Core i5-12400F vs A4-1200
Core i5-12400F
A4-1200
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Per Dollar A4-1200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | A4-1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Temash (2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | A4-1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and A4-1200
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.
A4-1200
The A4-1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Temash (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the A4-1200 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 1 GHz on the A4-1200 — a 125.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the A4-1200 uses Temash (2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the A4-1200's 1,248 — a 176% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 70, a 184.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 0 kB on the A4-1200.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | A4-1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+340% | 1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Temash (2013) |
| PassMark | 19,532+1465% | 1,248 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700+2329% | 70 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A4-1200 uses FT3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR3L-1066 on the A4-1200 — the Core i5-12400F supports 50% 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 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 1 (A4-1200). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 8 (A4-1200) — the Core i5-12400F offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | A4-1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FT3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67% | DDR3L-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+1500% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+150% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (A4-1200). The A4-1200 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8180), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, A4-1200 targets Tablet. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; A4-1200 rivals Atom Z2760.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | A4-1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8180 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Tablet |
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