Core i5-12400F vs Athlon 64 3300+
Core i5-12400F
Athlon 64 3300+
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 64 3300+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 64 3300+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NewCastle (2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 64 3300+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+6703%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 64 3300+
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 64 3300+
The Athlon 64 3300+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the NewCastle (2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 522 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon 64 3300+ offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3300+ — a 58.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Athlon 64 3300+ uses NewCastle (2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Athlon 64 3300+'s 522 — a 189.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 150, a 167.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 150 (125.7% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3300+.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 64 3300+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+500% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+83% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256 kB |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-95% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | NewCastle (2004) |
| PassMark | 19,532+3642% | 522 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700+1033% | 150 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657+338% | 150 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon 64 3300+ uses 754 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR1-400 on the Athlon 64 3300+ — the Core i5-12400F supports 133.3% 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 3 GB — 190.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 1 (Athlon 64 3300+). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 0 (Athlon 64 3300+) — the Core i5-12400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and VIA K8T800,nForce3 (Athlon 64 3300+).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 64 3300+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | 754 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+400% | DDR1-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+4167% | 3 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs None (Athlon 64 3300+). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Athlon 64 3300+ targets Retro Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 64 3300+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | None |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Retro Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 3300+ debuted at $200. At current prices ($110 vs $200), the Core i5-12400F is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 2.6 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 3300+ — making the Core i5-12400F the 194.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon 64 3300+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174-13% | $200 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-45% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+6731% | 2.6 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2004 |
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