Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE vs Core i5-12400F
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
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 Silver PRO 3125GE
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($70) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+168%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($70) | ⚠️ 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 Silver PRO 3125GE and Core i5-12400F
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 4,633 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.
Processing Power
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE 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 3.4 GHz on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 25.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE scores 4,633 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 123.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4.4 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+36% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 18 MB (total)+350% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 12 nm | Intel 7 nm-42% |
| Architecture | Picasso (2019−2022) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 4,633 | 19,532+322% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,700 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE 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 DDR4-2667 on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE 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 Silver PRO 3125GE) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2667 | 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: not specified (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | — |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Performance/Value |
Value Analysis
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE launched at $108 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($70 vs $110), the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE delivers 66.2 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 91.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $108-38% | $174 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $70-36% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 66.2 | 177.6+168% |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2022 |
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