Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9115

Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9115 Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

0.0%

48,343

+147.5%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

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.

Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9115 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9115: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $552 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $726 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 66.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $726 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9115.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 48,343).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9115, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9115

2024

Why buy it

✅+147.5% higher PassMark.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($726 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9115 better than Core i5-12400F?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. EPYC 9115 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9115 is the stronger fit. You are getting 147.5% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).

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

EPYC 9115 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 9115 comes in 317.2% more expensive on MSRP at $726 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it still gives you 147.5% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-12400F is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 68.6% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 66.6 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

EPYC 9115 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022), 255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9115 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 9115

The EPYC 9115 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 48,343 points. Launch price was $726.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 9115 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 9115 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 9115 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9115 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 9115's 48,343 — a 84.9% lead for the EPYC 9115. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 9115.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9115
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+7%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.6 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+256%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	19,532	48,343+148%
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 EPYC 9115 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The EPYC 9115 supports up to 6144 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 4700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 12 (EPYC 9115). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 128 (EPYC 9115) — the EPYC 9115 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and SP5 (EPYC 9115).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9115
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	4800
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	6144 GB+4700%
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 9115). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; EPYC 9115 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9115
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-12400F was priced at $174, while the EPYC 9115 came in at $726. On launch pricing ($174 vs $726), Core i5-12400F was $552 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 66.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 9115 — making the Core i5-12400F the 51.1% better value option.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9115
MSRP	$174-76%	$726
Performance per Dollar	112.3+69%	66.6
Release Date	2022	2024

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