Core i5-12400F vs N250

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: +133.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike N250.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while N250 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

N250

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,773 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

N250

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +133.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike N250.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while N250 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,773 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than N250?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 133.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 309.2% better PassMark, 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 133.9% 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, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 309.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 133.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

N250 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022). 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

N250 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	N250
1080p
low	183 FPS	119 FPS
medium	168 FPS	119 FPS
high	139 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	119 FPS
medium	132 FPS	115 FPS
high	106 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	69 FPS
medium	81 FPS	58 FPS
high	64 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open N250

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	N250
1080p
low	471 FPS	119 FPS
medium	397 FPS	119 FPS
high	341 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	119 FPS
medium	351 FPS	119 FPS
high	309 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	119 FPS
medium	248 FPS	119 FPS
high	229 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	84 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open N250

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	N250
1080p
low	488 FPS	119 FPS
medium	488 FPS	119 FPS
high	488 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	119 FPS
medium	488 FPS	119 FPS
high	485 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	119 FPS
medium	389 FPS	119 FPS
high	337 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open N250

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	N250
1080p
low	488 FPS	119 FPS
medium	488 FPS	119 FPS
high	488 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	119 FPS
medium	488 FPS	119 FPS
high	488 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	119 FPS
medium	450 FPS	119 FPS
high	391 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open N250

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and N250

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.

N250

The N250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Memory support: DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 4,773 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the N250 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.8 GHz on the N250 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Core i5-12400F is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the N250's 4,773 — a 121.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the N250.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	N250
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+16%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	—
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+200%	6 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	19,532+309%	4,773
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the N250 uses FCBGA1264 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	N250
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1264
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (N250). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.