CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-9400F and Intel Core i3-10105F are two desktop processors that occupy adjacent performance tiers but achieve their scores through different configurations. Benchmark data shows the i5-9400F wins the majority of head-to-head tests, taking 13 of 19 comparisons, while the i3-10105F counters with 6 wins. The i5-9400F’s advantage is most pronounced in multi-threaded and specialized workloads, while the i3-10105F demonstrates clear superiority in single-threaded and integer-heavy tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the i5-9400F comes in the PassMark extended instructions test, where it scores 11,684 against the i3-10105F’s 8,753. That is a 33.5% lead, the largest delta in any benchmark. Similarly, the PassMark find prime numbers test shows the i5-9400F scoring 38 versus 25, a 52% advantage. These two results indicate that the i5-9400F’s six physical cores provide a substantial edge in workloads that leverage wide parallel execution and complex instruction sets.

In floating-point math, the i5-9400F scores 22,465 compared to 18,166 for the i3-10105F, a 23.7% difference. The physics test also favors the i5-9400F, with a score of 653 versus 571, translating to a 14.4% lead. Multi-threaded performance across Cinebench versions is consistently in favor of the i5-9400F: in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 810 against 759 (6.7% higher); in R20 multi-core, 3,376 versus 3,165 (6.7% higher); and in R23 multi-core, 8,040 versus 7,537 (6.7% higher). The Geekbench multi-core result shows a narrower gap, 5,106 versus 4,920, a 3.8% edge for the i5-9400F. The PassMark multi-thread score also goes to the i5-9400F at 9,455 versus 8,930, a 5.9% margin.

The i3-10105F’s wins are concentrated in single-threaded and integer workloads. Its most significant victory is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 28,921 against 26,155, a 9.6% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the i3-10105F scores 1,470 versus 1,344, an 8.6% lead. The PassMark single-thread test shows the i3-10105F at 2,647 versus 2,428, an 8.3% margin. Data encryption also favors the i3-10105F, with 3,045 against 2,902, a 4.7% improvement. Random string sorting is a narrow win for the i3-10105F, 16,414 versus 16,298, just 0.7% ahead. Across all Cinebench single-core tests, the i3-10105F trails slightly: R15 single-core 107 versus 114, R20 single-core 446 versus 476, and R23 single-core 1,064 versus 1,135, each a 6.5–6.7% deficit.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on the same 14 nm process node and both come from Intel, but they represent different architectural generations. The i5-9400F uses the Coffee Lake architecture and is part of the Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation, while the i3-10105F is based on Comet Lake and belongs to the Core 10th Gen series with the Comet Lake-R codename. Both have a thermal design power of 65 watts, but their core configurations diverge: the i5-9400F has 6 cores and 6 threads, whereas the i3-10105F has 4 cores and 8 threads, meaning the i3-10105F relies on hyper-threading while the i5-9400F does not.

Clock speeds favor the i3-10105F, which runs at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts to 4.40 GHz. The i5-9400F has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Cache allocations also differ: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache is 9 MB shared on the i5-9400F versus 6 MB shared on the i3-10105F. Memory support is identical, both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity matches as well, with both offering Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor includes integrated graphics, and both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false).

The sockets differ, which is a critical compatibility factor. The i5-9400F uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-10105F uses Intel Socket 1200. The i5-9400F is listed as end-of-life, having been released on 2019-01-07, while the i3-10105F is active, released on 2021-03-15. The i3-10105F has a launch MSRP of $97, while the i5-9400F has no launch MSRP listed. The i5-9400F has a part number of BX80684I59400FBXC80684I59400FCM8068403358819SRF6M, and the i3-10105F has part number SRH8V. The i5-9400F ranks at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-10105F sits at the 67th percentile, with average benchmark scores of 13,041 and 12,644, respectively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400F has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i3-10105F has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The i5-9400F scores 8,040 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 6.7% higher than the i3-10105F’s 7,537.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference in Geekbench?

A: The i3-10105F leads with a Geekbench single-core score of 1,470, which is 8.6% higher than the i5-9400F’s 1,344.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: No, the i5-9400F uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-10105F uses Intel Socket 1200.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-9400F has a 9 MB shared L3 cache, while the i3-10105F has a 6 MB shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split in strengths. The i5-9400F is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering and compute-heavy tasks, as evidenced by its consistent 6.7% lead across all Cinebench multi-core versions and its 23.7% advantage in floating-point math. Its six physical cores without hyper-threading still outperform the i3-10105F’s four cores with eight threads in every multi-core benchmark included, including Geekbench multi-core (3.8% higher) and PassMark multi-thread (5.9% higher). The i5-9400F also dominates in extended instructions and prime number finding, where its leads are 33.5% and 52%, respectively.

The i3-10105F is the superior option for single-threaded responsiveness and integer arithmetic. Its wins in Geekbench single-core (8.6%), PassMark single-thread (8.3%), and PassMark integer math (9.6%) indicate that it handles per-core workloads with greater efficiency. It also edges out the i5-9400F in data encryption by 4.7% and random string sorting by 0.7%. The i3-10105F has higher base and boost clocks (3.70/4.40 GHz versus 2.90/4.10 GHz), which contributes to these single-thread victories.

For users prioritizing overall average performance, the i5-9400F holds the higher average benchmark score at 13,041 versus 12,644, and it ranks at the 68th percentile compared to the 67th for the i3-10105F. The i5-9400F also has an active production status edge? No, the i5-9400F is end-of-life while the i3-10105F is active, which may affect availability. The i3-10105F has a listed launch MSRP of $97, while the i5-9400F does not provide one.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-9400F | Intel Core i3-10105F |

|----------------|---------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 6 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Comet Lake-R |

| Generation | Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) | Core i3 (Comet Lake) |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2019-01-07 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $97 |

| Part Number | BX80684I59400FBXC80684I59400FCM8068403358819SRF6M | SRH8V |

Where Each One Wins

The i5-9400F wins in multi-threaded rendering, physics simulation, floating-point math, extended instruction workloads, and prime number calculations. It is the stronger choice for Cinebench rendering projects across all versions (R15, R20, R23), where its 6.7% lead is consistent. It also wins in PassMark physics (14.4% ahead), floating-point math (23.7% ahead), extended instructions (33.5% ahead), and find prime numbers (52% ahead). For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific computations that leverage floating-point operations, the i5-9400F is the data-supported pick.

The i3-10105F wins in single-threaded tasks, integer math, data encryption, and random string sorting. It is the better option for general desktop responsiveness, as indicated by its Geekbench single-core score of 1,470 (8.6% higher) and PassMark single-thread score of 2,647 (8.3% higher). Its 9.6% lead in integer math suggests better performance in database-driven applications or spreadsheet calculations. The 4.7% advantage in data encryption makes it slightly preferable for security-related workloads. The i3-10105F also holds the edge in random string sorting, though by a slim 0.7% margin, which could matter in text-processing or log-analysis scenarios.