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 $169 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 7700.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7700 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 34,392).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 104.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7700 moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 7 7700

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +79.4% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 28.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 104.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
105.6% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Ryzen 7 7700

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $169 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 7700.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +79.4% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 28.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 104.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7700 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,029 vs 34,392).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.4 vs 104.5 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7700 moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
105.6% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7700 better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Ryzen 7 7700 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 79.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 164% 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 7700 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 79.4% 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 7700 is the better fit. You are getting 164% 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 7700 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 7700 is 105.6% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 79.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 28.4% better value on MSRP (104.5 vs 81.4 PassMark/$), 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 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 7700 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 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 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 i5-10400F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 7700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
1080p
low	192 FPS	263 FPS
medium	152 FPS	243 FPS
high	123 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	178 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	225 FPS
medium	119 FPS	188 FPS
high	97 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	156 FPS
medium	70 FPS	131 FPS
high	55 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 7700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
1080p
low	326 FPS	630 FPS
medium	318 FPS	519 FPS
high	290 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	388 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	537 FPS
medium	292 FPS	464 FPS
high	267 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	333 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	315 FPS
medium	258 FPS	277 FPS
high	235 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 7700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
1080p
low	326 FPS	860 FPS
medium	326 FPS	744 FPS
high	326 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	558 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	734 FPS
medium	326 FPS	589 FPS
high	326 FPS	505 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	430 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	507 FPS
medium	326 FPS	420 FPS
high	289 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	317 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 7700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
1080p
low	326 FPS	860 FPS
medium	326 FPS	860 FPS
high	326 FPS	850 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	860 FPS
medium	326 FPS	773 FPS
high	326 FPS	678 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	584 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	581 FPS
medium	326 FPS	517 FPS
high	326 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Ryzen 7 7700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 7 7700

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 7 7700

The Ryzen 7 7700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 34,392 points. Launch price was $339.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7700 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 7700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7700 — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7700 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7700 uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 7 7700's 34,392 — a 90.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 7700. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7700.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5.3 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.8 GHz+31%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+300%
Process	14 nm	5 nm, 6 nm-64%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	13,029	34,392+164%
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 7700 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 7700 — the Ryzen 7 7700 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 7700) — the Ryzen 7 7700 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
Socket	LGA1200	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	28+75%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 7700 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 7700 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 7700). The Ryzen 7 7700 includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (2CU)), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 7 7700 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Ryzen 7 7700
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics (2CU)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 7700 debuted at $329. On MSRP ($160 vs $329), the Core i5-10400F is $169 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 104.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 7700 — making the Ryzen 7 7700 the 24.8% better value option.