Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U

Intel

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U

8 Cores16 Thrd28 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2024
Similar parts
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Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U 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 7 PRO 8840U 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 7 PRO 8840U: 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

  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 13,450).
  • Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U

2024

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +21.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U better than Core i5-12400F?
Yes. Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 21.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 8.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 22.5% higher 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, Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 21.4% 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, Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is the stronger fit. You are getting 8.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it still gives you a 21.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U 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 7 PRO 8840U

The Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 23,934 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (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 7 PRO 8840U uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U's 23,934 — a 20.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 13,450 (8.3% advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,400, a 34.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 9,500 (174.1% advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 PRO 8840U
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
5.1 GHz+16%
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)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
4 nm-43%
Architecture
Alder Lake-S (2022)
Hawk Point (2024−2025)
PassMark
19,532
23,934+23%
Cinebench R23 Multi
12,380
13,450+9%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,700
2,400+41%
Geekbench 6 Multi
657
9,500+1346%
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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U — the Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U supports 16.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 100% 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 FP7,FP8 (Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U).

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 PRO 8840U
Socket
LGA1700
FP7
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
DDR5-5600+17%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
256 GB+100%
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 7 PRO 8840U). The Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U rivals Core Ultra 7 164U.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 PRO 8840U
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon 780M
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming Performance/Value
Gaming