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 $213 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $387 MSRP).
✅Delivers 134.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $387 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W 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 i7-10700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 14,144).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-10700K

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($387 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-10700K

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $213 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $387 MSRP).
✅Delivers 134.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $387 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W 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.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-10700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 14,144).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($387 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-10700K better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i7-10700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 14.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-10700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-10700K is the better fit. You are getting 14.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i7-10700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-10700K is 122.4% more expensive on MSRP at $387 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 134.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-12400F 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 i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200. 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 i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Core i7-10700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
1080p
low	183 FPS	302 FPS
medium	168 FPS	265 FPS
high	139 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	247 FPS
medium	132 FPS	195 FPS
high	106 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	170 FPS
medium	81 FPS	136 FPS
high	64 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
1080p
low	471 FPS	464 FPS
medium	397 FPS	464 FPS
high	341 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	407 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	464 FPS
medium	351 FPS	464 FPS
high	309 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	362 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	405 FPS
medium	248 FPS	342 FPS
high	229 FPS	320 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	275 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
1080p
low	488 FPS	464 FPS
medium	488 FPS	464 FPS
high	488 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	464 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	464 FPS
medium	488 FPS	464 FPS
high	485 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	464 FPS
medium	389 FPS	464 FPS
high	337 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	362 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
1080p
low	488 FPS	464 FPS
medium	488 FPS	464 FPS
high	488 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	464 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	464 FPS
medium	488 FPS	464 FPS
high	488 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	464 FPS
medium	450 FPS	464 FPS
high	391 FPS	464 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-10700K

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 i7-10700K

The Core i7-10700K 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,561 points. Launch price was $400.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-10700K offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-10700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i7-10700K — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-10700K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-10700K uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-10700K's 18,561 — a 5.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 14,144 (13.3% advantage for the Core i7-10700K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,290, a 27.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 8,404 (171% advantage for the Core i7-10700K). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-10700K.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.8 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	19,532+5%	18,561
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	14,144+14%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+32%	1,290
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	8,404+1179%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-10700K uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2933 on the Core i7-10700K — the Core i5-12400F 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: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Core i7-10700K) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Intel 400 Series,Intel 500 Series (Core i7-10700K).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs Yes (Core i7-10700K). The Core i7-10700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i7-10700K targets Gaming/Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-10700K rivals Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10700K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Gaming/Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-10700K debuted at $387. On MSRP ($174 vs $387), the Core i5-12400F is $213 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 48.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-10700K — making the Core i5-12400F the 80.3% better value option.