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: +534.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+500% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Delivers 181.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 39.9 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of PGA988 and older memory support.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
190% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$60 MSRP
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium P6200 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium P6200

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $114 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (400 vs 657).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on PGA988, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Pentium P6200

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +534.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+500% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Delivers 181.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 39.9 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of PGA988 and older memory support.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $114 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
190% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$60 MSRP
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium P6200 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (400 vs 657).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on PGA988, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Pentium P6200?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 534.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 64.3% better Geekbench multi-core, 715.9% 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 534.5% 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 64.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 500% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 3 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 190.0% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it gives you a 534.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 181.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 39.9 PassMark/$), 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 2010), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of PGA988, 500% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 3 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/2. 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

Pentium P6200 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
1080p
low	183 FPS	60 FPS
medium	168 FPS	60 FPS
high	139 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	60 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	60 FPS
medium	132 FPS	60 FPS
high	106 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	60 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	60 FPS
medium	81 FPS	53 FPS
high	64 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	32 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Pentium P6200

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
1080p
low	471 FPS	60 FPS
medium	397 FPS	58 FPS
high	341 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	54 FPS
medium	351 FPS	47 FPS
high	309 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	35 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	38 FPS
medium	248 FPS	34 FPS
high	229 FPS	24 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	17 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Pentium P6200

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
1080p
low	488 FPS	60 FPS
medium	488 FPS	60 FPS
high	488 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	60 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	60 FPS
medium	488 FPS	60 FPS
high	485 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	60 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	60 FPS
medium	389 FPS	60 FPS
high	337 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	60 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Pentium P6200

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
1080p
low	488 FPS	60 FPS
medium	488 FPS	60 FPS
high	488 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	60 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	60 FPS
medium	488 FPS	60 FPS
high	488 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	60 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	60 FPS
medium	450 FPS	60 FPS
high	391 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	60 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Pentium P6200

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Pentium P6200

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.

Pentium P6200

The Pentium P6200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,394 points. Launch price was $60.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium P6200 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 0.13 GHz on the Pentium P6200 — a 188.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Pentium P6200 uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Pentium P6200's 2,394 — a 156.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 200, a 157.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 400 (48.6% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium P6200.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+200%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+3285%	0.13 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+17%	2.13 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+500%	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-78%	32 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	19,532+716%	2,394
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+750%	200
Geekbench 6 Multi	657+64%	400

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium P6200 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR3-1066 on the Pentium P6200 — 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 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Pentium P6200) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and HM55,HM57 (Pentium P6200).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
Socket	LGA1700	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+1500%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs None (Pentium P6200). The Pentium P6200 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Pentium P6200 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Pentium P6200
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	None
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Legacy Laptop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Pentium P6200 debuted at $60. On MSRP ($174 vs $60), the Pentium P6200 is $114 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 39.9 pts/$ for the Pentium P6200 — making the Core i5-12400F the 95.1% better value option.