Celeron J3160 vs Core i5-12400F
Celeron J3160
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 Celeron J3160 is positioned at rank #485 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 Celeron J3160
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron J3160 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Airmont (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron J3160 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 Celeron J3160 and Core i5-12400F
Celeron J3160
The Celeron J3160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Airmont (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,250 points. Launch price was $107.
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 Celeron J3160 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.24 GHz on the Celeron J3160 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 65.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Celeron J3160 uses the Airmont (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron J3160 scores 1,250 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 175.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 1,700, a 131.7% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 650 vs 657 (1.1% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron J3160 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.24 GHz | 4.4 GHz+96% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.5 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+60% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Airmont (2016) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 1,250 | 19,532+1463% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 1,700+386% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | 657+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron J3160 uses the FCBGA1170 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 DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron J3160 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 50% 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 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron J3160) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3160) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 20+400% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron J3160) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The Celeron J3160 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 400), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3160 targets Low Power, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Celeron J3160 rivals Pentium J3710; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Low Power | Gaming Performance/Value |
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