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 $1,826 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 644.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 15.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 255W, a 190W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-9990XE.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9990XE across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 16,199).

Core i9-9990XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.0% higher average FPS across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($2,000 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌292.3% higher power demand at 255W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core i9-9990XE

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,826 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 644.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 15.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $2,000 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 255W, a 190W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-9990XE.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.0% higher average FPS across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅120% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9990XE across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 16,199).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($2,000 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌292.3% higher power demand at 255W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9990XE better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core i9-9990XE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 25.0% average FPS lead across 37 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2365.6% better Geekbench multi-core, and 54.4% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9990XE is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 25.0% more average FPS across 37 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9990XE is the better fit. You are getting 2365.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 28 threads.

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

Core i9-9990XE is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-9990XE is 1049.4% more expensive on MSRP at $2,000 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 25.0% average FPS lead across 37 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 644.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 15.1 PassMark/$), 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 2019) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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 i9-9990XE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
1080p
low	183 FPS	328 FPS
medium	168 FPS	288 FPS
high	139 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	182 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	275 FPS
medium	132 FPS	220 FPS
high	106 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	142 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	172 FPS
medium	81 FPS	138 FPS
high	64 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i9-9990XE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
1080p
low	471 FPS	634 FPS
medium	397 FPS	521 FPS
high	341 FPS	431 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	389 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	554 FPS
medium	351 FPS	475 FPS
high	309 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	338 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	328 FPS
medium	248 FPS	286 FPS
high	229 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i9-9990XE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
1080p
low	488 FPS	754 FPS
medium	488 FPS	754 FPS
high	488 FPS	683 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	575 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	754 FPS
medium	488 FPS	639 FPS
high	485 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	458 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	558 FPS
medium	389 FPS	458 FPS
high	337 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i9-9990XE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
1080p
low	488 FPS	754 FPS
medium	488 FPS	754 FPS
high	488 FPS	754 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	754 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	754 FPS
medium	488 FPS	754 FPS
high	488 FPS	746 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	665 FPS
medium	450 FPS	591 FPS
high	391 FPS	526 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core i9-9990XE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core i9-9990XE

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 i9-9990XE

The Core i9-9990XE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 255 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,162 points. Launch price was $2,800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-9990XE offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Core i9-9990XE has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-9990XE — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-9990XE (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-9990XE uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i9-9990XE's 30,162 — a 42.8% lead for the Core i9-9990XE. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,392, a 19.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 16,199 (184.4% advantage for the Core i9-9990XE). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-9990XE.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 28+133%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	4 GHz+60%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	19.25 MB (total)+7%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	19,532	30,162+54%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+22%	1,392
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	16,199+2366%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-9990XE uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9990XE — 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. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Core i9-9990XE). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 44 (Core i9-9990XE) — the Core i9-9990XE offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and X299 (Core i9-9990XE).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	44+120%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9990XE). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i9-9990XE targets HEDT. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i9-9990XE rivals Threadripper 2970WX.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core i9-9990XE
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	HEDT

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i9-9990XE debuted at $2000. On MSRP ($174 vs $2000), the Core i5-12400F is $1826 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 15.1 pts/$ for the Core i9-9990XE — making the Core i5-12400F the 152.6% better value option.