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 i3-12100

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $52 less on MSRP ($122 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,315 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 100.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($122 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +54.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 11.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 100.9 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $122 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
42.6% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$122 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-12100 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-12100

2022

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $52 less on MSRP ($122 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +54.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 11.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 100.9 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $122 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,315 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 100.9 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($122 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
42.6% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$122 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-12100 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i3-12100?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 54.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 58.6% better 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 i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 54.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 58.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is 42.6% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $122 MSRP, and it gives you a 54.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 11.2% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 100.9 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i3-12100 Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	174 FPS	183 FPS
medium	151 FPS	168 FPS
high	121 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	101 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	149 FPS	153 FPS
medium	124 FPS	132 FPS
high	98 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	87 FPS
medium	73 FPS	81 FPS
high	57 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i3-12100 Open Core i5-12400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	278 FPS	471 FPS
medium	240 FPS	397 FPS
high	219 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	301 FPS
1440p
low	243 FPS	407 FPS
medium	213 FPS	351 FPS
high	198 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	190 FPS	282 FPS
medium	171 FPS	248 FPS
high	145 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i3-12100 Open Core i5-12400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	308 FPS	488 FPS
medium	308 FPS	488 FPS
high	308 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	308 FPS	488 FPS
medium	308 FPS	488 FPS
high	308 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	308 FPS	442 FPS
medium	308 FPS	389 FPS
high	308 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	266 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i3-12100 Open Core i5-12400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	308 FPS	488 FPS
medium	308 FPS	488 FPS
high	308 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	308 FPS	488 FPS
medium	308 FPS	488 FPS
high	308 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	308 FPS	488 FPS
medium	308 FPS	450 FPS
high	308 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i3-12100 Open Core i5-12400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12400F

Core i3-12100

The Core i3-12100 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 12,315 points. Launch price was $149.

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 i3-12100 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 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-12100 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). Both are built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture using a Intel 7 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i3-12100 scores 12,315 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 45.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,157 vs 1,700, a 23.7% lead for the Core i3-12100 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.4 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+32%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	12,315	19,532+59%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	2,157+27%	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i3-12100) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i3-12100 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100 targets Budget Gaming Desktop, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100 rivals Ryzen 5 5500; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i3-12100	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 730	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Budget Gaming Desktop	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-12100 launched at $122 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. On MSRP ($122 vs $174), the Core i3-12100 is $52 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-12100 delivers 100.9 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 10.6% better value option.