Core i5-12400F vs FX-8370

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

FX-8370

8 Cores8 Thrd125 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2014

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

+215.8%

6,184

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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

✅Better for gaming: +147.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $25 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 261.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 31.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM3+ and older memory support.

Trade-offs

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

FX-8370

2014

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (3,800 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 31.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM3+, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

FX-8370

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +147.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $25 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 261.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 31.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM3+ and older memory support.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (3,800 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 31.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on AM3+, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than FX-8370?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 147.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 225.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 215.8% 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 i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 147.1% 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 i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 225.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is $25 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 147.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 261.2% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 31.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2014), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM3+, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/8. 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

FX-8370 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
1080p
low	183 FPS	155 FPS
medium	168 FPS	147 FPS
high	139 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	146 FPS
medium	132 FPS	121 FPS
high	106 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	75 FPS
medium	81 FPS	67 FPS
high	64 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	41 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open FX-8370

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
1080p
low	471 FPS	155 FPS
medium	397 FPS	155 FPS
high	341 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	155 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	155 FPS
medium	351 FPS	155 FPS
high	309 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	155 FPS
medium	248 FPS	155 FPS
high	229 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	155 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open FX-8370

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
1080p
low	488 FPS	155 FPS
medium	488 FPS	155 FPS
high	488 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	155 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	155 FPS
medium	488 FPS	155 FPS
high	485 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	155 FPS
medium	389 FPS	155 FPS
high	337 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	155 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open FX-8370

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
1080p
low	488 FPS	155 FPS
medium	488 FPS	155 FPS
high	488 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	155 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	155 FPS
medium	488 FPS	155 FPS
high	488 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	155 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	155 FPS
medium	450 FPS	155 FPS
high	391 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	155 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open FX-8370

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and FX-8370

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.

FX-8370

The FX-8370 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,184 points. Launch price was $199.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the FX-8370 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8370 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.3 GHz on the FX-8370 — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the FX-8370 uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the FX-8370's 6,184 — a 103.8% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 3,800 (106.1% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 520, a 106.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 2,050 (102.9% advantage for the FX-8370).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 8+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	4 GHz+60%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	8192 kB+540%
Process	Intel 7 nm-78%	32 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Vishera (2012−2015)
PassMark	19,532+216%	6,184
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+226%	3,800
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+227%	520
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	2,050+212%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-8370 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR3-1866 on the FX-8370 — the Core i5-12400F supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% 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 970,990FX,990X (FX-8370).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
Socket	LGA1700	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67%	DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+300%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (FX-8370). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, FX-8370 targets Legacy Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; FX-8370 rivals Core i5-6400.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	FX-8370
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Legacy Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the FX-8370 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($174 vs $199), the Core i5-12400F is $25 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 31.1 pts/$ for the FX-8370 — making the Core i5-12400F the 113.3% better value option.