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 $375 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 67.2 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 9 285T.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 36,916).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 36 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 285T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 9 285T

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.2 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core Ultra 9 285T

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $375 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 66.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 67.2 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 9 285T.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 36,916).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 36 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 9 285T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.2 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285T better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core Ultra 9 285T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 24.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 89% 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 9 285T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 24.9% 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 9 285T is the better fit. You are getting 89% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Core Ultra 9 285T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 9 285T is 215.5% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 24.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 66.9% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 67.2 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 9 285T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 100% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 18 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 24 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 9 285T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	183 FPS	309 FPS
medium	168 FPS	299 FPS
high	139 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	208 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	269 FPS
medium	132 FPS	228 FPS
high	106 FPS	175 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	179 FPS
medium	81 FPS	151 FPS
high	64 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	101 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 285T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	471 FPS	429 FPS
medium	397 FPS	375 FPS
high	341 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	267 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	364 FPS
medium	351 FPS	328 FPS
high	309 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	220 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	204 FPS
medium	248 FPS	187 FPS
high	229 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	154 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 285T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	488 FPS	844 FPS
medium	488 FPS	690 FPS
high	488 FPS	612 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	525 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	723 FPS
medium	488 FPS	594 FPS
high	485 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	512 FPS
medium	389 FPS	434 FPS
high	337 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	335 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 285T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
1080p
low	488 FPS	923 FPS
medium	488 FPS	923 FPS
high	488 FPS	829 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	744 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	852 FPS
medium	488 FPS	747 FPS
high	488 FPS	650 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	575 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	628 FPS
medium	450 FPS	559 FPS
high	391 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	435 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 9 285T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core Ultra 9 285T

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 285T

The Core Ultra 9 285T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 36,916 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285T offers 24 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 9 285T has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285T — a 20.4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 285T uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 9 285T's 36,916 — a 61.6% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285T. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285T.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	24 / 24+300%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+79%	1.4 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+100%
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	36,916+89%
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 9 285T 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 9 285T — the Core Ultra 9 285T supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 9 285T supports up to 256 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% 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 9 285T).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
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+52428700%	256
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 9 285T). The Core Ultra 9 285T includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics), 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 9 285T rivals Ryzen 9 7900.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 9 285T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics
Unlocked	—	No
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 9 285T debuted at $549. On MSRP ($174 vs $549), the Core i5-12400F is $375 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 67.2 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 9 285T — making the Core i5-12400F the 50.2% better value option.