Core i5-10400F vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Intel

Core i5-10400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2020

Popular choices:

Ryzen 7 7800X3D
VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

8 Cores16 Thrd120 WWMax: 5 GHz2023

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 $289 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7800X3D across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,191 vs 18,500).
  • Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 7800X3D moves to AM5 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 7800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +126.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 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.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while Core i5-10400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • 180.6% HIGHER MSRP
    $449 MSRPvs$160 MSRP
  • 84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-10400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7800X3D better than Core i5-10400F?
Yes. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 126.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 125.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 163.2% higher 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 7800X3D is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 126.2% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 96 MB vs 12 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better fit. You are getting 125.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 12 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is 180.6% more expensive on MSRP at $449 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 126.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 6.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 76.4 PassMark/$), 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 7800X3D 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, 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
1080p
low192 FPS266 FPS
medium152 FPS247 FPS
high123 FPS211 FPS
ultra100 FPS186 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS258 FPS
medium119 FPS215 FPS
high97 FPS171 FPS
ultra79 FPS154 FPS
4K
low82 FPS179 FPS
medium70 FPS149 FPS
high55 FPS112 FPS
ultra43 FPS100 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
1080p
low326 FPS857 FPS
medium318 FPS737 FPS
high290 FPS580 FPS
ultra253 FPS493 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS722 FPS
medium292 FPS611 FPS
high267 FPS500 FPS
ultra234 FPS398 FPS
4K
low309 FPS396 FPS
medium258 FPS339 FPS
high235 FPS315 FPS
ultra199 FPS273 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
1080p
low326 FPS857 FPS
medium326 FPS857 FPS
high326 FPS857 FPS
ultra326 FPS857 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS857 FPS
medium326 FPS851 FPS
high326 FPS786 FPS
ultra326 FPS656 FPS
4K
low326 FPS558 FPS
medium326 FPS479 FPS
high289 FPS427 FPS
ultra229 FPS362 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
1080p
low326 FPS857 FPS
medium326 FPS857 FPS
high326 FPS857 FPS
ultra326 FPS782 FPS
1440p
low326 FPS857 FPS
medium326 FPS760 FPS
high326 FPS669 FPS
ultra326 FPS576 FPS
4K
low326 FPS618 FPS
medium326 FPS556 FPS
high326 FPS495 FPS
ultra326 FPS428 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Ryzen 7 7800X3D

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 7800X3D

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 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 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 34,293 points. Launch price was $449.

Processing Power

The Core i5-10400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D's 34,293 — a 89.9% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 18,500 (77.2% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,700, a 60% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 15,000 (88.7% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz
5 GHz+16%
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
4.4 GHz+52%
L3 Cache
12 MB (total)
96 MB (total)+700%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
1 MB (per core)+300%
Process
14 nm
5 nm-64%
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark
13,029
34,293+163%
Cinebench R23 Multi
8,191
18,500+126%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,454
2,700+86%
Geekbench 6 Multi
5,783
15,000+159%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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 7800X3D — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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 7800X3D) — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D).

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
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 7800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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 7800X3D). The Ryzen 7 7800X3D includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Ryzen 7 7800X3D targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Ryzen 7 7800X3D rivals Intel Core i7-14700K.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D debuted at $449. On MSRP ($160 vs $449), the Core i5-10400F is $289 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 76.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — making the Core i5-10400F the 6.4% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-10400FRyzen 7 7800X3D
MSRP
$160-64%
$449
Performance per Dollar
81.4+7%
76.4
Release Date
2020
2023