Core i5-12400F vs Pentium III 1200
Core i5-12400F
Pentium III 1200
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 III 1200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+811%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 III 1200
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 III 1200
The Pentium III 1200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 195 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Pentium III 1200 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium III 1200 — a 114.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Pentium III 1200 uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Pentium III 1200's 195 — a 196% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 0 kB on the Pentium III 1200.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+500% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+267% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256 kB |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-95% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Tualatin (2000−2002) |
| PassMark | 19,532+9916% | 195 |
| 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 III 1200 uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus SDR-133 on the Pentium III 1200 — the Core i5-12400F supports -215.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium III 1200 supports up to 512 MB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 1 (Pentium III 1200). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 0 (Pentium III 1200) — the Core i5-12400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | PGA370 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | SDR-133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+25500% | 512 MB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs None (Pentium III 1200). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Pentium III 1200 targets Legacy. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | None |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Legacy |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Pentium III 1200 debuted at $200. At current prices ($110 vs $10), the Pentium III 1200 is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 177.6 pts/$ vs 19.5 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1200 — making the Core i5-12400F the 160.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Pentium III 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174-13% | $200 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $10-91% |
| Performance per Dollar | 177.6+811% | 19.5 |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2001 |
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