Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i5-10400

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i5-10400 and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, Blender, Gears 5, MATLAB, PassMark, 3DMark, Handbrake, WPrime, RealBench, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, 7zip, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the processors are in games:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Valorant
Valheim
Watch Dogs Legion
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Borderlands 3
Cyberpunk 2077
Overwatch
Apex Legends
Fallout 76
Red Dead Redemption 2
DOOM: Eternal
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Death Stranding
Rainbow Six Siege
Fortnite
Halo Infinite
Grand Theft Auto V
Last Man Standing

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-10400 or Intel Core i5-10600K.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-10600K

54%

Core i5-10400

53%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-10600K is 1% better than Core i5-10400. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-10600K

55%

Core i5-10400

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.0	94.8
Valorant	110.2	107.7
Cyberpunk 2077	61.7	60.3
Apex Legends	103.6	101.2
Call of Duty Warzone	82.7	80.8
Overwatch	89.3	87.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.1	74.3
DOOM Eternal	55.1	53.9
Warzone	86.0	84.0
Assassin's Creed	92.6	90.5
Valheim	91.5	89.4

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-10600K

39%

Core i5-10400

63%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-10400 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-10600K since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	215	190
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1615	1341
Cinbench 20 Single-core	501	450
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3629	3197
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1376	1110
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10379	7610

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Single-Core	2967	2626
Multi-Core	14674	12503

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Single-Core	1495	1245
Multi-Core	8815	6654

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i5-10400
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1200
Core name	Comet Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	10
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	4.1 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	6	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	4800 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-10600K is 29% better than Core i5-10400 in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10600K is better: 23
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10400 is better: 1
However, it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-10600K and Intel Core i5-10400 before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-10400 specs and review.