AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core I5 10400F: Which Is the Better CPU?

AMD Ryzen 5 5500 meets Core i5 10400F. Find out which one is better in gaming, benchmarks, and multithreading.

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Both the Ryzen 5500 and the Core i5 10400F are supreme budget contenders from the past. Both CPUs are still available, in new and used condition, and offer incredible performance per dollar. The 10400F features the Comet Lake architecture. And on AMD, the Ryzen 5500 is built on the Zen3 micro-architecture but is a heavily cut-down variant with PCIe Gen 3.0 support only. That said, below is a comparison of the two budget kings.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core i5-14400: Which Is the Better CPU?

AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core I5 10400F: Detailed Comparison

10400f image — An image showing the Core i5 10400F (Image via Amazon)

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs of Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Core I5 10400F:

Specifications	Ryzen 5 5500	Core I5 10400F
Architecture	Zen 3	Comet Lake
Core/Thread count	6/12	6/12
Max clock speed	4.2 GHz	4.3 GHz
L3 cache	16 MB	12 MB
RAM support	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
PCIe Gen support	Gen 3	Gen 3
Platform Socket	AM4	LGA 1200
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65W	65-132W (Z series board with power limits unlocked)
Manufacturing nodes	7nm	14nm++

In terms of manufacturing nodes and memory speed support, the 5500 is significantly superior to the 10400F. However, in terms of core-to-core latency, the 10400F has an advantage over the 5500 due to its monolithic die design. When playing open-world titles, the 10400F will provide a better, stutter-free experience than the 5500.

Synthetic Performance Comparison

An image showing the Ryzen 5 5500 (Image via Amazon)

In terms of raw compute performance, the 5500 wins here because it has a better node, lower power draw, and can sustain higher clock speeds for a prolonged period. A 10400F with a locked B or H series board can only get that far. Only with a Z series board and unlocked power limits can you achieve higher scores, possibly matching the 5500. It is rather an unrealistic scenario that you would be pairing a Z series motherboard with a budget CPU, but it is technically possible.

Benchmark	Ryzen 5 5500	Core I5 10400F (65W)
Cinebench R23 Single-Core	1300	1069
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core	10,400	8,191
Geekbench 6 Single-Core	1,874	1,454
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core	7,673	5,783

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Gecid Benchmarks’ YouTube channel, where the person conducted the tests with all the mentioned games at low settings using a DDR4 low-latency dual-channel memory kit with an RTX 3080 Ti at 1080p.

Games	Ryzen 5 5500	Core I5 10400F (65W)
AC: Valhalla	90 FPS	88 FPS
Troy	48 FPS	40 FPS
Cyberpunk: 2077	110 FPS	113 FPS
Forza Horizon 5	100 FPS	100 FPS

Despite the Ryzen 5 5500 being much faster than the 10400F. When considering gaming, the 10400F is almost equal due to low inter-core latency. Comet Lake from Intel has the lowest latency. When you couple that with tight timings, the gaming performance the 10400F offers is very compelling, which is why that CPU, even now, attracts budget buyers.

Price Comparison

The Core i5 currently retails at Newegg.com for $99, and the Ryzen 5 for $72. Pricing information is accurate as of August 3, and can change without notice.

Final Verdict: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core I5 10400F

Honestly, there isn’t an outright winner over here. Both CPUs offer incredible value for money, with almost identical prices. Yes, the 5500 is faster in most MT (multi-threaded) workloads, but as for gaming, even with lower performance, we would suggest going with the 10400F due to its sheer latency advantage. The system will feel snappier than even the latest Intel CPUs.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K: Which Is the Better CPU?

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AMD Ryzen 5 5500 vs Intel Core I5 10400F: Which Is the Better CPU?