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 5800 is 118.1% more expensive on MSRP at $349 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 56.8% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 10.4% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 73.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10400F 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 7 5800 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
1080p
low192 FPS166 FPS
medium152 FPS136 FPS
high123 FPS119 FPS
ultra100 FPS96 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS145 FPS
medium119 FPS116 FPS
high97 FPS98 FPS
ultra79 FPS79 FPS
4K
low82 FPS80 FPS
medium70 FPS69 FPS
high55 FPS55 FPS
ultra43 FPS44 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
1080p
low326 FPS643 FPS
medium318 FPS541 FPS
high290 FPS441 FPS
ultra253 FPS397 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS551 FPS
medium292 FPS477 FPS
high267 FPS401 FPS
ultra234 FPS345 FPS
4K
low309 FPS342 FPS
medium258 FPS299 FPS
high235 FPS273 FPS
ultra199 FPS241 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
1080p
low326 FPS643 FPS
medium326 FPS547 FPS
high326 FPS497 FPS
ultra326 FPS425 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS558 FPS
medium326 FPS460 FPS
high326 FPS419 FPS
ultra326 FPS358 FPS
4K
low326 FPS405 FPS
medium326 FPS325 FPS
high289 FPS294 FPS
ultra229 FPS231 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
1080p
low326 FPS643 FPS
medium326 FPS643 FPS
high326 FPS643 FPS
ultra326 FPS643 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS643 FPS
medium326 FPS643 FPS
high326 FPS622 FPS
ultra326 FPS536 FPS
4K
low326 FPS556 FPS
medium326 FPS502 FPS
high326 FPS447 FPS
ultra326 FPS391 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 7 5800

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 7 5800

The Ryzen 7 5800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 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: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 25,735 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5800 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800 — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 7 5800's 25,735 — a 65.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
4.6 GHz+7%
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
3.4 GHz+17%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
32 MB+167%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512K (per core)+100%
Process
14 nm
7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark
13,029
25,735+98%
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 7 5800 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5800) — the Ryzen 7 5800 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
Socket
LGA1200
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
24+50%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 5800 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 (Ryzen 7 5800). Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 7 5800 targets OEM Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
OEM Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800 debuted at $349. On MSRP ($160 vs $349), the Core i5-10400F is $189 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 73.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800 — making the Core i5-10400F the 9.9% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 5800
MSRP
$160-54%
$349
Performance per Dollar
81.4+10%
73.7
Release Date
2020
2020