Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9224

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9224

24 Cores48 Thrd200 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2022

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

0.0%

48,573

+148.7%

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.

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 $1,651 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Delivers 321.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 26.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 200W, a 135W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9224.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9224 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 48,573).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9224, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9224

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 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 26.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,825 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌207.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

EPYC 9224

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,651 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Delivers 321.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 26.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,825 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 200W, a 135W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9224.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9224 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 48,573).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9224, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,825 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌207.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9224 better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9224 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 9224 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.9% 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 9224 is the better fit. You are getting 148.7% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries 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 9224 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9224 is 948.9% more expensive on MSRP at $1,825 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 321.8% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 26.6 PassMark/$), 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 9224 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB), more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

EPYC 9224 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
1080p
low	183 FPS	168 FPS
medium	168 FPS	139 FPS
high	139 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	146 FPS
medium	132 FPS	118 FPS
high	106 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	69 FPS
medium	81 FPS	59 FPS
high	64 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9224

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
1080p
low	471 FPS	500 FPS
medium	397 FPS	439 FPS
high	341 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	422 FPS
medium	351 FPS	377 FPS
high	309 FPS	313 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	260 FPS
medium	248 FPS	237 FPS
high	229 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	175 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9224

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
1080p
low	488 FPS	644 FPS
medium	488 FPS	527 FPS
high	488 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	426 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	501 FPS
medium	488 FPS	408 FPS
high	485 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	323 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	371 FPS
medium	389 FPS	289 FPS
high	337 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9224

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
1080p
low	488 FPS	850 FPS
medium	488 FPS	781 FPS
high	488 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	594 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	680 FPS
medium	488 FPS	601 FPS
high	488 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	491 FPS
medium	450 FPS	441 FPS
high	391 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	333 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9224

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and EPYC 9224

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 9224

The EPYC 9224 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 200 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 48,573 points. Launch price was $1,825.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 9224 offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 9224 has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.7 GHz on the EPYC 9224 — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9224 uses Genoa (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 9224's 48,573 — a 85.3% lead for the EPYC 9224. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 9224.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	24 / 48+300%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+19%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.5 GHz
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	5 nm, 6 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Genoa (2022−2023)
PassMark	19,532	48,573+149%
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 9224 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 4800 on the EPYC 9224 — the EPYC 9224 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9224 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 12 (EPYC 9224). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 128 (EPYC 9224) — the EPYC 9224 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 9224).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+2184433%	6144
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 9224). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; EPYC 9224 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9224
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

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the EPYC 9224 debuted at $1825. On MSRP ($174 vs $1825), the Core i5-12400F is $1651 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 26.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 9224 — making the Core i5-12400F the 123.3% better value option.