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 $76 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,700 vs 2,497).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅+46.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
43.7% HIGHER MSRP
$250 MSRPvs$174 MSRP

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $76 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+46.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,700 vs 2,497).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
43.7% HIGHER MSRP
$250 MSRPvs$174 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700 better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i7-12700 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.2% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 74.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 53.9% 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 i7-12700 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.2% 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 i7-12700 is the better fit. You are getting 74.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core i7-12700 is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700 is 43.7% more expensive on MSRP at $250 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 7.1% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 112.3 PassMark/$), 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 i7-12700 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 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 i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	183 FPS	257 FPS
medium	168 FPS	248 FPS
high	139 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	226 FPS
medium	132 FPS	194 FPS
high	106 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	157 FPS
medium	81 FPS	134 FPS
high	64 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-12700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	471 FPS	312 FPS
medium	397 FPS	265 FPS
high	341 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	257 FPS
medium	351 FPS	228 FPS
high	309 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	157 FPS
medium	248 FPS	141 FPS
high	229 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-12700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	488 FPS	751 FPS
medium	488 FPS	610 FPS
high	488 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	458 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	683 FPS
medium	488 FPS	547 FPS
high	485 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	411 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	493 FPS
medium	389 FPS	412 FPS
high	337 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	311 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-12700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
1080p
low	488 FPS	751 FPS
medium	488 FPS	751 FPS
high	488 FPS	664 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	590 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	730 FPS
medium	488 FPS	651 FPS
high	488 FPS	560 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	487 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	513 FPS
medium	450 FPS	468 FPS
high	391 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i7-12700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i7-12700

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 i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 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 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 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: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-12700 offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.1 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 i7-12700's 30,055 — a 42.4% lead for the Core i7-12700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 21,568 (54.1% advantage for the Core i7-12700). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,497, a 38% lead for the Core i7-12700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 12,448 (179.9% advantage for the Core i7-12700). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 20+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+19%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+39%
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	30,055+54%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	21,568+74%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,497+47%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	12,448+1795%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 3.0. 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 H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200
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 / EPT (Core i7-12700). The Core i7-12700 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 i7-12700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i7-12700
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 / EPT
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700 debuted at $250. On MSRP ($174 vs $250), the Core i5-12400F is $76 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 120.2 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700 — making the Core i7-12700 the 6.9% better value option.