
Core i5-12400F vs Pentium E6300

Core i5-12400F

Pentium E6300
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 Pentium E6300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+158%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 Pentium E6300

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.

Pentium E6300
The Pentium E6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 May 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,032 points. Launch price was $40.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium E6300 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium E6300 — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Pentium E6300 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Pentium E6300's 1,032 — a 179.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 0 kB on the Pentium E6300.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+57% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.8 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+60% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-84% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 19,532+1793% | 1,032 |
| 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 Pentium E6300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| 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 (Pentium E6300). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Pentium E6300 debuted at $84. At current prices ($110 vs $15), the Pentium E6300 is $95 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 68.8 pts/$ for the Pentium E6300 — making the Core i5-12400F the 88.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174 | $84-52% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $15-86% |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+158% | 68.8 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2009 |
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