Core i5-12400F vs Core Ultra 7 255U
Core i5-12400F
Core Ultra 7 255U
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 Core Ultra 7 255U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-U (2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core Ultra 7 255U
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.
Core Ultra 7 255U
The Core Ultra 7 255U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,834 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 255U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255U — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255U uses Arrow Lake-U (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 7 255U's 17,834 — a 9.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 12 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255U.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 14+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 5.2 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.8 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+50% | 12 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | — |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 5 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Arrow Lake-U (2025) |
| PassMark | 19,532+10% | 17,834 |
| 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 Core Ultra 7 255U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 255U). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 7 255U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
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