Intel Core i5-10400 socket: LGA 1200
The Intel Core i5-10400 uses the LGA 1200 socket. It is a locked 65 W 6-core Comet Lake processor for office and family PCs on 400 series boards and later 500 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Launched
- April 2020
- Cores and threads
- 6 and 12
- Base power
- 65 W
- Codename
- Comet Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i5
- Clocks
- 2.9 / 4.3 GHz
Intel Core i5-10400 specifications
| Cores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 12 |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 2.9 GHz base, up to 4.3 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) |
| Cache | 12 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 65 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (up to 1.10 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Package | FCLGA1200 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i5-10400 needs a motherboard with a LGA 1200 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 500 series | Z590, H570, B560, H510, Q570, W580 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Z490, H470, Q470, W480 | Works out of the box |
| 400 series: B460, H410 | B460, H410 | Works out of the box |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1200.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | Mid-range 1080p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce GTX 1660 Super, Radeon RX 5500 XT |
| Target resolution | 1080p high settings |
Six cores with boost to 4.3 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4 line up with mid-range 1080p cards from 2020. A faster card still works and the balance shifts with game, settings and resolution.
This is a rough match for a new build at the stated resolution, not a limit. A faster card still works and helps at higher resolutions or in games that load the GPU more than the CPU. A slower card is fine for lighter games and office use. The exact balance shifts with the game, the settings and the resolution, so no percentage is given.
LGA 1200 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,200 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | April 2020 |
| Memory | DDR4 only |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Core i5-10400 is
The Core i5-10400 is a six core, twelve thread processor that Intel released in 2020 with the locked 65 W Comet Lake range. Its cores run 2.9 GHz base to 4.3 GHz turbo with Turbo Boost 2.0. Cache is 12 MB of shared L3.
The 10400 brought six threads to the mainstream price point with boost past 4 GHz, which made it a common office and family PC chip as well as a budget gaming base. The TDP is 65 W on the 14 nm process.
Intel UHD Graphics 630 handle display output, at up to 1.10 GHz. The multiplier is locked. On memory tuning, Z490 and Z590 boards accept XMP kits past DDR4-2666 while H-series boards hold narrower ranges.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 10400 fits the LGA 1200 socket. Boards with 400 series chipsets (Z490, H470, Q470, W480, B460, H410) accept it from the start. Later 500 series boards accept Comet Lake natively as well.
B460 and H410 boards are the expected pairing for a locked chip. Z-series boards add little except ports and memory profiles, since the multiplier stays locked.
Check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS on early production boards. Like other Comet Lake chips, it needs no update anywhere on this socket.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2666 MT/s officially. Two channels carry up to 128 GB. DDR4 boards reuse older kits, while faster XMP kits run on boards that accept them.
The CPU supplies 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes from the processor. Integrated graphics drive office displays without a card, and fast storage hangs off chipset lanes.
At 65 W base with modest peaks, basic cooling suffices with airflow while a tower cooler runs quieter. Mounting uses the 75 mm LGA 1200 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
A workhorse on a mature lineage
Comet Lake kept the Skylake lineage on 14 nm with high clocks, which made the locked i5 a workhorse for offices and homes. Six threads with boost past 4 GHz handled everyday work plus light gaming on integrated graphics.
The platform trade is connectivity: PCIe 3.0 only, with no Gen 4 link. Memory overclocking headroom depends on the board, with Z-series and B-series boards accepting faster XMP kits while H410 holds official speeds. Memory overclocking headroom depends on the board, with Z-series and B-series boards accepting faster XMP kits.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i5-10400F, the 10400 adds UHD 630 graphics for display output and troubleshooting at a small premium. Against the Intel Core i7-10700K, it gives up two cores and boost headroom for savings on the same socket.
Moving to LGA 1700 needs a new board, new memory for DDR5 builds, and a new cooler bracket. The 10400 fits an office PC, a family PC, or a budget gaming tower with a mid-range card.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i5-10400 use?
It uses LGA 1200, written FCLGA1200 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 10400 and the 10400F?
The F has no integrated graphics and needs a separate card. The plain 10400 adds UHD 630 output for a small premium.
Does the 10400 run in a B460 motherboard?
Yes. B460 and H410 boards accept Comet Lake from the start, and B560 boards accept it natively too.
What memory speed does the 10400 support?
Officially up to DDR4-2666. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking.
What cooling does the 10400 need?
At 65 W base the stock cooling approach works with airflow, while a tower cooler runs quieter under sustained loads.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i5-10400 specifications (Intel ARK snapshot, mini-box)
- Intel Core i5-10400F Specs (TechPowerUp)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .