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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-10400F

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $32 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 1,650).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 7,800).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400T

2022

Why buy it

✅+13.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
20% HIGHER MSRP
$192 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i5-12400T

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $32 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+13.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,454 vs 1,650).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (5,783 vs 7,800).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
20% HIGHER MSRP
$192 MSRPvs$160 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400T better than Core i5-10400F?

Yes. Core i5-12400T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.7% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 34.9% better Geekbench multi-core, 19.3% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400T is the better fit. You are getting 34.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i5-12400T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-12400T is 20.0% more expensive on MSRP at $192 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-10400F is also 0.6% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 81.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10400F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Core i5-12400T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-10400F Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
1080p
low	192 FPS	182 FPS
medium	152 FPS	167 FPS
high	123 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	152 FPS
medium	119 FPS	131 FPS
high	97 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	72 FPS
medium	70 FPS	65 FPS
high	55 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	41 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12400T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
1080p
low	326 FPS	232 FPS
medium	318 FPS	203 FPS
high	290 FPS	174 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	154 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	203 FPS
medium	292 FPS	179 FPS
high	267 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	142 FPS
medium	258 FPS	128 FPS
high	235 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	103 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12400T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
1080p
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	389 FPS
high	326 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	389 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	389 FPS
high	326 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	389 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	378 FPS
high	289 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	267 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12400T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
1080p
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	389 FPS
high	326 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	389 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	389 FPS
high	326 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	389 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	389 FPS
medium	326 FPS	389 FPS
high	326 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	300 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12400T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i5-12400T

Core i5-10400F

The Core i5-10400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,029 points. Launch price was $155.

Core i5-12400T

The Core i5-12400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 15,543 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10400F and Core i5-12400T share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-12400T — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12400T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i5-12400T's 15,543 — a 17.6% lead for the Core i5-12400T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 1,650, a 12.6% lead for the Core i5-12400T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 7,800 (29.7% advantage for the Core i5-12400T). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400T.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+2%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+61%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	13,029	15,543+19%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	1,650+13%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	7,800+35%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i5-10400F versus DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12400T — the Core i5-12400T supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10400F) vs 20 (Core i5-12400T) — the Core i5-12400T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and H610,B660,H670,Z690 (Core i5-12400T).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-4800+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400T). The Core i5-12400T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 730), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Core i5-12400T targets Office/Home Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12400T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 730
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming	Office/Home Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400T debuted at $192. On MSRP ($160 vs $192), the Core i5-10400F is $32 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 81.0 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400T — making the Core i5-10400F the 0.6% better value option.