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: +102.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $15 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 133.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,641 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +102.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $15 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Delivers 133.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,641 vs 12,380).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Ryzen 5 1500X?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 102.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 166.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 115.3% 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 102.0% 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 166.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 $15 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it gives you a 102.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 133.8% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$), 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, Ryzen 5 1500X 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 2017), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. 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 5 1500X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	183 FPS	182 FPS
medium	168 FPS	156 FPS
high	139 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	151 FPS
medium	132 FPS	125 FPS
high	106 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	67 FPS
medium	81 FPS	59 FPS
high	64 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	471 FPS	225 FPS
medium	397 FPS	194 FPS
high	341 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	138 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	197 FPS
medium	351 FPS	172 FPS
high	309 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	124 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	141 FPS
medium	248 FPS	125 FPS
high	229 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	76 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	488 FPS	227 FPS
medium	488 FPS	227 FPS
high	488 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	227 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	227 FPS
medium	488 FPS	227 FPS
high	485 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	227 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	227 FPS
medium	389 FPS	227 FPS
high	337 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	189 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
1080p
low	488 FPS	227 FPS
medium	488 FPS	227 FPS
high	488 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	227 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	227 FPS
medium	488 FPS	227 FPS
high	488 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	227 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	227 FPS
medium	450 FPS	227 FPS
high	391 FPS	227 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	227 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 1500X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 1500X

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 5 1500X

The Ryzen 5 1500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,074 points. Launch price was $189.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1500X 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 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1500X uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 5 1500X's 9,074 — a 73.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 4,641 (90.9% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,120, a 41.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 3,700 (139.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 1500X). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+19%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	19,532+115%	9,074
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+167%	4,641
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+52%	1,120
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	3,700+463%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 1500X uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1500X — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% 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 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 1500X).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 1500X). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 1500X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 1500X debuted at $189. On MSRP ($174 vs $189), the Core i5-12400F is $15 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 48.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 1500X — making the Core i5-12400F the 80.2% better value option.