Athlon 240GE vs Core i5-12400F
Athlon 240GE
Core i5-12400F
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 240GE
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+328%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 240GE and Core i5-12400F
Athlon 240GE
The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.
Core i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.
Processing Power
The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 124.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 930 vs 1,700, a 58.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,200 vs 657 (108% advantage for the Athlon 240GE). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+40% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 18 MB (total)+350% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 4,561 | 19,532+328% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 930 | 1,700+83% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200+235% | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 240GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Athlon 240GE versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 240GE) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 20+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The Athlon 240GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Gaming Performance/Value |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 240GE launched at $75 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($110 vs $110), the Core i5-12400F is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 41.5 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 124.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-57% | $174 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.5 | 177.6+328% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2022 |
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