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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $66 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 225T.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 8,943).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 225T

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics (16EU), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
37.9% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Core Ultra 5 225T

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $66 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 225T.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics (16EU), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 8,943).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
37.9% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$174 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225T better than Core i5-12400F?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 225T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1261.2% better Geekbench multi-core, 37.6% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 225T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 225T is the better fit. You are getting 1261.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 5 225T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 5 225T is 37.9% more expensive on MSRP at $240 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 0.2% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 112.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-12400F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 225T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	183 FPS	253 FPS
medium	168 FPS	244 FPS
high	139 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	217 FPS
medium	132 FPS	186 FPS
high	106 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	148 FPS
medium	81 FPS	126 FPS
high	64 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	471 FPS	595 FPS
medium	397 FPS	508 FPS
high	341 FPS	420 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	377 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	498 FPS
medium	351 FPS	438 FPS
high	309 FPS	370 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	317 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	299 FPS
medium	248 FPS	264 FPS
high	229 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	488 FPS	672 FPS
medium	488 FPS	672 FPS
high	488 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	672 FPS
medium	488 FPS	588 FPS
high	485 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	504 FPS
medium	389 FPS	422 FPS
high	337 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	488 FPS	672 FPS
medium	488 FPS	672 FPS
high	488 FPS	672 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	672 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	672 FPS
medium	488 FPS	672 FPS
high	488 FPS	611 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	535 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	550 FPS
medium	450 FPS	501 FPS
high	391 FPS	448 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	393 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Core Ultra 5 225T

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.

Core Ultra 5 225T

The Core Ultra 5 225T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2025 (recentemente). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 26,874 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225T offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225T — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Core Ultra 5 225T's 26,874 — a 31.6% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 2,677, a 44.6% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 8,943 (172.6% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225T). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225T.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 10+67%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+11%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	19,532	26,874+38%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	2,677+57%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	8,943+1261%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 225T supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225T) — the Core Ultra 5 225T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 225T).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 225T). The Core Ultra 5 225T includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics (16EU)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Core Ultra 5 225T targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Core Ultra 5 225T rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Core Ultra 5 225T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Arc Graphics (16EU)
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 225T debuted at $240. On MSRP ($174 vs $240), the Core i5-12400F is $66 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 112.0 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 225T — making the Core i5-12400F the 0.2% better value option.