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 i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +43.4% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $51 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 66.7 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-12500TE.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-12500TE

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (659 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.7 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($225 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i5-12500TE

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +43.4% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $51 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 66.7 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-12500TE.

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (659 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.7 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($225 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i5-12500TE?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 43.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1778.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 30.1% 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 i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 43.4% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 1778.6% 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 i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is $51 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $225 MSRP, and it gives you a 43.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 68.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 66.7 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Core i5-12500TE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
1080p
low	183 FPS	177 FPS
medium	168 FPS	154 FPS
high	139 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	148 FPS
medium	132 FPS	124 FPS
high	106 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	78 FPS
medium	81 FPS	70 FPS
high	64 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12500TE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
1080p
low	471 FPS	229 FPS
medium	397 FPS	201 FPS
high	341 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	152 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	203 FPS
medium	351 FPS	181 FPS
high	309 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	143 FPS
medium	248 FPS	129 FPS
high	229 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	103 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12500TE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
1080p
low	488 FPS	375 FPS
medium	488 FPS	375 FPS
high	488 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	375 FPS
medium	488 FPS	375 FPS
high	485 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	375 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	375 FPS
medium	389 FPS	353 FPS
high	337 FPS	304 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	247 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12500TE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
1080p
low	488 FPS	375 FPS
medium	488 FPS	375 FPS
high	488 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	375 FPS
medium	488 FPS	375 FPS
high	488 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	375 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	375 FPS
medium	450 FPS	375 FPS
high	391 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	340 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12500TE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i5-12500TE

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.

Core i5-12500TE

The Core i5-12500TE 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 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 15,008 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Core i5-12500TE share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-12500TE — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). Both are built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture using a Intel 7 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i5-12500TE's 15,008 — a 26.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 659 (179.8% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,962, a 14.3% lead for the Core i5-12500TE that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 1,898 (97.1% advantage for the Core i5-12500TE). Both processors carry 18 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+32%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	19,532+30%	15,008
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+1779%	659
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,962+15%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	1,898+189%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. 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 i5-12400F) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12500TE).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800
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 i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500TE). The Core i5-12500TE includes integrated graphics (UHD 770), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i5-12500TE targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i5-12500TE rivals Core i5-12400T.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12500TE
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD 770
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i5-12500TE debuted at $225. On MSRP ($174 vs $225), the Core i5-12400F is $51 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 66.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-12500TE — making the Core i5-12400F the 50.9% better value option.