Ryzen 5 2600 vs Core i5-12400F
Ryzen 5 2600
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. 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 Ryzen 5 2600
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($145) | ✅ More affordable ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+96%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($145) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Ryzen 5 2600 and Core i5-12400F
Ryzen 5 2600
The Ryzen 5 2600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,145 points. Launch price was $199.
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
Both the Ryzen 5 2600 and Core i5-12400F share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 12% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2600 scores 13,145 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 39.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 6,344 vs 12,380 (64.5% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,163 vs 1,700, a 37.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 4,893 vs 657 (152.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 2600). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2600 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.4 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+36% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 18 MB (total)+13% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+140% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm | Intel 7 nm-42% |
| Architecture | Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 13,145 | 19,532+49% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 6,344 | 12,380+95% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,163 | 1,700+46% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,893+645% | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen 5 2600 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD B450,AMD X470,AMD B350,AMD X370 (Ryzen 5 2600) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 2600) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2600 targets General Productivity, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 2600 rivals Core i5-9400; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | General Productivity | Gaming Performance/Value |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 2600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($145 vs $110), the Core i5-12400F is $35 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 2600 delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 64.8% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199 | $174-13% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $145 | $110-24% |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.7 | 177.6+96% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2022 |
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