Core i5-12400F vs Core Ultra 9 185H
Core i5-12400F
Core Ultra 9 185H
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 9 185H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| 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 9 185H
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 9 185H
The Core Ultra 9 185H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 29,360 points. Launch price was $640.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 185H offers 16 cores / 22 threads — the Core Ultra 9 185H has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 185H — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 9 185H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 9 185H's 29,360 — a 40.2% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 18,030 (37.2% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,700, a 45.5% lead for the Core Ultra 9 185H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 17,000 (185.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 185H). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 185H.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 16 / 22+167% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 5.1 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 24 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+60% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Meteor Lake-H (2023) |
| PassMark | 19,532 | 29,360+50% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | 18,030+46% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700 | 2,700+59% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | 17,000+2488% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 9 185H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 96 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 28 (Core Ultra 9 185H) — the Core Ultra 9 185H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Meteor Lake SoC (Core Ultra 9 185H).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | LPDDR5x-7467, DDR5-5600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+33% | 96 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 28+40% |
Advanced Features
Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core Ultra 9 185H includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core Ultra 9 185H targets Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core Ultra 9 185H rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Core Ultra 9 185H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Mainstream Performance / AI Workloads |
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