Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i5-12400F

CPU

GPU

Athlon Neo MV-40

1 Cores1 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Core family

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Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i5-12400F Performance Spectrum

Athlon Neo MV-40

1 / 1

1,274

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

+1433.1%

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.

Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i5-12400F FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i5-12400F: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon Neo MV-40

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $74 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,274 vs 19,532).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.7 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on ASB1, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +555.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 781.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 12.7 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of ASB1 and older memory support.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
74% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$100 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Athlon Neo MV-40?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 555.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1433.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400F is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 555.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the stronger fit. You are getting 1433.1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-12400F is the better buy right now. Core i5-12400F comes in 74.0% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 555.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 781.1% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 12.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-12400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2009), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of ASB1, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 1/1. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i5-12400F Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon Neo MV-40

The Athlon Neo MV-40 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Huron (2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: ASB1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,274 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

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Processing Power

The Athlon Neo MV-40 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 1.6 GHz on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 93.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the Huron (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Neo MV-40 scores 1,274 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 175.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	6 / 12+500%
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	4.4 GHz+175%
Base Clock	—	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	—	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB	1.25 MB (per core)+150%
Process	65 nm	Intel 7 nm-89%
Architecture	Huron (2009)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	1,274	19,532+1433%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the ASB1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 619.6% 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 — 3100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon Neo MV-40) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB1 (Athlon Neo MV-40) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i5-12400F
Socket	ASB1	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+620%
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	128 GB+3100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Neo MV-40) / 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 Neo MV-40	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon Neo MV-40 was priced at $100, while the Core i5-12400F came in at $174. On launch pricing ($100 vs $174), Athlon Neo MV-40 was $74 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Neo MV-40 delivers 12.7 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 159.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i5-12400F
MSRP	$100-43%	$174
Performance per Dollar	12.7	112.3+784%
Release Date	2009	2022

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