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

✅Costs $59 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $233 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 91.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $233 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12600 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 10,400).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12600 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-12600

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.0% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 91.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($233 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i5-12600

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $59 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $233 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 91.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $233 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.0% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12600 across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 10,400).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12600 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 91.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($233 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12600 better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i5-12600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.0% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1483% better Geekbench multi-core, 9.5% 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 i5-12600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.0% 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 i5-12600 is the better fit. You are getting 1483% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12600 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-12600 is 33.9% more expensive on MSRP at $233 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.0% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 22.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 91.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-12600 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 i5-12600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
1080p
low	183 FPS	274 FPS
medium	168 FPS	260 FPS
high	139 FPS	220 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	240 FPS
medium	132 FPS	204 FPS
high	106 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	167 FPS
medium	81 FPS	142 FPS
high	64 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	97 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
1080p
low	471 FPS	523 FPS
medium	397 FPS	438 FPS
high	341 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	326 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	434 FPS
medium	351 FPS	375 FPS
high	309 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	279 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	289 FPS
medium	248 FPS	256 FPS
high	229 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	201 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
1080p
low	488 FPS	535 FPS
medium	488 FPS	535 FPS
high	488 FPS	535 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	535 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	535 FPS
medium	488 FPS	535 FPS
high	485 FPS	535 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	476 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	508 FPS
medium	389 FPS	451 FPS
high	337 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	327 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
1080p
low	488 FPS	535 FPS
medium	488 FPS	535 FPS
high	488 FPS	535 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	535 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	535 FPS
medium	488 FPS	535 FPS
high	488 FPS	535 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	521 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	535 FPS
medium	450 FPS	501 FPS
high	391 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	369 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i5-12600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i5-12600

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 i5-12600

The Core i5-12600 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5x, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,383 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Core i5-12600 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-12600 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12600 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 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 i5-12600's 21,383 — a 9% lead for the Core i5-12600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,400, a 34.1% lead for the Core i5-12600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 10,400 (176.2% advantage for the Core i5-12600). Both processors carry 18 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	19,532	21,383+9%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,400+41%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	10,400+1483%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12600 uses FP7/FP8 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. 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 B660,Z690 (Core i5-12600).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
Socket	LGA1700	FP7/FP8
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 i5-12600). The Core i5-12600 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i5-12600 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i5-12600 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i5-12600
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Mainstream Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i5-12600 debuted at $233. On MSRP ($174 vs $233), the Core i5-12400F is $59 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 91.8 pts/$ for the Core i5-12600 — making the Core i5-12400F the 20.1% better value option.