Core i5-12400F vs M2 Pro

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Core family

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M2 Pro

12 Cores12 Thrd36 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2023

Similar parts

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Core i5-12400F vs M2 Pro Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

0.0%

21,939

+12.3%

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 M2 Pro 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 M2 Pro: 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

✅Better for gaming: +7.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2 Pro.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 14,450).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌80.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 36W.
❌No integrated graphics, while M2 Pro can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅+2099.4% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 36W instead of 65W, a 29W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M2 Pro GPU, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is M2 Pro better than Core i5-12400F?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-12400F is ahead with a 7.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M2 Pro pulls ahead with 2099.4% better Geekbench multi-core. M2 Pro also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M2 Pro is the stronger fit. You are getting 2099.4% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

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

M2 Pro is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M2 Pro comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it still gives you 2099.4% better Geekbench multi-core. The compromise is that Core i5-12400F is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 7.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget 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, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

M2 Pro makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-12400F vs M2 Pro 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.

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the M2 Pro offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the M2 Pro has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.42 GHz). The Core i5-12400F is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the M2 Pro's 21,939 — a 11.6% lead for the M2 Pro. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,650, a 43.7% lead for the M2 Pro that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 14,450 (182.6% advantage for the M2 Pro). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB on the M2 Pro.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M2 Pro
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 12+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+26%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+3%	2.42 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	36 MB+2780%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	19,532	21,939+12%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,650+56%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	14,450+2099%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the M2 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus LPDDR5-6400 on the M2 Pro — the M2 Pro supports 33.3% 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 — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 0 (M2 Pro) — the Core i5-12400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Apple Silicon (M2 Pro).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M2 Pro
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	LPDDR5-6400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+300%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	0

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro). The M2 Pro includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Pro GPU), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M2 Pro
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Apple M2 Pro GPU
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	ARM Virtualization
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Professional Laptop