Core i5-2400 vs FX-6120

CPU

GPU

Core i5-2400

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011

Popular choices:

•••••••••

FX-6120

6 Cores6 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2012

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-2400

4 / 4

3,870

+0.4%

3,853

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 i5-2400

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $4 less on MSRP ($184 MSRP vs $188 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 2000, while FX-6120 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike FX-6120.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

FX-6120

2012

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,853 vs 3,870).
❌
2.2% HIGHER MSRP
$188 MSRPvs$184 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-2400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-2400.

Core i5-2400

2011

FX-6120

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $4 less on MSRP ($184 MSRP vs $188 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 2000, while FX-6120 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike FX-6120.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,853 vs 3,870).
❌
2.2% HIGHER MSRP
$188 MSRPvs$184 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-2400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-2400.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-2400 better than FX-6120?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, FX-6120 is ahead with a 2.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-2400 pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark. FX-6120 also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-2400 is the better fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-2400 is the smarter buy today. Core i5-2400 is $4 cheaper on MSRP at $184 MSRP versus $188 MSRP, and it gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The trade-off is that FX-6120 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2.6% better value on MSRP (21.0 vs 20.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

FX-6120 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011) and 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i5-2400 Benchmark Check

FX-6120 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	87 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	65 FPS
medium	56 FPS	57 FPS
high	43 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open FX-6120

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	92 FPS	96 FPS
high	71 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open FX-6120

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open FX-6120

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
1080p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	96 FPS
medium	97 FPS	96 FPS
high	97 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-2400 Open FX-6120

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2400 and FX-6120

Core i5-2400

The Core i5-2400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,870 points. Launch price was $60.

FX-6120

The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-2400 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the FX-6120 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the FX-6120 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-2400 versus 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 — a 21.1% clock advantage for the FX-6120 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-2400 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the FX-6120 uses Zambezi (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2400 scores 3,870 against the FX-6120's 3,853 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-2400. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2400 vs 8 MB (total) on the FX-6120.

Feature	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.2 GHz+24%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	3.6 GHz+16%
L3 Cache	6144 kB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	6 MB+2300%
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Zambezi (2011−2012)
PassMark	3,870	3,853
Geekbench 6 Single	595	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-2400 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the FX-6120 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
Socket	LGA1155	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2400) / not specified (FX-6120). The Core i5-2400 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the FX-6120 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2400 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2400 rivals Phenom II X4 975.

Feature	Core i5-2400	FX-6120
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	HD Graphics 2000	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-2400 launched at $184 MSRP, while the FX-6120 debuted at $188. On MSRP ($184 vs $188), the Core i5-2400 is $4 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2400 delivers 21.0 pts/$ vs 20.5 pts/$ for the FX-6120 — making the Core i5-2400 the 2.6% better value option.