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

✅Costs $129 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
✅Delivers 38.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 81.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 8400F.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8400F across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 24,554).

Ryzen 5 8400F

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.3% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen 5 8400F

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $129 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
✅Delivers 38.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 81.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 8400F.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.3% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8400F across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 24,554).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8400F better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Ryzen 5 8400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.3% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data, 25.7% 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, Ryzen 5 8400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.3% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 8400F is the better fit. You are getting 25.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 8400F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 8400F is 74.1% more expensive on MSRP at $303 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.3% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 38.5% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 81.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-12400F 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?

Ryzen 5 8400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. 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 8400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
1080p
low	183 FPS	178 FPS
medium	168 FPS	151 FPS
high	139 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	151 FPS
medium	132 FPS	124 FPS
high	106 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	81 FPS
medium	81 FPS	72 FPS
high	64 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 8400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
1080p
low	471 FPS	374 FPS
medium	397 FPS	316 FPS
high	341 FPS	278 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	238 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	326 FPS
medium	351 FPS	282 FPS
high	309 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	214 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	243 FPS
medium	248 FPS	215 FPS
high	229 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	165 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 8400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
1080p
low	488 FPS	614 FPS
medium	488 FPS	614 FPS
high	488 FPS	614 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	614 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	614 FPS
medium	488 FPS	603 FPS
high	485 FPS	522 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	446 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	389 FPS	431 FPS
high	337 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	303 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 8400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
1080p
low	488 FPS	614 FPS
medium	488 FPS	614 FPS
high	488 FPS	614 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	614 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	614 FPS
medium	488 FPS	614 FPS
high	488 FPS	614 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	601 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	610 FPS
medium	450 FPS	548 FPS
high	391 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	426 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 5 8400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 8400F

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 8400F

The Ryzen 5 8400F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,554 points. Launch price was $170.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 8400F share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8400F — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8400F uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 5 8400F's 24,554 — a 22.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 8400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8400F.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.7 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	4.2 GHz+68%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 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)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,532	24,554+26%
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 8400F uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
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	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (Ryzen 5 8400F). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 8400F
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 Ryzen 5 8400F debuted at $303. On MSRP ($174 vs $303), the Core i5-12400F is $129 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 81.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 32.3% better value option.