Core i5-12400F vs Athlon II X4 645
Core i5-12400F
Athlon II X4 645
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 II X4 645
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 II X4 645
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 II X4 645
The Athlon II X4 645 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon II X4 645 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 — a 34.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Athlon II X4 645 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Athlon II X4 645's 2,375 — a 156.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 1,374 (160% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 399, a 124% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 1,374 (70.6% advantage for the Athlon II X4 645). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+42% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.1 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-84% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 19,532+722% | 2,375 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380+801% | 1,374 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700+326% | 399 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | 1,374+109% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 645 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 645 — 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 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 645) — 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 AMD 700 Series,AMD 800 Series,AMD 900 Series (Athlon II X4 645).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+700% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+25% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs Yes (Athlon II X4 645). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | Yes |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 645 debuted at $126. At current prices ($110 vs $20), the Athlon II X4 645 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 118.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 645 — making the Core i5-12400F the 39.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174 | $126-28% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $20-82% |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+49% | 118.8 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2010 |
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