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 i5-12400

2022

Why buy it

✅+12.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($209 MSRP vs $229 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Ryzen 5 5600X3D needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (18 MB vs 96 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X3D

2023

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 96 MB vs 18 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,065 vs 12,400).
❌
9.6% HIGHER MSRP
$229 MSRPvs$209 MSRP
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-12400

2022

Ryzen 5 5600X3D

2023

Why buy it

✅+12.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($209 MSRP vs $229 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Ryzen 5 5600X3D needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 96 MB vs 18 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (18 MB vs 96 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,065 vs 12,400).
❌
9.6% HIGHER MSRP
$229 MSRPvs$209 MSRP
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400 better than Ryzen 5 5600X3D?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 5600X3D is ahead with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400 pulls ahead with 12.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 5600X3D also has the bigger cache pool with 433.3% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 18 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400 is the better fit. You are getting 12.1% 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 i5-12400 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X3D makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-12400 is $20 cheaper on MSRP at $209 MSRP versus $229 MSRP, and it gives you 12.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600X3D is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X3D is also 6.2% better value on MSRP (95.5 vs 89.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600X3D 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 i5-12400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4 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 i5-12400 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X3D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
1080p
low	183 FPS	159 FPS
medium	168 FPS	130 FPS
high	139 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	145 FPS
medium	132 FPS	117 FPS
high	106 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	71 FPS
high	64 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X3D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
1080p
low	470 FPS	482 FPS
medium	397 FPS	411 FPS
high	341 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	408 FPS
medium	351 FPS	350 FPS
high	309 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	227 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	271 FPS
medium	248 FPS	238 FPS
high	229 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	173 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X3D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
1080p
low	470 FPS	547 FPS
medium	470 FPS	511 FPS
high	470 FPS	472 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	408 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	525 FPS
medium	470 FPS	424 FPS
high	470 FPS	387 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	334 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	357 FPS
medium	389 FPS	289 FPS
high	337 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	192 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X3D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
1080p
low	470 FPS	547 FPS
medium	470 FPS	547 FPS
high	470 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	547 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	547 FPS
medium	470 FPS	547 FPS
high	470 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	501 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	528 FPS
medium	450 FPS	473 FPS
high	391 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	363 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600X3D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400 and Ryzen 5 5600X3D

Core i5-12400

The Core i5-12400 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: 18,794 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600X3D

The Ryzen 5 5600X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,865 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400 and Ryzen 5 5600X3D share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X3D — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X3D uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400 scores 18,794 against the Ryzen 5 5600X3D's 21,865 — a 15.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X3D. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,400 vs 11,065 (11.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,381 vs 2,087, a 13.2% lead for the Core i5-12400 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,632 vs 1,985 (137.1% advantage for the Core i5-12400). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400 vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600X3D.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	96 MB (total)+433%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	18,794	21,865+16%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,400+12%	11,065
Geekbench 6 Single	2,381+14%	2,087
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,632+436%	1,985

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X3D uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X3D — the Core i5-12400 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400) and A520,B450,B550,X470,X570 (Ryzen 5 5600X3D).

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 5600X3D). The Core i5-12400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Ryzen 5 5600X3D requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400 targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600X3D
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 730	—
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400 launched at $209 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X3D debuted at $229. On MSRP ($209 vs $229), the Core i5-12400 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400 delivers 89.9 pts/$ vs 95.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X3D — making the Ryzen 5 5600X3D the 6% better value option.