Core i5-12400F vs Sempron 3850
Core i5-12400F
Sempron 3850
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 Sempron 3850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Sempron 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400F | Sempron 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Sempron 3850
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.
Sempron 3850
The Sempron 3850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,168 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Sempron 3850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 1.3 GHz on the Sempron 3850 — a 108.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F. The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Sempron 3850 uses Kabini (2013−2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Sempron 3850's 1,168 — a 177.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Sempron 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+238% | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2048 kB+60% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-75% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Kabini (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 19,532+1572% | 1,168 |
| 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 Sempron 3850 uses AM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Sempron 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | AM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| 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 (Sempron 3850). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400F | Sempron 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | — |
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