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

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255HX across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 16,885).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Core Ultra 7 255HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.4% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core Ultra 7 255HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.4% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255HX across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 16,885).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255HX better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 255HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 27.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2470% better Geekbench multi-core, 154.8% 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 Ultra 7 255HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 27.4% 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 Ultra 7 255HX is the better fit. You are getting 2470% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 20 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core Ultra 7 255HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 7 255HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 27.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 7 255HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 66.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 18 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 20 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 7 255HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	183 FPS	280 FPS
medium	168 FPS	272 FPS
high	139 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	225 FPS
medium	132 FPS	193 FPS
high	106 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	151 FPS
medium	81 FPS	129 FPS
high	64 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	471 FPS	673 FPS
medium	397 FPS	574 FPS
high	341 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	438 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	584 FPS
medium	351 FPS	515 FPS
high	309 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	370 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	345 FPS
medium	248 FPS	310 FPS
high	229 FPS	292 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	254 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	488 FPS	839 FPS
medium	488 FPS	685 FPS
high	488 FPS	610 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	727 FPS
medium	488 FPS	596 FPS
high	485 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	515 FPS
medium	389 FPS	434 FPS
high	337 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	488 FPS	995 FPS
medium	488 FPS	901 FPS
high	488 FPS	782 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	709 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	814 FPS
medium	488 FPS	724 FPS
high	488 FPS	627 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	555 FPS
medium	450 FPS	501 FPS
high	391 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core Ultra 7 255HX

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 7 255HX

The Core Ultra 7 255HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2025-01-01. It is based on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. It features 20 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2114. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 49,765 points. Launch price was $450.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX offers 20 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 7 255HX has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255HX — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255HX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Arrow Lake-HX (2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 7 255HX's 49,765 — a 87.3% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255HX. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,923, a 52.9% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 16,885 (185% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255HX). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 30 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 7 255HX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	20 / 20+233%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.2 GHz+18%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+4%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+67%
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-HX (2025)
PassMark	19,532	49,765+155%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,923+72%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	16,885+2470%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses FCBGA2114 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core Ultra 7 255HX supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 24 (Core Ultra 7 255HX) — the Core Ultra 7 255HX offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Intel HM870,Intel WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255HX).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 7 255HX
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2114
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs true (Core Ultra 7 255HX). The Core Ultra 7 255HX includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Xe-LPG), 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 7 255HX rivals Ryzen 9 9850HX.