Ryzen 5 3600 vs Core i5-10400F
The Core i5-10400F is about 6% faster than the Ryzen 5 3600 in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. Below: FPS in popular games, the specs side by side, and the graphics cards that suit each.
Updated · By Muhammad Muzammil
The short answer
In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Ryzen 5 3600 gets about 95 FPS and the Core i5-10400F about 100 FPS. With a slower graphics card, or at 1440p and 4K, the card sets the FPS more often and the gap gets smaller.
The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket and the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200, so they need different motherboards. Both take DDR4 memory. Cores and threads: 6 / 12 on the Ryzen 5 3600, 6 / 12 on the Core i5-10400F. Both come with a cooler in the box.
Ryzen 5 3600 vs Core i5-10400F: FPS in popular games
Estimated FPS at 1080p High with 32 GB RAM (Ryzen 5 3600 / Core i5-10400F in each column). With an RTX 5090, the processor sets the frame rate wherever it can. Values above 500 show as 500+. See FPS for your own PC.
| Game | RTX 5090 | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 218 / 230 | 218 / 230 |
| Valorant | 239 / 253 | 239 / 253 |
| Fortnite | 104 / 110 | 104 / 110 |
| Apex Legends | 96 / 101 | 96 / 101 |
| Marvel Rivals | 74 / 78 | 74 / 78 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | 95 / 100 | 95 / 100 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 77 / 81 | 77 / 81 |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 77 / 82 | 77 / 82 |
With a mid-range graphics card such as an RTX 5060, the card sets the frame rate in more games, so the difference between the two processors is smaller.
Estimated FPS. Numbers come from the FPSVibe model, not measured benchmarks. How we estimate
Specs side by side
| Spec | Ryzen 5 3600 | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost clock | up to 4.2 GHz | up to 4.3 GHz |
| L3 cache | 32 MB | 12 MB |
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1200 |
| Memory | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2666 |
| Integrated graphics | None | None |
| Cooler in the box | AMD Wraith Stealth | Included |
| Power (TDP) | 65 W | 65 W |
| Launch year | 2019 | 2020 |
| Gaming index (est.) | 43.5 | 46 |
Gaming index: estimated CPU-bound gaming performance at 1080p, Ryzen 7 9800X3D = 100. Memory and box cooler as listed on AMD and Intel product pages; where we couldn't confirm a value there, check the manufacturer's page.
Graphics cards that pair well with the Ryzen 5 3600
Graphics cards that pair well with the Core i5-10400F
Check a build in the bottleneck calculator
Ryzen 5 3600 vs Core i5-10400F FAQs
Is the Ryzen 5 3600 better than the Core i5-10400F for gaming?
The Core i5-10400F is about 6% faster than the Ryzen 5 3600 in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Ryzen 5 3600 gets about 95 FPS and the Core i5-10400F about 100 FPS.
Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400F: which gets more FPS in Counter-Strike 2?
With an RTX 5090 at 1080p High, the Ryzen 5 3600 gets about 218 FPS and the Core i5-10400F about 230 FPS in our estimates.
Do the Ryzen 5 3600 and Core i5-10400F use the same motherboard?
No. The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket and the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200, so you need a different motherboard to switch.
Do the Ryzen 5 3600 and Core i5-10400F come with a cooler?
Yes, both do: the Ryzen 5 3600 with the AMD Wraith Stealth and the Core i5-10400F with the standard box cooler.
Do the Ryzen 5 3600 and Core i5-10400F have integrated graphics?
No. Neither has integrated graphics, so you need a graphics card to get a picture.
What graphics card should I pair with the Ryzen 5 3600 or the Core i5-10400F?
Balanced picks in our estimates: for the Ryzen 5 3600, RX 7600 XT, Arc B580, RTX 5050, Arc B570; for the Core i5-10400F, RTX 5060, RX 7600 XT, RTX 5050, Arc B570.