
Pentium A1018 vs Core i5-12400F

Pentium A1018

Core i5-12400F
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. The Pentium A1018 is positioned at rank #1105 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Pentium A1018
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium A1018 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium A1018 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+124%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 Pentium A1018 and Core i5-12400F

Pentium A1018
The Pentium A1018 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,188 points. Launch price was $69.

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.
Processing Power
The Pentium A1018 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. The Core i5-12400F is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium A1018 scores 1,188 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 177.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 1 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium A1018 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Pentium A1018 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | — | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.5 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 1 MB Intel® Smart Cache | 18 MB (total)+1700% |
| L2 Cache | — | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | Intel 7 nm-68% |
| Architecture | — | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 1,188 | 19,532+1544% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,700 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium A1018 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium A1018 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1700 |
| 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: not specified (Pentium A1018) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Pentium A1018 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Performance/Value |
Value Analysis
The Pentium A1018 launched at $132 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($15 vs $110), the Pentium A1018 is $95 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium A1018 delivers 79.2 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 76.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium A1018 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $132-24% | $174 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-86% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 79.2 | 177.6+124% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2022 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.











