Core i5-12400F vs Core i7-10750H

Intel

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Core i7-10750H

6 Cores12 Thrd45 WWMax: 5 GHz2020

Popular choices:

i5-12400F

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

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: +19.0% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-10750H.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core i7-10750H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Core i7-10750H

2020

Why buy it

  • Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (11,545 vs 19,532).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 18 MB).
  • Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i7-10750H?
Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 69.2% better 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 19.0% 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 69.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 19.0% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440, 125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB), 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
1080p
low183 FPS286 FPS
medium168 FPS255 FPS
high139 FPS215 FPS
ultra119 FPS185 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS235 FPS
medium132 FPS189 FPS
high106 FPS155 FPS
ultra89 FPS137 FPS
4K
low87 FPS164 FPS
medium81 FPS133 FPS
high64 FPS103 FPS
ultra49 FPS91 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
1080p
low471 FPS289 FPS
medium397 FPS289 FPS
high341 FPS289 FPS
ultra301 FPS289 FPS
1440p
low407 FPS289 FPS
medium351 FPS289 FPS
high309 FPS289 FPS
ultra265 FPS285 FPS
4K
low282 FPS289 FPS
medium248 FPS289 FPS
high229 FPS276 FPS
ultra196 FPS230 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
1080p
low488 FPS289 FPS
medium488 FPS289 FPS
high488 FPS289 FPS
ultra488 FPS289 FPS
1440p
low488 FPS289 FPS
medium488 FPS289 FPS
high485 FPS289 FPS
ultra434 FPS289 FPS
4K
low442 FPS289 FPS
medium389 FPS289 FPS
high337 FPS289 FPS
ultra274 FPS289 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
1080p
low488 FPS289 FPS
medium488 FPS289 FPS
high488 FPS289 FPS
ultra488 FPS289 FPS
1440p
low488 FPS289 FPS
medium488 FPS289 FPS
high488 FPS289 FPS
ultra473 FPS289 FPS
4K
low488 FPS289 FPS
medium450 FPS289 FPS
high391 FPS289 FPS
ultra330 FPS289 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-10750H

Intel

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.

Intel

Core i7-10750H

The Core i7-10750H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,545 points. Launch price was $435.

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Core i7-10750H share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-10750H — a 12.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-10750H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-10750H uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-10750H's 11,545 — a 51.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-10750H.

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
5 GHz+14%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
2.6 GHz+4%
L3 Cache
18 MB (total)+125%
8 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-H (2020)
PassMark
19,532+69%
11,545
Cinebench R23 Multi
12,380
Geekbench 6 Single
1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi
657
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-10750H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
Socket
LGA1700
BGA1440
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
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 i5-12400F) / not specified (Core i7-10750H). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10750H
Integrated GPU
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Gaming Performance/Value