
Core i5-12400F vs Pentium Gold 4417U

Core i5-12400F

Pentium Gold 4417U
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 Gold 4417U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+782%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
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 Gold 4417U

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 Gold 4417U
The Pentium Gold 4417U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,240 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium Gold 4417U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 4417U — a 62.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Pentium Gold 4417U uses Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Pentium Gold 4417U's 3,240 — a 143.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 2 MB on the Pentium Gold 4417U.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+91% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+9% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+800% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% | 1 MB |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,532+503% | 3,240 |
| 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 Gold 4417U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| 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 Gold 4417U). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Gold 4417U debuted at $161.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium Gold 4417U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174 | $161-7% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | — |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2019 |
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