Core i5-12400F
VS
Core i7-10700F

Core i5-12400F vs Core i7-10700F

Intel

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022
VS
Intel

Core i7-10700F

8 Cores16 Thrd125 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F

#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
121%
#16
Core Ultra 5 225F
MSRP: $231|Avg: $150
118%
#17
Core Ultra 7 265K
MSRP: $309|Avg: $285
116%
#18
Ryzen 9 3900
MSRP: $499|Avg: $150
115%
#19
Ryzen 5 3600X
MSRP: $249|Avg: $90
113%
#20
Core i7-14700KF
MSRP: $384|Avg: $260
113%
#21
Core i7-14700K
MSRP: $409|Avg: $270
109%
#22
Ryzen 5 4500
MSRP: $129|Avg: $85
106%
#23
Ryzen 5 5600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $115
106%
#24
Celeron G5925
MSRP: $62|Avg: $15
105%
#25
Ryzen 5 7500F
MSRP: $179|Avg: $145
104%
#26
Core Ultra 5 245
MSRP: $319|Avg: $220
103%
#27
Ryzen 7 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $86
102%
#28
Core Ultra 7 265KF
MSRP: $379|Avg: $323
102%
#29
Core Ultra 7 265F
MSRP: $369|Avg: $276
100%
#30
Core i5-12400F
MSRP: $174|Avg: $110
100%
#31
Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G
MSRP: $130|Avg: $80
99%
#32
Ryzen 7 2700X
MSRP: $329|Avg: $100
98%
#33
Core i3-10100F
MSRP: $88|Avg: $50
98%
#34
Ryzen 5 7400F
MSRP: $150|Avg: $147
98%
#35
Ryzen 5 9600X
MSRP: $279|Avg: $178
95%
#36
Ryzen 7 3800X
MSRP: $399|Avg: $140
93%
#37
Ryzen 3 5300G
MSRP: $130|Avg: $80
92%
#38
Ryzen 9 7900X
MSRP: $549|Avg: $316
91%
#39
Ryzen 5 5600X
MSRP: $299|Avg: $135
91%
#40
Core i5-14600KF
MSRP: $304|Avg: $239
91%
#41
Ryzen 7 5800
MSRP: $349|Avg: $160
91%
#42
Core i3-14100F
MSRP: $109|Avg: $96
90%
#43
Ryzen 7 3700X
MSRP: $329|Avg: $140
90%
#44
Ryzen 5 7600X
MSRP: $299|Avg: $178
90%
#45
Ryzen 3 3100
MSRP: $99|Avg: $75
90%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-10700F

#285
Core i5-10400
MSRP: $182|Avg: $175
106%
#286
Core i3-12100
MSRP: $122|Avg: $180
106%
#287
Core Ultra 9 285T
MSRP: $549|Avg: $549
104%
#288
Core i5-12500TE
MSRP: $225|Avg: $225
103%
#288
Ryzen Threadripper 1950
MSRP: $999|Avg: $300
34%
#289
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
MSRP: $108|Avg: $70
103%
#290
Core i9-10900KF
MSRP: $509|Avg: $336
102%
#291
Core i9-14900T
MSRP: $549|Avg: $577
102%
#291
Core i9-7900X
MSRP: $999|Avg: $188
32%
#292
Core i5-13500T
MSRP: $342|Avg: $342
102%
#293
Core i3-10300
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $140.49
102%
#294
Core i9-10900F
MSRP: $464|Avg: $300
102%
#294
Core i9-7920X
MSRP: $1199|Avg: $236
30%
#295
Core i9-7940X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $275
28%
#295
Ryzen 7 5800X3D
MSRP: $449|Avg: $429
102%
#296
Core i7-9700F
MSRP: $323|Avg: $200
102%
#297
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
MSRP: $1499|Avg: $1419
101%
#298
Core i5-9500F
MSRP: $187|Avg: $154
100%
#298
Core i9-7960X
MSRP: $1699|Avg: $185
26%
#299
Core i9-7980XE
MSRP: $1999|Avg: $300
23%
#299
Core i9-11900KB
MSRP: $539|Avg: $350
100%
#300
Core i7-10700F
MSRP: $310|Avg: $250
100%
#301
Core i7-10700T
MSRP: $355|Avg: $200
100%
#302
Core i7-6900K
MSRP: $1089|Avg: $1089
21%
#302
Celeron G5920
MSRP: $52|Avg: $40
100%
#303
Core i3-10105T
MSRP: $122|Avg: $122
99%
#303
Core i7-5960X
MSRP: $999|Avg: $83
21%
#304
Core i7-6950X
MSRP: $1723|Avg: $180
16%
#304
Celeron G5900
MSRP: $50|Avg: $42
99%
#305
Core 5 120
MSRP: $340|Avg: $340
99%
#306
Core i7-12700T
MSRP: $339|Avg: $337
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-12400F delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i7-10700F in both compute-intensive tasks (19% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightCore i5-12400FCore i7-10700F
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
More affordable ($110)
⚠️ Higher cost ($250)
Longevity
✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm)
✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: The Core i5-12400F leads not only in performance but also in value. It is effectively 56% cheaper ($110 vs $250) while identifying as the stronger performer.
InsightCore i5-12400FCore i7-10700F
Cost Efficiency
Better overall value (+175%)
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
More affordable ($110)
⚠️ Higher cost ($250)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 Core i7-10700F

Intel

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.

Intel

Core i7-10700F

The Core i7-10700F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 16,139 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-10700F offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-10700F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-10700F — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-10700F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-10700F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core i7-10700F's 16,139 — a 19% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 12,000 (3.1% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,250, a 30.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 7,800 (168.9% advantage for the Core i7-10700F). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-10700F.

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10700F
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
2.9 GHz+16%
L3 Cache
18 MB (total)+13%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+400%
256K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Alder Lake-S (2022)
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark
19,532+21%
16,139
Cinebench R23 Multi
12,380+3%
12,000
Geekbench 6 Single
1,700+36%
1,250
Geekbench 6 Multi
657
7,800+1087%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-10700F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2933 on the Core i7-10700F — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 16 (Core i7-10700F) — 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 H410,B460,H470,Z490,Z590 (Core i7-10700F).

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10700F
Socket
LGA1700
LGA1200
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
20+25%
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core i7-10700F targets Gaming/Content Creation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core i7-10700F rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10700F
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Gaming Performance/Value
Gaming/Content Creation
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core i7-10700F debuted at $310. At current prices ($110 vs $250), the Core i5-12400F is $140 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 64.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-10700F — making the Core i5-12400F the 93.3% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-12400FCore i7-10700F
MSRP
$174-44%
$310
Avg Price (30d)
$110-56%
$250
Performance per Dollar
177.6+175%
64.6
Release Date
2022
2020