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: +58.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Z2 Go.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3150% higher power demand at 65W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen Z2 Go can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 63W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 680M, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,802 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +58.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Z2 Go.

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 63W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 680M, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3150% higher power demand at 65W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen Z2 Go can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,802 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Ryzen Z2 Go?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 58.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 113.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 60.3% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 58.1% 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, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 113.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 58.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen Z2 Go is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022). 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 Z2 Go Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	183 FPS	176 FPS
medium	168 FPS	139 FPS
high	139 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	145 FPS
medium	132 FPS	113 FPS
high	106 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	77 FPS
medium	81 FPS	65 FPS
high	64 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	471 FPS	286 FPS
medium	397 FPS	241 FPS
high	341 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	249 FPS
medium	351 FPS	213 FPS
high	309 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	163 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	195 FPS
medium	248 FPS	172 FPS
high	229 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	488 FPS	305 FPS
medium	488 FPS	305 FPS
high	488 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	305 FPS
medium	488 FPS	305 FPS
high	485 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	305 FPS
medium	389 FPS	305 FPS
high	337 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	220 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Z2 Go

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	488 FPS	305 FPS
medium	488 FPS	305 FPS
high	488 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	305 FPS
medium	488 FPS	305 FPS
high	488 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	305 FPS
medium	450 FPS	305 FPS
high	391 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	305 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen Z2 Go

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 Z2 Go

The Ryzen Z2 Go is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 8 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 12,188 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 Go offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go — a 2.3% 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 Z2 Go uses Rembrandt R (2025) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen Z2 Go's 12,188 — a 46.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 5,802 (72.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,842, a 8% lead for the Ryzen Z2 Go that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 6,073 (161% advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Go). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Z2 Go
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+125%	8 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	6 nm-14%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Rembrandt R (2025)
PassMark	19,532+60%	12,188
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+113%	5,802
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,842+8%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	6,073+824%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. 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 Z2 Go) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Z2 Go
Socket	LGA1700	—
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go). The Ryzen Z2 Go includes integrated graphics (Radeon 680M), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U.