Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9655
Core i5-12400F
EPYC 9655
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 9655
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 9655 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11,852) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Turin (2024) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 9655 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1248%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11,852) |
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 9655
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 9655
The EPYC 9655 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 96 cores and 192 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 384 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 400 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 156,110 points. Launch price was $11,852.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 9655 offers 96 cores / 192 threads — the EPYC 9655 has 90 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.5 GHz on the EPYC 9655 — a 2.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 9655 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9655 uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 9655's 156,110 — a 155.5% lead for the EPYC 9655. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,830, a 49.9% lead for the EPYC 9655 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 29,329 (191.2% advantage for the EPYC 9655). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 384 MB (total) on the EPYC 9655.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 9655 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 96 / 192+1500% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.5 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.6 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 384 MB (total)+2033% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Turin (2024) |
| PassMark | 19,532 | 156,110+699% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,700 | 2,830+66% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 657 | 29,329+4364% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 9655 uses SP5 (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 9 TB — 173.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 12 (EPYC 9655). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 128 (EPYC 9655) — the EPYC 9655 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and SP5 (EPYC 9655).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 9655 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | SP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | DDR5-6000 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 9 TB+7100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 12+500% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 128+540% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9655). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, EPYC 9655 targets Data Center. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; EPYC 9655 rivals Xeon 6979P.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 9655 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V, SEV-SNP |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Data Center |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the EPYC 9655 debuted at $11852. At current prices ($110 vs $11852), the Core i5-12400F is $11742 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 13.2 pts/$ for the EPYC 9655 — making the Core i5-12400F the 172.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | EPYC 9655 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174-99% | $11852 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-99% | $11852 |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+1245% | 13.2 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2024 |
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