Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 3 210

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Ryzen 3 210

4 Cores8 Thrd28 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2025

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

+47.9%

13,209

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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: +47.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
✅42.9% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 210.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 112.3 vs 133.4 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 210 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 3 210

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 133.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 740M, 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 Cinebench R23 multi-core (515 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen 3 210

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +47.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
✅42.9% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 210.

Why buy it

✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 133.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 740M, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 112.3 vs 133.4 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 210 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 Cinebench R23 multi-core (515 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Ryzen 3 210?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 47.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2303.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 47.9% higher 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 47.1% 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 2303.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i5-12400F is 75.8% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it gives you a 47.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 210 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 47.1% in the shared gaming data.

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

Ryzen 3 210 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

Ryzen 3 210 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
1080p
low	183 FPS	172 FPS
medium	168 FPS	141 FPS
high	139 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	149 FPS
medium	132 FPS	119 FPS
high	106 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	84 FPS
medium	81 FPS	73 FPS
high	64 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 3 210

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
1080p
low	471 FPS	330 FPS
medium	397 FPS	273 FPS
high	341 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	199 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	289 FPS
medium	351 FPS	235 FPS
high	309 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	172 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	214 FPS
medium	248 FPS	180 FPS
high	229 FPS	149 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	121 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 3 210

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
1080p
low	488 FPS	330 FPS
medium	488 FPS	330 FPS
high	488 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	330 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	330 FPS
medium	488 FPS	330 FPS
high	485 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	330 FPS
medium	389 FPS	330 FPS
high	337 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 3 210

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
1080p
low	488 FPS	330 FPS
medium	488 FPS	330 FPS
high	488 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	330 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	330 FPS
medium	488 FPS	330 FPS
high	488 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	330 FPS
medium	450 FPS	330 FPS
high	391 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 3 210

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 3 210

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.

Ryzen 3 210

The Ryzen 3 210 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,209 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 210 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 210 — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 210 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 210 uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 3 210's 13,209 — a 38.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 515 (184% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,300, a 30% lead for the Ryzen 3 210 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 6,500 (163.3% advantage for the Ryzen 3 210). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 210.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.7 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+125%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Hawk Point (2024−2025)
PassMark	19,532+48%	13,209
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+2304%	515
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,300+35%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	6,500+889%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 210 uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 3 210 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 14 (Ryzen 3 210) — the Core i5-12400F offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and SoC (Ryzen 3 210).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
Socket	LGA1700	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+43%	14

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 3 210). The Ryzen 3 210 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 3 210 targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 3 210
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 740M
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Laptop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 210 debuted at $99. On MSRP ($174 vs $99), the Ryzen 3 210 is $75 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 133.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 210 — making the Ryzen 3 210 the 17.2% better value option.