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

✅+38.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $243 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
✅Delivers 232.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 33.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10870H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-10870H

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,228 vs 1,700).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,594 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($417 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-10870H

2020

Why buy it

✅+38.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $243 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
✅Delivers 232.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 33.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10870H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,228 vs 1,700).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,594 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($417 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i7-10870H?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 29% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 38.7% 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 2.6% 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, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 29% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 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 $243 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $417 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 232.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 33.8 PassMark/$), 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, 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. 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 i7-10870H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
1080p
low	183 FPS	286 FPS
medium	168 FPS	256 FPS
high	139 FPS	217 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	187 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	235 FPS
medium	132 FPS	189 FPS
high	106 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	164 FPS
medium	81 FPS	133 FPS
high	64 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10870H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
1080p
low	471 FPS	253 FPS
medium	397 FPS	208 FPS
high	341 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	172 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	217 FPS
medium	351 FPS	183 FPS
high	309 FPS	171 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	149 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	171 FPS
medium	248 FPS	148 FPS
high	229 FPS	141 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	122 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10870H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
1080p
low	488 FPS	352 FPS
medium	488 FPS	352 FPS
high	488 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	352 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	352 FPS
medium	488 FPS	352 FPS
high	485 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	352 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	352 FPS
medium	389 FPS	352 FPS
high	337 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	325 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10870H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
1080p
low	488 FPS	352 FPS
medium	488 FPS	352 FPS
high	488 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	352 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	352 FPS
medium	488 FPS	352 FPS
high	488 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	352 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	352 FPS
medium	450 FPS	352 FPS
high	391 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-10870H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-10870H

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 i7-10870H

The Core i7-10870H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 September 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 14,087 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-10870H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-10870H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-10870H — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-10870H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-10870H uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-10870H's 14,087 — a 32.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 9,594 (25.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,228, a 32.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 6,822 (164.9% advantage for the Core i7-10870H). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-10870H.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+14%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+50%	12 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+39%	14,087
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+29%	9,594
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+38%	1,228
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	6,822+938%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-10870H uses BGA1440 (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 i7-10870H — 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 i7-10870H) — 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 WM490,HM470,QM480 (Core i7-10870H).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
Socket	LGA1700	BGA1440
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

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i7-10870H 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 i7-10870H targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-10870H rivals Ryzen 7 4800H.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-10870H
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-10870H debuted at $417. On MSRP ($174 vs $417), the Core i5-12400F is $243 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 33.8 pts/$ for the Core i7-10870H — making the Core i5-12400F the 107.5% better value option.