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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 185H across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 18,030).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core Ultra 9 185H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 185H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 9 185H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.0% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core Ultra 9 185H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.0% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 185H across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 18,030).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Core Ultra 9 185H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 185H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 185H better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core Ultra 9 185H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 39.0% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 45.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 50.3% 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 9 185H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 39.0% 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 9 185H is the better fit. You are getting 45.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 22 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 9 185H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 9 185H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 39.0% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 185H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 22 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 Ultra 9 185H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
1080p
low	183 FPS	308 FPS
medium	168 FPS	278 FPS
high	139 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	251 FPS
medium	132 FPS	201 FPS
high	106 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	143 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	173 FPS
medium	81 FPS	139 FPS
high	64 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 185H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
1080p
low	471 FPS	734 FPS
medium	397 FPS	587 FPS
high	341 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	432 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	638 FPS
medium	351 FPS	530 FPS
high	309 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	375 FPS
medium	248 FPS	320 FPS
high	229 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	258 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 185H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
1080p
low	488 FPS	734 FPS
medium	488 FPS	734 FPS
high	488 FPS	734 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	661 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	734 FPS
medium	488 FPS	734 FPS
high	485 FPS	634 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	543 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	641 FPS
medium	389 FPS	534 FPS
high	337 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	408 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 185H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
1080p
low	488 FPS	734 FPS
medium	488 FPS	734 FPS
high	488 FPS	734 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	734 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	734 FPS
medium	488 FPS	734 FPS
high	488 FPS	701 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	609 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	612 FPS
medium	450 FPS	540 FPS
high	391 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	427 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 185H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core Ultra 9 185H

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 9 185H

The Core Ultra 9 185H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,360 points. Launch price was $640.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 185H offers 16 cores / 22 threads — the Core Ultra 9 185H has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 185H — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 185H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 9 185H's 29,360 — a 40.2% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 18,030 (37.2% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,700, a 45.5% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 17,000 (185.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 185H.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 22+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.9 GHz+56%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Meteor Lake-H (2023)
PassMark	19,532	29,360+50%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	18,030+46%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,700+59%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	17,000+2488%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 9 185H uses FCBGA2049 (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 96 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 28 (Core Ultra 9 185H) — the Core Ultra 9 185H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Meteor Lake SoC (Core Ultra 9 185H).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+33%	96 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core Ultra 9 185H includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core Ultra 9 185H targets Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core Ultra 9 185H rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 185H
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads