
Core i5-12400F vs Athlon PRO 3045B

Core i5-12400F

Athlon PRO 3045B
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 PRO 3045B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Dali (2020−2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1054%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
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 PRO 3045B

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 PRO 3045B
The Athlon PRO 3045B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Dali (2020−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,770 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon PRO 3045B 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 3.2 GHz on the Athlon PRO 3045B — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Athlon PRO 3045B uses Dali (2020−2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Athlon PRO 3045B's 2,770 — a 150.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon PRO 3045B.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+38% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+9% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+350% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Dali (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 19,532+605% | 2,770 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon PRO 3045B uses FP5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2400 on the Athlon PRO 3045B — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% 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 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 8 (Athlon PRO 3045B) — the Core i5-12400F offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and AMD FP5 (Athlon PRO 3045B).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+300% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+150% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (Athlon PRO 3045B). The Athlon PRO 3045B includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), 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.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Athlon PRO 3045B debuted at $426. At current prices ($110 vs $180), the Core i5-12400F is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Athlon PRO 3045B — making the Core i5-12400F the 168.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174-59% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-39% | $180 |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+1053% | 15.4 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2021 |
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