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

✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 5980HX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5980HX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 23,300).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 5980HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 5980HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 5980HX

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (8CU), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen 9 5980HX

2021

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 9 5980HX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (8CU), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5980HX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 23,300).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 5980HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 5980HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5980HX better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 19.3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.2% 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, Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better fit. You are getting 19.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 5980HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 5980HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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 2021) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FP6. 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 9 5980HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	183 FPS	260 FPS
medium	168 FPS	239 FPS
high	139 FPS	201 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	170 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	231 FPS
medium	132 FPS	192 FPS
high	106 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	136 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	159 FPS
medium	81 FPS	134 FPS
high	64 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	471 FPS	427 FPS
medium	397 FPS	356 FPS
high	341 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	273 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	357 FPS
medium	351 FPS	312 FPS
high	309 FPS	276 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	236 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	245 FPS
medium	248 FPS	220 FPS
high	229 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	180 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	488 FPS	582 FPS
medium	488 FPS	582 FPS
high	488 FPS	576 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	582 FPS
medium	488 FPS	532 FPS
high	485 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	372 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	456 FPS
medium	389 FPS	396 FPS
high	337 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	282 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	488 FPS	582 FPS
medium	488 FPS	582 FPS
high	488 FPS	582 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	582 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	582 FPS
medium	488 FPS	582 FPS
high	488 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	475 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	511 FPS
medium	450 FPS	460 FPS
high	391 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	348 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 9 5980HX

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 9 5980HX

The Ryzen 9 5980HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 23,300 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 5980HX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5980HX — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5980HX (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 9 5980HX uses Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 9 5980HX's 23,300 — a 17.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 5980HX. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5980HX.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
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)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark	19,532	23,300+19%
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 9 5980HX uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus LPDDR4-4266 on the Ryzen 9 5980HX — 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Ryzen 9 5980HX) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
Socket	LGA1700	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	LPDDR4-4266
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5980HX). The Ryzen 9 5980HX includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (8CU)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 9 5980HX targets Mobile High-End. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 9 5980HX
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics (8CU)
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Mobile High-End