Intel Core i5-10400 Review
The new Intel Core i5-10400 CPU is a locked 6-core, 12-thread processor that runs at speeds ranging from 2.9 to 4.3 GHz depending on the workload. The chip keeps up with AMD’s assault of Editors’ Choice six-core CPUs, such as the Ryzen 5 5600X and last-generation 3600X. If AMD’s processors remain scarce or overpriced, the Core is a good bet for PC gamers and mainstream users. AMD’s base model 6-core, 12-thread processor is priced at around the same amount. Intel appears to be on the defensive against a formidable competitor, but we should probably wait to see the benchmark results before forming any conclusions.
Intel Core i5-10400 Specs: In the Middle With You
The Core i5-value 10400’s is diminished by Intel’s switch to the LGA 1200 socket with its “Comet Lake” 10th Generation desktop CPUs, which necessitates the purchase of a new motherboard. Because AMD’s mainstream Ryzen CPUs support Socket AM4, you may already own a board that supports that socket and don’t need to buy a new one. The cost of adoption may offset price reductions for this chip and other lower-end 10th Generation variants. AMD’s continuous focus on Socket AM4 has proven to be a windfall for the company, allowing a far broader range of upgraders to improve their existing AMD systems.
The Intel Core i5-10400 is the latest processor in Intel’s 10th Generation range, and it features Hyper-Threading for the first time. In its 3000 and 5000 Series processor lines, AMD does not provide processors with more than four cores. On the AMD side, the four-core/eight-thread AMD Ryzen 5 3400G with Vega 11 integrated graphics is the closest point of comparison. Because this is not an overclockable CPU, practically everyone should be able to get by with the included fan.
Benchmarks:
Memory speed has no impact on rendering performance, although it does have an impact on single-core performance. The 10400 was 15% slower than AMD’s best-performing chip, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600, and 14% slower when rendering workloads with faster memory. In the Blender benchmark, the i5-10400 was at least 22% slower than the 3600. In the Puget Systems Photoshop benchmark, the 10400 was slower than even the 1600 AF. When it comes to power consumption, the Ryzen 5 3600 uses nearly the same amount of power while providing a 10% boost in performance.
Testing the Core i5-10400: AMD’s Got Your Number
We put the Core i5-10400 through its paces on an Asus ROG Maximus XII Hero (Wi-Fi) motherboard with 16GB of 3,000MHz G.Skill RAM and an Intel SATA boot SSD. We used an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti at Founders Edition clocks for our gaming tests, as we have with all of our previous mainstream and high-end CPU reviews. AMD technology, which is similarly priced or somewhat more expensive, continues to dominate content production and production workloads. The Intel Core i5-10400 processor is geared at gamers who want to link their processor with a discrete graphics card. Midrange gamers running at 1080p, not 4K, are one of the main purchasers for this CPU.
In several heritage game tests, it pulls off some surprising victories, but less than Intel requires to succeed here. The Intel UHD Graphics 630 has been showing its age, but nowhere is it more apparent than when compared to AMD’s Vega 8 and Vega 11 graphics cards. In games like Rainbow Six: Siege and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the Core i5-10400 performed marginally worse than the Core i3-10100. While Intel’s upcoming 11th Generation “Rocket Lake” CPUs promise new Iris Xe IGP technology, this chip should be avoided until then.
Gaming Benchmarks:
In games, the Core i5-10400 runs admirably, and it is nearly comparable to the Core i7-8700K when using the same-spec RAM. When utilizing inferior DDR4-2666 memory, the 10400 equals the 3600 in Far Cry New Dawn while being 20% quicker. In our test, the Intel CPU was still churning out over 180 frames per second in the worst-case scenario, so the significance of that margin is arguable. The improved memory spec increased the average frame rate by 11% and the low frame rate by 13%. In addition, the DDR4-2666 and DDR4-3200 variants have almost little difference. When we increase the resolution to 1440p, the results become much more GPU bound, and the 3600 and 10400 give equal performance when both are equipped with 4GB of RAM.
A Brief Look at Overclocking and Thermals:
In our tests, the Intel Core i5-10400 never got over 57 degrees Celsius, which is likely due to the excessive cooling system we employed in our testbed. Expect greater temperatures if you want to cool the chip with air, albeit not by much. The Intel Core I5-1000K, which is a six-core Intel-based alternative that can have its boost clocks pushed higher, is the best option for those seeking a six-core Intel-based option.
Pros:
- In gaming, decent frame rates for a midrange CPU
- TDP is low.
- The bundled cooler that works
Cons:
- Adoption of LGA 1200 is required.
- Although integrated graphics are available, Intel UHD Graphics are still recommended.
Conclusion:
Upgrades to any “Comet Lake” CPU (and its new model) come at a cost, but the Core i5-10400 is as good as or better in Intel’s 10th Anniversary stack for a six-core chip with gaming capabilities.
