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: +23.5% higher average FPS across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600F.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 20,225).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 112.3 vs 204.3 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600F

2025

Why buy it

✅+3.5% higher PassMark.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 204.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌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

Ryzen 5 5600F

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.5% higher average FPS across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600F.

Why buy it

✅+3.5% higher PassMark.
✅+77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 204.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 20,225).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 112.3 vs 204.3 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌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 Ryzen 5 5600F better than Core i5-12400F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-12400F is ahead with a 23.5% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600F pulls ahead with 3.5% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 5600F also has the bigger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600F is the better fit. You are getting 3.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 77.8% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600F is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5600F is $75 cheaper on MSRP at $99 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you 3.5% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i5-12400F is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 23.5% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 82.0% better value on MSRP (204.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$), 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 LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-12400F is still an elite gaming CPU and a very strong platform-matched choice because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap while remaining one of the strongest gaming chips you can buy.

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 healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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 5600F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
1080p
low	183 FPS	157 FPS
medium	168 FPS	127 FPS
high	139 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	87 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	137 FPS
medium	132 FPS	110 FPS
high	106 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	65 FPS
medium	81 FPS	55 FPS
high	64 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 5600F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
1080p
low	471 FPS	323 FPS
medium	397 FPS	279 FPS
high	341 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	277 FPS
medium	351 FPS	242 FPS
high	309 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	160 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	195 FPS
medium	248 FPS	174 FPS
high	229 FPS	148 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	116 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 5600F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
1080p
low	488 FPS	506 FPS
medium	488 FPS	493 FPS
high	488 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	388 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	506 FPS
medium	488 FPS	412 FPS
high	485 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	322 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	357 FPS
medium	389 FPS	289 FPS
high	337 FPS	247 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	192 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 5600F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
1080p
low	488 FPS	506 FPS
medium	488 FPS	506 FPS
high	488 FPS	506 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	506 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	506 FPS
medium	488 FPS	506 FPS
high	488 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	430 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	452 FPS
medium	450 FPS	406 FPS
high	391 FPS	362 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	309 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 5600F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 5600F

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 5600F

The Ryzen 5 5600F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,225 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 5600F share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600F — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600F uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 5 5600F's 20,225 — a 3.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600F.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+10%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+78%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	19,532	20,225+4%
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 Ryzen 5 5600F 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 DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600F — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600F) — the Ryzen 5 5600F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

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

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600F debuted at $99. On MSRP ($174 vs $99), the Ryzen 5 5600F is $75 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 204.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600F — making the Ryzen 5 5600F the 58.2% better value option.