Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 9 9850HX
Core i5-12400F
Ryzen 9 9850HX
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 Ryzen 9 9850HX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Ryzen 9 9850HX |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Ryzen 9 9850HX |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Ryzen 9 9850HX
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.
Ryzen 9 9850HX
The Ryzen 9 9850HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 51,665 points. Launch price was $499.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 9850HX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 9850HX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 9850HX — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 9850HX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 9850HX uses Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 9 9850HX's 51,665 — a 90.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 9850HX. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 9850HX.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Ryzen 9 9850HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 24+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 5.2 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 64 MB (total)+256% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Fire Range-HX (Zen 5) (2025) |
| PassMark | 19,532 | 51,665+165% |
| 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 Ryzen 9 9850HX uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 5600 on the Ryzen 9 9850HX — the Ryzen 9 9850HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 9850HX supports up to 192 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 28 (Ryzen 9 9850HX) — the Ryzen 9 9850HX offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and FL1 (Ryzen 9 9850HX).
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Ryzen 9 9850HX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FL1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | 5600+111900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+69904967% | 192 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 28+40% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 9 9850HX). The Ryzen 9 9850HX includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon 610M), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen 9 9850HX rivals Core Ultra 7 255HX.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Ryzen 9 9850HX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon 610M |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
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