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 i7-10700K

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $62 less on MSRP ($387 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 7 5800X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,561 vs 27,712).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 61.7 PassMark/$ ($387 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Ryzen 7 5800X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 28.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.7 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($449 MSRP vs $387 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
16% HIGHER MSRP
$449 MSRPvs$387 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-10700K

2020

Ryzen 7 5800X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $62 less on MSRP ($387 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 7 5800X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 28.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.7 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($449 MSRP vs $387 MSRP).
✅Draws 105W instead of 125W, a 20W reduction.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,561 vs 27,712).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 61.7 PassMark/$ ($387 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
❌19% higher power demand at 125W vs 105W.

Trade-offs

❌
16% HIGHER MSRP
$449 MSRPvs$387 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5800X better than Core i7-10700K?

Yes. Ryzen 7 5800X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 49.3% 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 5800X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.4% 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 7 5800X is the better fit. You are getting 49.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 5800X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 5800X is 16.0% more expensive on MSRP at $449 MSRP versus $387 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 28.7% better value on MSRP (61.7 vs 48.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i7-10700K 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 5800X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. 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 i7-10700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 5800X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	302 FPS	206 FPS
medium	265 FPS	178 FPS
high	223 FPS	146 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	247 FPS	170 FPS
medium	195 FPS	142 FPS
high	160 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	83 FPS
medium	136 FPS	74 FPS
high	105 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-10700K Open Ryzen 7 5800X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	464 FPS	662 FPS
medium	464 FPS	558 FPS
high	457 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	407 FPS	417 FPS
1440p
low	464 FPS	563 FPS
medium	464 FPS	493 FPS
high	422 FPS	423 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	361 FPS
4K
low	405 FPS	350 FPS
medium	342 FPS	308 FPS
high	320 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	250 FPS

Open Core i7-10700K Open Ryzen 7 5800X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	464 FPS	693 FPS
medium	464 FPS	651 FPS
high	464 FPS	570 FPS
ultra	464 FPS	464 FPS
1440p
low	464 FPS	693 FPS
medium	464 FPS	573 FPS
high	464 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	464 FPS	413 FPS
4K
low	464 FPS	484 FPS
medium	464 FPS	410 FPS
high	432 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core i7-10700K Open Ryzen 7 5800X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
1080p
low	464 FPS	693 FPS
medium	464 FPS	693 FPS
high	464 FPS	693 FPS
ultra	464 FPS	693 FPS
1440p
low	464 FPS	693 FPS
medium	464 FPS	693 FPS
high	464 FPS	672 FPS
ultra	464 FPS	593 FPS
4K
low	464 FPS	604 FPS
medium	464 FPS	550 FPS
high	464 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	436 FPS

Open Core i7-10700K Open Ryzen 7 5800X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-10700K and Ryzen 7 5800X

Core i7-10700K

The Core i7-10700K 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,561 points. Launch price was $400.

Ryzen 7 5800X

The Ryzen 7 5800X 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-10700K and Ryzen 7 5800X share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i7-10700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-10700K (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-10700K uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-10700K scores 18,561 against the Ryzen 7 5800X's 27,712 — a 39.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-10700K vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+9%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz	3.8 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	32 MB+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	18,561	27,712+49%
Cinebench R23 Multi	14,144	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,290	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,404	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-10700K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 5800X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-10700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5800X) — the Ryzen 7 5800X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 400 Series,Intel 500 Series (Core i7-10700K) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 5800X).

Feature	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
Socket	LGA1200	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i7-10700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X). The Core i7-10700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 7 5800X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-10700K targets Gaming/Workstation, Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-10700K rivals Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Core i7-10700K	Ryzen 7 5800X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Workstation	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-10700K launched at $387 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5800X debuted at $449. On MSRP ($387 vs $449), the Core i7-10700K is $62 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-10700K delivers 48.0 pts/$ vs 61.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5800X — making the Ryzen 7 5800X the 25.1% better value option.