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 i3-14100T

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($134 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅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 30 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,731 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 102.5 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($134 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.8% higher average FPS across 30 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 9.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 102.5 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-14100T.

Trade-offs

❌
29.9% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$134 MSRP
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-14100T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-14100T

2024

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($134 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.8% higher average FPS across 30 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Delivers 9.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 102.5 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-14100T.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 30 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,731 vs 19,532).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 102.5 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($134 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Trade-offs

❌
29.9% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$134 MSRP
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-14100T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i3-14100T?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 25.8% average FPS lead across 30 shared CPU game tests in our data and 42.2% better PassMark, 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 25.8% more average FPS across 30 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 42.2% 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 29.9% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it gives you a 25.8% average FPS lead across 30 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 9.5% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 102.5 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i3-14100T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). 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 i3-14100T Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-14100T	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	166 FPS	183 FPS
medium	142 FPS	168 FPS
high	111 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	144 FPS	153 FPS
medium	122 FPS	132 FPS
high	96 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	81 FPS	87 FPS
medium	74 FPS	81 FPS
high	58 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i3-14100T Open Core i5-12400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-14100T	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	297 FPS	471 FPS
medium	249 FPS	397 FPS
high	228 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	194 FPS	301 FPS
1440p
low	258 FPS	407 FPS
medium	221 FPS	351 FPS
high	206 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	174 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	200 FPS	282 FPS
medium	176 FPS	248 FPS
high	151 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i3-14100T Open Core i5-12400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-14100T	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	343 FPS	488 FPS
medium	343 FPS	488 FPS
high	343 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	343 FPS	488 FPS
medium	343 FPS	488 FPS
high	343 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	343 FPS	442 FPS
medium	343 FPS	389 FPS
high	316 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	258 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i3-14100T Open Core i5-12400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-14100T	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	343 FPS	488 FPS
medium	343 FPS	488 FPS
high	343 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	343 FPS	488 FPS
medium	343 FPS	488 FPS
high	343 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	343 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	343 FPS	488 FPS
medium	343 FPS	450 FPS
high	343 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i3-14100T Open Core i5-12400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-14100T and Core i5-12400F

Core i3-14100T

The Core i3-14100T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 13,731 points. Launch price was $134.

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 i3-14100T 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 i3-14100T versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-14100T uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-14100T scores 13,731 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 34.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-14100T vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i3-14100T	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+8%	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	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	13,731	19,532+42%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	—	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. The Core i3-14100T supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Core i3-14100T	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	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-14100T) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The Core i3-14100T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-14100T targets Desktop, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i3-14100T	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 730	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Desktop	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-14100T launched at $134 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. On MSRP ($134 vs $174), the Core i3-14100T is $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-14100T delivers 102.5 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 9.1% better value option.