Celeron J3455 vs Core i5-12400F

CPU

GPU

Celeron J3455

4 Cores4 Thrd10 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2016

Buy on Amazon

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Buy on Amazon

Celeron J3455 vs Core i5-12400F Performance Spectrum

Celeron J3455

4 / 4

2,247

0.0%

19,532

+769.2%

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.

Celeron J3455 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.

Celeron J3455 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.

Celeron J3455

2016

Why buy it

✅+29.4% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Draws 10W instead of 65W, a 55W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 500, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1296 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +286.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1296 and DDR4.
✅233.3% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 6) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Celeron J3455.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 850).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Celeron J3455 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌550% higher power demand at 65W vs 10W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron J3455 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Celeron J3455?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-12400F is ahead with a 286.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron J3455 pulls ahead with 29.4% better Geekbench multi-core.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron J3455 is the stronger fit. You are getting 29.4% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 4 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 at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 286.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Celeron J3455 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 29.4% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2016) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1296. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Celeron J3455 vs Core i5-12400F Technical Specifications

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

Celeron J3455

The Celeron J3455 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 2,247 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 J3455 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 2.3 GHz on the Celeron J3455 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 62.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Celeron J3455 uses the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron J3455 scores 2,247 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 158.7% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 450 vs 1,700, a 116.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 850 vs 657 (25.6% advantage for the Celeron J3455). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron J3455 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Celeron J3455	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	4.4 GHz+91%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	2.5 GHz+67%
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	Apollo Lake (2014−2016)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	2,247	19,532+769%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	450	1,700+278%
Geekbench 6 Multi	850+29%	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Celeron J3455 uses the FCBGA1296 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 DDR4-2400 on the Celeron J3455 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 100% 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 — 1500% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 6 (Celeron J3455) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 14 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3455) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Celeron J3455	Core i5-12400F
Socket	FCBGA1296	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+100%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	128 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	6	20+233%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron J3455) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The Celeron J3455 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 500), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3455 targets Low Power, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Celeron J3455 rivals Pentium J4205; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.