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 $120 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245KF across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 43,424).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 112.3 vs 147.7 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 245KF can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 245KF

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +40.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Delivers 31.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 147.7 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
69% HIGHER MSRP
$294 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core Ultra 5 245KF

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +40.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Delivers 31.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 147.7 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($294 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 245KF across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 43,424).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 112.3 vs 147.7 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $294 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 245KF can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
69% HIGHER MSRP
$294 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 245KF better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 245KF is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 40.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 122.3% 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 Ultra 5 245KF is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 40.7% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 245KF is the better fit. You are getting 122.3% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core Ultra 5 245KF is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 245KF is 69.0% more expensive on MSRP at $294 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 40.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 31.6% better value on MSRP (147.7 vs 112.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 Ultra 5 245KF is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 14 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.

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245KF Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	183 FPS	282 FPS
medium	168 FPS	264 FPS
high	139 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	190 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	233 FPS
medium	132 FPS	195 FPS
high	106 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	155 FPS
medium	81 FPS	129 FPS
high	64 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	471 FPS	687 FPS
medium	397 FPS	578 FPS
high	341 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	438 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	596 FPS
medium	351 FPS	522 FPS
high	309 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	377 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	353 FPS
medium	248 FPS	315 FPS
high	229 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	263 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	488 FPS	851 FPS
medium	488 FPS	694 FPS
high	488 FPS	617 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	528 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	731 FPS
medium	488 FPS	599 FPS
high	485 FPS	521 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	506 FPS
medium	389 FPS	427 FPS
high	337 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	324 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
1080p
low	488 FPS	1086 FPS
medium	488 FPS	1015 FPS
high	488 FPS	889 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	808 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	892 FPS
medium	488 FPS	789 FPS
high	488 FPS	687 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	611 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	604 FPS
medium	450 FPS	542 FPS
high	391 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	432 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 245KF

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core Ultra 5 245KF

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 Ultra 5 245KF

The Core Ultra 5 245KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 43,424 points. Launch price was $294.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 245KF has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245KF — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245KF (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 245KF uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 5 245KF's 43,424 — a 75.9% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245KF. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 245KF.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	14 / 14+133%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.2 GHz+18%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	4.2 GHz+68%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	19,532	43,424+122%
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 Ultra 5 245KF uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245KF — the Core Ultra 5 245KF supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245KF supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% 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 Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 245KF).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	6400+127900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+69904967%	192
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 (Core Ultra 5 245KF). The Core Ultra 5 245KF includes integrated graphics (Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core Ultra 5 245KF rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 245KF
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF debuted at $294. On MSRP ($174 vs $294), the Core i5-12400F is $120 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 147.7 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 245KF — making the Core Ultra 5 245KF the 27.3% better value option.