
Core i5-12400F vs Athlon 3000G

Core i5-12400F

Athlon 3000G
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 Athlon 3000G
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 3000G |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 3000G |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+140%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
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 Athlon 3000G

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.

Athlon 3000G
The Athlon 3000G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,446 points. Launch price was $49.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon 3000G offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 3000G — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Athlon 3000G uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Athlon 3000G's 4,446 — a 125.8% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 1,800 (149.2% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 956, a 56% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 1,970 (100% advantage for the Athlon 3000G). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 3000G.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 3000G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+26% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz+40% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+350% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Zen+ (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,532+339% | 4,446 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380+588% | 1,800 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700+78% | 956 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | 1,970+200% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon 3000G uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 2666 on the Athlon 3000G — the Athlon 3000G supports 199.3% 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 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Athlon 3000G) — 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 AM4 (Athlon 3000G).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 3000G |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | 2666+53220% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+209715100% | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+25% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs true (Athlon 3000G). The Athlon 3000G includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3 Graphics), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Athlon 3000G rivals Pentium Gold G6400.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 3000G |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Vega 3 Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Athlon 3000G debuted at $49. At current prices ($110 vs $60), the Athlon 3000G is $50 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 74.1 pts/$ for the Athlon 3000G — making the Core i5-12400F the 82.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 3000G |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174 | $49-72% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $60-45% |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+140% | 74.1 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2019 |
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