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 i3-10105F

2021

Why buy it

✅+585.4% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $77 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 91.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +96.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 22.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 91.9 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 4,503).
❌
79.4% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$97 MSRP

Core i3-10105F

2021

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅+585.4% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $77 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +96.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Delivers 22.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 91.9 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 91.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 4,503).
❌
79.4% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$97 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i3-10105F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-12400F is ahead with a 96.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10105F pulls ahead with 585.4% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i5-12400F also has the bigger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10105F is the better fit. You are getting 585.4% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is 79.4% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $97 MSRP, and it gives you a 96.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i3-10105F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 585.4% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 22.2% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 91.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i3-10105F 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 i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and 200% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 6 MB). 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 i3-10105F Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	181 FPS	183 FPS
medium	143 FPS	168 FPS
high	113 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	119 FPS	132 FPS
high	95 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	87 FPS
medium	72 FPS	81 FPS
high	57 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i3-10105F Open Core i5-12400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	223 FPS	471 FPS
medium	223 FPS	397 FPS
high	206 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	301 FPS
1440p
low	223 FPS	407 FPS
medium	203 FPS	351 FPS
high	184 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	199 FPS	282 FPS
medium	164 FPS	248 FPS
high	139 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i3-10105F Open Core i5-12400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	223 FPS	488 FPS
medium	223 FPS	488 FPS
high	223 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	223 FPS	488 FPS
medium	223 FPS	488 FPS
high	223 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	223 FPS	442 FPS
medium	223 FPS	389 FPS
high	223 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i3-10105F Open Core i5-12400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	223 FPS	488 FPS
medium	223 FPS	488 FPS
high	223 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	223 FPS	488 FPS
medium	223 FPS	488 FPS
high	223 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	223 FPS	488 FPS
medium	223 FPS	450 FPS
high	223 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i3-10105F Open Core i5-12400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-10105F and Core i5-12400F

Core i3-10105F

The Core i3-10105F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-R (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,912 points. Launch price was $97.

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 Core i3-10105F packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-10105F versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-10105F uses the Comet Lake-R (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-10105F scores 8,912 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 74.7% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,461 vs 1,700, a 15.1% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 4,503 vs 657 (149.1% advantage for the Core i3-10105F). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-10105F vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+48%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake-R (2021)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	8,912	19,532+119%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	1,461	1,700+16%
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,503+585%	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-10105F uses the LGA1200 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 DDR4-2666 on the Core i3-10105F 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. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-10105F) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1200 (Core i3-10105F) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-10105F) vs 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	Core i3-10105F	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-10105F launched at $97 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. On MSRP ($97 vs $174), the Core i3-10105F is $77 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-10105F delivers 91.9 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 20% better value option.