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: +39.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-1255U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core i7-1255U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1255U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-1255U

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,128 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-1255U

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-1255U.

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core i7-1255U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1255U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,128 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i7-1255U?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 39.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 48.8% better PassMark, 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 39.9% more average FPS across 2 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 48.8% better PassMark, 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 at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 39.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-1255U is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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 i7-1255U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
1080p
low	183 FPS	187 FPS
medium	168 FPS	156 FPS
high	139 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	151 FPS
medium	132 FPS	120 FPS
high	106 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	85 FPS
medium	81 FPS	73 FPS
high	64 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-1255U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
1080p
low	471 FPS	217 FPS
medium	397 FPS	182 FPS
high	341 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	144 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	188 FPS
medium	351 FPS	162 FPS
high	309 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	147 FPS
medium	248 FPS	130 FPS
high	229 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-1255U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
1080p
low	488 FPS	328 FPS
medium	488 FPS	328 FPS
high	488 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	328 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	328 FPS
medium	488 FPS	328 FPS
high	485 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	328 FPS
medium	389 FPS	328 FPS
high	337 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	328 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-1255U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
1080p
low	488 FPS	328 FPS
medium	488 FPS	328 FPS
high	488 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	328 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	328 FPS
medium	488 FPS	328 FPS
high	488 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	328 FPS
medium	450 FPS	328 FPS
high	391 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	328 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-1255U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-1255U

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 i7-1255U

The Core i7-1255U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,128 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-1255U offers 10 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-1255U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-1255U — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-1255U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-1255U uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-1255U's 13,128 — a 39.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,809, a 6.2% lead for the Core i7-1255U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1255U.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 12+67%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.7 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+47%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+50%	12 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-U (2022)
PassMark	19,532+49%	13,128
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,809+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-1255U uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. 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 Alder Lake-U (Core i7-1255U).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i7-1255U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 96EU), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i7-1255U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-1255U rivals Ryzen 7 6800U.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-1255U
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Iris Xe Graphics 96EU
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Mainstream Laptop