Core i7-740QM vs Core i5-12400F

CPU

GPU

Core i7-740QM

4 Cores8 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.93 GHz2010

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-740QM

4 / 8

1,842

0.0%

19,532

+960.4%

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i7-740QM is positioned at rank #1209 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-740QM

#1197

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

6025%

#1198

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

5936%

#1199

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

5450%

#1200

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

5425%

#1201

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

5375%

#1203

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

5191%

#1204

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

4977%

#1205

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

4969%

#1206

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

4836%

#1209

Core i7-740QM

MSRP: $378|Avg: N/A

100%

#1211

Core 2 Solo SU3300

MSRP: $262|Avg: $50

98%

#1212

Celeron 540

MSRP: $86|Avg: $5

97%

#1213

Celeron U3600

MSRP: $134|Avg: $134

96%

#1216

Core 2 Quad Q9000

MSRP: $348|Avg: $15

94%

#1217

Core i5-2537M

MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A

94%

#1218

Core i7-720QM

MSRP: $364|Avg: N/A

93%

#1219

Pentium U5400

MSRP: $289|Avg: $214

91%

#1220

Pentium T2330

MSRP: $150|Avg: $7

91%

#1221

Z-01

MSRP: $50|Avg: $10

88%

#1222

Pentium T2310

MSRP: $150|Avg: $14

86%

#1223

Celeron SU2300

MSRP: $134|Avg: $134

84%

#1224

Core i5-560UM

MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A

83%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

121%

#16

Core Ultra 5 225F

MSRP: $231|Avg: $150

118%

#17

Core Ultra 7 265K

MSRP: $309|Avg: $285

116%

#18

Ryzen 9 3900

MSRP: $499|Avg: $150

115%

#19

Ryzen 5 3600X

MSRP: $249|Avg: $90

113%

#20

Core i7-14700KF

MSRP: $384|Avg: $260

113%

#21

Core i7-14700K

MSRP: $409|Avg: $270

109%

#22

Ryzen 5 4500

MSRP: $129|Avg: $85

106%

#23

Ryzen 5 5600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $115

106%

#24

Celeron G5925

MSRP: $62|Avg: $15

105%

#25

Ryzen 5 7500F

MSRP: $179|Avg: $145

104%

#26

Core Ultra 5 245

MSRP: $319|Avg: $220

103%

#27

Ryzen 7 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $86

102%

#28

Core Ultra 7 265KF

MSRP: $379|Avg: $323

102%

#29

Core Ultra 7 265F

MSRP: $369|Avg: $276

100%

#30

Core i5-12400F

MSRP: $174|Avg: $110

100%

#31

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

99%

#32

Ryzen 7 2700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $100

98%

#33

Core i3-10100F

MSRP: $88|Avg: $50

98%

#34

Ryzen 5 7400F

MSRP: $150|Avg: $147

98%

#35

Ryzen 5 9600X

MSRP: $279|Avg: $178

95%

#36

Ryzen 7 3800X

MSRP: $399|Avg: $140

93%

#37

Ryzen 3 5300G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

92%

#38

Ryzen 9 7900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $316

91%

#39

Ryzen 5 5600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $135

91%

#40

Core i5-14600KF

MSRP: $304|Avg: $239

91%

#41

Ryzen 7 5800

MSRP: $349|Avg: $160

91%

#42

Core i3-14100F

MSRP: $109|Avg: $96

90%

#43

Ryzen 7 3700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $140

90%

#44

Ryzen 5 7600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $178

90%

#45

Ryzen 3 3100

MSRP: $99|Avg: $75

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i5-12400F (2022) utilizes Intel 7 nm technology and DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i7-740QM	Core i5-12400F
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($378)	✅ More affordable ($110)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i7-740QM (2010) relies on 45 nm technology and DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i7-740QM	Core i5-12400F
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+3544%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($378)	✅ More affordable ($110)

Performance Check

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 i7-740QM Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-740QM and Core i5-12400F

Core i7-740QM

The Core i7-740QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.73 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,842 points. Launch price was $546.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-740QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Core i7-740QM versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 40.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 1.73 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-740QM uses the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-740QM scores 1,842 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 165.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-740QM vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i7-740QM	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	2.93 GHz	4.4 GHz+50%
Base Clock	1.73 GHz	2.5 GHz+45%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	45 nm	Intel 7 nm-84%
Architecture	Clarksfield (2009−2010)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	1,842	19,532+960%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-740QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core i7-740QM versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i7-740QM supports 198.5% 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 8 — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-740QM) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: PM55,HM55,QM57 (Core i7-740QM) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Core i7-740QM	Core i5-12400F
Socket	PGA988	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1333+26560%	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	8	128 GB+1677721500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: true (Core i7-740QM) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i7-740QM rivals Core 2 Quad Q9000; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.