Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 7303
Core i5-12400F
EPYC 7303
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 EPYC 7303
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Milan (2021−2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 EPYC 7303
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.
EPYC 7303
The EPYC 7303 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 28,572 points. Launch price was $604.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7303 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 7303 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 — a 25.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7303 uses Milan (2021−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 7303's 28,572 — a 37.6% lead for the EPYC 7303. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 18,000 (37% advantage for the EPYC 7303). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,960, a 14.2% lead for the EPYC 7303 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 11,000 (177.5% advantage for the EPYC 7303). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 16 / 32+167% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+29% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+4% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 64 MB (total)+256% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Milan (2021−2023) |
| PassMark | 19,532 | 28,572+46% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | 18,000+45% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700 | 1,960+15% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | 11,000+1574% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 7303 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7303 — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7303 supports up to 204 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 45.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 8 (EPYC 7303). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 128 (EPYC 7303) — the EPYC 7303 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and SP3 platform (EPYC 7303).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | SP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 204 GB+59% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 128+540% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 7303 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V, SVM |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | High-frequency Server Workloads |
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