Core i5-12400F vs PRO A12-9800

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

PRO A12-9800

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2016

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

+420.7%

3,751

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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: +272.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 229.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 34.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $110 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike PRO A12-9800.

Trade-offs

❌
58.2% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$110 MSRP

PRO A12-9800

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $64 less on MSRP ($110 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,751 vs 19,532).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($110 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

PRO A12-9800

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +272.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 229.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 34.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $110 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike PRO A12-9800.

Why buy it

✅Costs $64 less on MSRP ($110 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
58.2% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$110 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,751 vs 19,532).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($110 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than PRO A12-9800?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 272.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 420.7% better 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 272.3% 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 420.7% better PassMark, 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 58.2% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $110 MSRP, and it gives you a 272.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 229.2% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 34.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, PRO A12-9800 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 2016), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/4. 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

PRO A12-9800 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	183 FPS	94 FPS
medium	168 FPS	94 FPS
high	139 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	94 FPS
medium	132 FPS	94 FPS
high	106 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	65 FPS
medium	81 FPS	58 FPS
high	64 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open PRO A12-9800

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	471 FPS	94 FPS
medium	397 FPS	94 FPS
high	341 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	94 FPS
medium	351 FPS	94 FPS
high	309 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	94 FPS
medium	248 FPS	94 FPS
high	229 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open PRO A12-9800

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	488 FPS	94 FPS
medium	488 FPS	94 FPS
high	488 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	94 FPS
medium	488 FPS	94 FPS
high	485 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	94 FPS
medium	389 FPS	94 FPS
high	337 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open PRO A12-9800

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	488 FPS	94 FPS
medium	488 FPS	94 FPS
high	488 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	94 FPS
medium	488 FPS	94 FPS
high	488 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	94 FPS
medium	450 FPS	94 FPS
high	391 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open PRO A12-9800

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and PRO A12-9800

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.

PRO A12-9800

The PRO A12-9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,751 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the PRO A12-9800 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 4.2 GHz on the PRO A12-9800 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the PRO A12-9800 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the PRO A12-9800's 3,751 — a 135.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+5%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.8 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2048 kB+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm-75%	28 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	19,532+421%	3,751
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 PRO A12-9800 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (PRO A12-9800). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	PRO A12-9800
Integrated GPU	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the PRO A12-9800 debuted at $110. On MSRP ($174 vs $110), the PRO A12-9800 is $64 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 34.1 pts/$ for the PRO A12-9800 — making the Core i5-12400F the 106.8% better value option.