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

✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Ryzen 5 5600XT needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600XT.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,794 vs 22,310).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 89.9 vs 116.2 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600XT

2024

Why buy it

✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($192 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 116.2 vs 89.9 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌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.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400.

Core i5-12400

2022

Ryzen 5 5600XT

2024

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Ryzen 5 5600XT needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600XT.

Why buy it

✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($192 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 116.2 vs 89.9 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,794 vs 22,310).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 89.9 vs 116.2 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌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.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600XT is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 18.7% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600XT is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600XT is the better fit. You are getting 18.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600XT is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5600XT is $17 cheaper on MSRP at $192 MSRP versus $209 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 29.2% better value on MSRP (116.2 vs 89.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-12400 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. 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 5600XT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600XT
1080p
low	183 FPS	163 FPS
medium	168 FPS	133 FPS
high	139 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	143 FPS
medium	132 FPS	115 FPS
high	106 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	80 FPS
medium	81 FPS	69 FPS
high	64 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600XT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600XT
1080p
low	470 FPS	431 FPS
medium	397 FPS	359 FPS
high	341 FPS	284 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	245 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	371 FPS
medium	351 FPS	314 FPS
high	309 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	216 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	250 FPS
medium	248 FPS	216 FPS
high	229 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	159 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600XT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600XT
1080p
low	470 FPS	558 FPS
medium	470 FPS	558 FPS
high	470 FPS	524 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	433 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	558 FPS
medium	470 FPS	514 FPS
high	470 FPS	445 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	372 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	442 FPS
medium	389 FPS	368 FPS
high	337 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	254 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600XT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600XT
1080p
low	470 FPS	558 FPS
medium	470 FPS	558 FPS
high	470 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	558 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	558 FPS
medium	470 FPS	558 FPS
high	470 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	543 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	558 FPS
medium	450 FPS	504 FPS
high	391 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	391 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600XT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 5600XT

The Ryzen 5 5600XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,310 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400 and Ryzen 5 5600XT share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400 versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600XT — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600XT (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600XT uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400 scores 18,794 against the Ryzen 5 5600XT's 22,310 — a 17.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600XT. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600XT.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600XT
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.7 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	32 MB+78%
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	22,310+19%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,400	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,381	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,632	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600XT uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

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

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400) / not specified (Ryzen 5 5600XT). The Core i5-12400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Ryzen 5 5600XT 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 5600XT
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 730	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400 launched at $209 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600XT debuted at $192. On MSRP ($209 vs $192), the Ryzen 5 5600XT is $17 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400 delivers 89.9 pts/$ vs 116.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600XT — making the Ryzen 5 5600XT the 25.5% better value option.