Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 4545P

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 4545P

16 Cores32 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.4 GHz2025

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

0.0%

54,255

+177.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

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.

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 $375 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 13.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 4545P.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4545P across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 54,255).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4545P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4545P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

EPYC 4545P

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +43.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 98.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

EPYC 4545P

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $375 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 13.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 98.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 4545P.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +43.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 28 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4545P across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 54,255).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 4545P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 28 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while EPYC 4545P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 98.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4545P better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 4545P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 4545P is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 43.9% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 4545P is the better fit. You are getting 177.8% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).

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

EPYC 4545P is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 4545P is 215.5% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 43.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 13.6% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 98.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

EPYC 4545P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

EPYC 4545P Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	183 FPS	286 FPS
medium	168 FPS	262 FPS
high	139 FPS	215 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	262 FPS
medium	132 FPS	218 FPS
high	106 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	148 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	182 FPS
medium	81 FPS	151 FPS
high	64 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	102 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4545P

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	471 FPS	674 FPS
medium	397 FPS	580 FPS
high	341 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	375 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	567 FPS
medium	351 FPS	506 FPS
high	309 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	320 FPS
medium	248 FPS	289 FPS
high	229 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	219 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4545P

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	488 FPS	850 FPS
medium	488 FPS	679 FPS
high	488 FPS	601 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	515 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	679 FPS
medium	488 FPS	543 FPS
high	485 FPS	469 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	398 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	484 FPS
medium	389 FPS	401 FPS
high	337 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4545P

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
1080p
low	488 FPS	1072 FPS
medium	488 FPS	966 FPS
high	488 FPS	843 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	760 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	842 FPS
medium	488 FPS	747 FPS
high	488 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	619 FPS
medium	450 FPS	553 FPS
high	391 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 4545P

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and EPYC 4545P

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.

EPYC 4545P

The EPYC 4545P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 May 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Grado (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 54,255 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 4545P offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 4545P has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.4 GHz on the EPYC 4545P — a 20.4% clock advantage for the EPYC 4545P (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 4545P uses Grado (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 4545P's 54,255 — a 94.1% lead for the EPYC 4545P. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 4545P.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	16 / 32+167%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+23%
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)	Grado (2025)
PassMark	19,532	54,255+178%
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 EPYC 4545P uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 5600 on the EPYC 4545P — the EPYC 4545P supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 4545P 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 (EPYC 4545P) — the EPYC 4545P offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and AM5 (EPYC 4545P).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+69904967%	192
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (EPYC 4545P). The EPYC 4545P includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics), 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; EPYC 4545P rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 4545P
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	AMD Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the EPYC 4545P debuted at $549. On MSRP ($174 vs $549), the Core i5-12400F is $375 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 98.8 pts/$ for the EPYC 4545P — making the Core i5-12400F the 12.7% better value option.