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 i5-11400F

2021

Why buy it

✅+1056.8% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($157 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌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: +28.4% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 7,600).
❌
10.8% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$157 MSRP

Core i5-11400F

2021

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅+1056.8% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($157 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +28.4% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (657 vs 7,600).
❌
10.8% HIGHER MSRP
$174 MSRPvs$157 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i5-11400F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-12400F is ahead with a 28.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11400F pulls ahead with 1056.8% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i5-12400F also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-11400F is the better fit. You are getting 1056.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 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 10.8% more expensive on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $157 MSRP, and it gives you a 28.4% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-11400F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1056.8% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 4.3% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 107.7 PassMark/$), 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 i5-11400F 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 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 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 i5-11400F Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	167 FPS	183 FPS
medium	145 FPS	168 FPS
high	117 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	153 FPS
medium	121 FPS	132 FPS
high	97 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	87 FPS
medium	73 FPS	81 FPS
high	57 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i5-11400F Open Core i5-12400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	279 FPS	471 FPS
medium	237 FPS	397 FPS
high	222 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	301 FPS
1440p
low	253 FPS	407 FPS
medium	213 FPS	351 FPS
high	202 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	215 FPS	282 FPS
medium	183 FPS	248 FPS
high	169 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i5-11400F Open Core i5-12400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	423 FPS	488 FPS
medium	421 FPS	488 FPS
high	383 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	423 FPS	488 FPS
medium	385 FPS	488 FPS
high	345 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	337 FPS	442 FPS
medium	290 FPS	389 FPS
high	251 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	202 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-11400F Open Core i5-12400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	423 FPS	488 FPS
medium	423 FPS	488 FPS
high	423 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	423 FPS	488 FPS
medium	423 FPS	488 FPS
high	423 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	423 FPS	488 FPS
medium	423 FPS	450 FPS
high	411 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	358 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i5-11400F Open Core i5-12400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11400F and Core i5-12400F

Core i5-11400F

The Core i5-11400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 16,902 points. Launch price was $157.

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

Both the Core i5-11400F and Core i5-12400F share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-11400F versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-11400F uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11400F scores 16,902 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 14.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,000 vs 1,700, a 16.2% lead for the Core i5-11400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,600 vs 657 (168.2% advantage for the Core i5-11400F). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11400F vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+4%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	16,902	19,532+16%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	2,000+18%	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,600+1057%	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11400F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-11400F 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B560,Z590 (Core i5-11400F) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-11400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Core i5-11400F targets Mainstream Desktop, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-11400F	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-11400F launched at $157 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. On MSRP ($157 vs $174), the Core i5-11400F is $17 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-11400F delivers 107.7 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 4.2% better value option.