Athlon 64 2800+ vs Core i5-12400F
Athlon 64 2800+
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. The Athlon 64 2800+ is positioned at rank #1098 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 64 2800+
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 2800+ | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NewCastle (2004) / 130 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 2800+ | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+534%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 64 2800+ and Core i5-12400F
Athlon 64 2800+
The Athlon 64 2800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Abril 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the NewCastle (2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 420 points. Launch price was $100.
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 64 2800+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 2800+ versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 83.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Athlon 64 2800+ uses the NewCastle (2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 2800+ scores 420 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 191.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 2800+ vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 6 / 12+500% |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz+144% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 130 nm | Intel 7 nm-95% |
| Architecture | NewCastle (2004) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 420 | 19,532+4550% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,700 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 2800+ uses the 754 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 2800+ versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports -205.1% 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 4 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Athlon 64 2800+) vs 2 (Core i5-12400F). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 2800+) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 754 (Athlon 64 2800+) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 754 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 128 GB+3100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 2800+) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Performance/Value |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 2800+ launched at $178 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($15 vs $110), the Athlon 64 2800+ is $95 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 2800+ delivers 28.0 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 145.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $178 | $174-2% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-86% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.0 | 177.6+534% |
| Release Date | 2004 | 2022 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon 64 2800+ and Core i5-12400F
