Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 4344P

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 4344P

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.3 GHz2024

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

0.0%

33,821

+73.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

About PassMark

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 $155 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 9.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 102.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 4344P.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4344P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 19,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4344P, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4344P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

EPYC 4344P

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 102.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

EPYC 4344P

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $155 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 9.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 102.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 4344P.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4344P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 19,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4344P, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4344P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 102.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4344P better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 4344P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 4344P is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 30.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 4344P is the better fit. You are getting 57.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).

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

EPYC 4344P is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 4344P is 89.1% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 30.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 9.2% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 102.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 4344P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB), more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

EPYC 4344P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
1080p
low	183 FPS	248 FPS
medium	168 FPS	231 FPS
high	139 FPS	200 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	172 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	218 FPS
medium	132 FPS	183 FPS
high	106 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	152 FPS
medium	81 FPS	127 FPS
high	64 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4344P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
1080p
low	471 FPS	616 FPS
medium	397 FPS	516 FPS
high	341 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	525 FPS
medium	351 FPS	461 FPS
high	309 FPS	387 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	331 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	308 FPS
medium	248 FPS	276 FPS
high	229 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	228 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4344P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
1080p
low	488 FPS	846 FPS
medium	488 FPS	846 FPS
high	488 FPS	846 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	846 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	846 FPS
medium	488 FPS	846 FPS
high	485 FPS	788 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	581 FPS
medium	389 FPS	499 FPS
high	337 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4344P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
1080p
low	488 FPS	846 FPS
medium	488 FPS	846 FPS
high	488 FPS	846 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	846 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	846 FPS
medium	488 FPS	846 FPS
high	488 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	646 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	680 FPS
medium	450 FPS	599 FPS
high	391 FPS	530 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4344P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and EPYC 4344P

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.

EPYC 4344P

The EPYC 4344P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 May 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,821 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 4344P offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the EPYC 4344P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.3 GHz on the EPYC 4344P — a 18.6% clock advantage for the EPYC 4344P (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 4344P uses Raphael (2023−2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 4344P's 33,821 — a 53.6% lead for the EPYC 4344P. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 19,500 (44.7% advantage for the EPYC 4344P). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,960, a 14.2% lead for the EPYC 4344P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 1,896 (97.1% advantage for the EPYC 4344P). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 4344P.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.3 GHz+20%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.8 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+78%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raphael (2023−2025)
PassMark	19,532	33,821+73%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	19,500+58%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,960+15%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	1,896+189%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 4344P uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The EPYC 4344P 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 28 (EPYC 4344P) — the EPYC 4344P offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and B650,X670,X870 (EPYC 4344P).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (EPYC 4344P). The EPYC 4344P includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, EPYC 4344P targets Entry Server. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; EPYC 4344P rivals Xeon E-2468.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4344P
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V, AMD-Vi
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Entry Server

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the EPYC 4344P debuted at $329. On MSRP ($174 vs $329), the Core i5-12400F is $155 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 102.8 pts/$ for the EPYC 4344P — making the Core i5-12400F the 8.8% better value option.