Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 6600HS

Intel

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 6600HS

6 Cores12 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2022
Ryzen family
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Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 6600HS Performance Spectrum

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.

Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 6600HS FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 6600HS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +14.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 6600HS.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 6600HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Ryzen 5 6600HS

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (18,975 vs 19,532).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Ryzen 5 6600HS?
Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 14.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.9% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400F is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 14.3% more average FPS across 50 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 stronger fit. You are getting 2.9% 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 better buy right now. Core i5-12400F comes in at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 14.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-12400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 6600HS Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 5 6600HS

The Ryzen 5 6600HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-HS (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,975 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 6600HS share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 6600HS — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 6600HS (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 6600HS uses Rembrandt-HS (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 5 6600HS's 18,975 — a 2.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 6600HS.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 5 6600HS
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.5 GHz+2%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache
18 MB (total)+13%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)
512K (per core)+40860%
Process
Intel 7 nm
6 nm-14%
Architecture
Alder Lake-S (2022)
Rembrandt-HS (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark
19,532+3%
18,975
Cinebench R23 Multi
12,380
Geekbench 6 Single
1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi
657
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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 6600HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 5 6600HS
Socket
LGA1700
FP7
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
20
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (Ryzen 5 6600HS). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 5 6600HS
Integrated GPU
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Gaming Performance/Value