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

✅+23.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $142 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $302 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 54.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $302 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12500T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌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 i5-12500T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-12500T

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+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 Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,625 vs 8,191).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 54.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($302 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Core i5-10400F

2020

Core i5-12500T

2022

Why buy it

✅+23.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $142 less on MSRP ($160 MSRP vs $302 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 81.4 vs 54.1 PassMark/$ ($160 MSRP vs $302 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+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

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12500T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌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 i5-12500T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,625 vs 8,191).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 54.1 vs 81.4 PassMark/$ ($302 MSRP vs $160 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12500T better than Core i5-10400F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-12500T is ahead with a 9.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10400F pulls ahead with 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-12500T also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-10400F is the better fit. You are getting 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12500T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-10400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-12500T is 88.8% more expensive on MSRP at $302 MSRP versus $160 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-10400F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-10400F is also 50.5% better value on MSRP (81.4 vs 54.1 PassMark/$), 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 i5-12500T 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, and 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB). 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 i5-12500T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
1080p
low	192 FPS	183 FPS
medium	152 FPS	168 FPS
high	123 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	119 FPS	132 FPS
high	97 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	82 FPS	87 FPS
medium	70 FPS	81 FPS
high	55 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12500T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
1080p
low	326 FPS	256 FPS
medium	318 FPS	217 FPS
high	290 FPS	187 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	222 FPS
medium	292 FPS	192 FPS
high	267 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	309 FPS	154 FPS
medium	258 FPS	136 FPS
high	235 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	199 FPS	108 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12500T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
1080p
low	326 FPS	408 FPS
medium	326 FPS	408 FPS
high	326 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	408 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	408 FPS
medium	326 FPS	408 FPS
high	326 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	408 FPS
medium	326 FPS	389 FPS
high	289 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	229 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12500T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
1080p
low	326 FPS	408 FPS
medium	326 FPS	408 FPS
high	326 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	408 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	408 FPS
medium	326 FPS	408 FPS
high	326 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	408 FPS
medium	326 FPS	408 FPS
high	326 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	327 FPS

Open Core i5-10400F Open Core i5-12500T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400F and Core i5-12500T

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 i5-12500T

The Core i5-12500T 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 2 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 16,339 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10400F and Core i5-12500T share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12500T — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500T (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-10400F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12500T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400F scores 13,029 against the Core i5-12500T's 16,339 — a 22.5% lead for the Core i5-12500T. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8,191 vs 6,625 (21.1% advantage for the Core i5-10400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,454 vs 2,300, a 45.1% lead for the Core i5-12500T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,783 vs 8,900 (42.5% advantage for the Core i5-12500T). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400F vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500T.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.4 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+45%	2 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	16,339+25%
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,191+24%	6,625
Geekbench 6 Single	1,454	2,300+58%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,783	8,900+54%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12500T 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 i5-12500T — the Core i5-12500T 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 i5-12500T) — the Core i5-12500T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H410,B460,H470,Z490,H510,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i5-10400F) and B660,H610 (Core i5-12500T).

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
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	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i5-12500T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400F targets Gaming, Core i5-12500T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600; Core i5-12500T rivals Ryzen 5 5600GE.

Feature	Core i5-10400F	Core i5-12500T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	Low Power Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10400F launched at $160 MSRP, while the Core i5-12500T debuted at $302. On MSRP ($160 vs $302), the Core i5-10400F is $142 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10400F delivers 81.4 pts/$ vs 54.1 pts/$ for the Core i5-12500T — making the Core i5-10400F the 40.3% better value option.