Intel Core i5-10400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz LGA1200 65W
Bottom line: The Intel Core i5-10400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz LGA1200 ($166.00 on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 20:20 UTC): 6 cores / 12 threads handles gaming plus streaming or background encodes; main trade-off: locked multiplier means no meaningful overclocking headroom.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 6 cores / 12 threads handles gaming plus streaming or background encodes
- ✓ Boost clock up to 4.3 GHz for CPU-bound game engines
- ✓ 65W TDP keeps heat and PSU headroom manageable in small builds
- ✓ Stock cooler included, so no separate cooler purchase needed
Cons
- ✗ Locked multiplier means no meaningful overclocking headroom
- ✗ LGA 1200 only, so no upgrade path to newer Intel sockets
- ✗ Requires an Intel 400 series chipset board, ruling out older and newer boards
- ✗ Bundled cooler is sized for stock loads, not sustained all-core work
Manufacturer description
The Intel Core i5-10400 is a 10th Gen desktop processor built for mainstream gaming rigs and everyday productivity builds. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads with Hyper-Threading, clocking up to 4.3 GHz on boost, so you get enough parallel throughput for streaming, photo editing, and light video work while keeping frame pacing steady in CPU-bound titles. The 65W TDP keeps thermals and power draw modest, which matters if you are building in a compact case or pairing the chip with a mid-range power supply. Intel bundles a stock cooler in the box, so you can complete a build without budgeting for…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Intel Core i5-10400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz LGA1200… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the processors category. Intel's processors lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for processors of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motherboard do I need for the Intel Core i5-10400?
You need an LGA 1200 board built on an Intel 400 series chipset. Intel states this CPU is only compatible with 400 series chipset motherboards, so verify the chipset on the board listing before buying.
Does the i5-10400 come with a cooler?
Yes. Intel includes a stock cooler in the box with the BX8070110400 retail package, so you can finish the build without buying separate air cooling.
How many cores and threads does the i5-10400 have?
6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock up to 4.3 GHz. That thread count is enough to run a game while OBS encodes or a browser stack sits in the background.
Is the i5-10400 good for gaming?
Intel positions it for gaming, creating, and productivity, and the 6-core/12-thread layout at up to 4.3 GHz covers mainstream 1080p and 1440p gaming when paired with a capable GPU.
Can you overclock the Intel Core i5-10400?
No. This is a non-K model with a locked multiplier, so core overclocking is not available. Memory and platform tuning depend on your specific 400 series board.
Key Features
- 6 Cores / 12 Threads
- Socket Type LGA 1200
- Up to 4. 3 GHz
- Compatible with Intel 400 series chipset based motherboards
- Intel Optane Memory Support
- Cooler Included
Full Specifications
| Brand | Intel |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 65 watts |
| Platform | Windows |
| CPU Model | Core i5 |
| CPU Speed | 2.9 GHz |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Model Number | BX8070110400 |
| Mfr Part Number | BX8070110400 |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
| Processor Count | 1 |
| Processor Speed | 2.9 GHz |
| Secondary Cache | 12 MB |
| CPU Manufacturer | Intel |
| Processor Series | Core i5 |
| Processor Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Processor Core Count | 6 |
| Warranty Description | Box: 3 Year Limited, Tray: 1 Year Limited |
| Item Dimensions L x W | 6"L x 8"W |
| Cache Memory Installed Size | 12 |
| Full listing title | Intel Core i5-10400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz LGA1200 (Intel 400 Series Chipset) 65W, Model Number: BX8070110400 |
Ready to buy?
Intel Core i5-10400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz LGA1200 (Intel 400 Series Chipset) 65W, Model Number: BX8070110400 is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.
Related Processors
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Sound Blaster AWE32/AWE64 to Audigy: The Right Sound Card for Every Retro Era
- ComfyUI on an RTX 3060 12GB: SDXL Throughput and VRAM Tuning
- Self-Host Jellyfin on a Ryzen 5 5600G Mini Build in 2026: Measured Power and Transcoding
- 1440p Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS
- Building a Silent Win98/XP Boot Drive: CompactFlash + IDE Adapter Setup
- NVMe vs SATA for a Steam Library: 970 EVO Plus vs BX500
- 8BitDo Pro 2 vs GameSir G7 SE vs DualSense: the best PC controller for retro emulation in 2026
- Best Hardware for a Home Game Server in 2026
- RetroArch PS3 Emulation: What Actually Works in 2026
- Best SSD for a Raspberry Pi 5 Boot Drive in 2026
- Build a Wireless Fingerprint Door Lock on a Raspberry Pi Zero W
- Best NVMe SSD for Local LLM Model Storage in 2026
- Claude Code Artifacts Just Shipped: What It Adds, and the Local Aider Alternative
- Sound Blaster Audigy FX in a Period-Correct Win98 Gaming Build
- North Mini Code: The New Small Coding Model and the Hardware That Runs It
- M3 Ultra vs RTX 4090 for local LLMs
- Qwen3.6-35B-A3B vs Gemma 4 26B-A4B: MoE Showdown on Consumer GPUs
- Best 8GB GPU for Local LLMs in 2026
- Blue Yeti vs HyperX QuadCast 2 S: Best USB Mic for Streaming in 2026
- Best Hardware for Running Qwen3 Locally in 2026
- Dual RTX 3090 Setup Guide 2026: PSU, NVLink, Cooling
- A 3D-Printed Switch Steering Wheel V2 Brings Adaptive Racing to More Players
- Qwen3.6-27B at 80 TPS on RTX 5090: Is the Claim Real?
- Build a Jellyfin Home Media Server on a Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB) in 2026
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090