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 i5-11500

2021

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 750, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,883 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 89.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($192 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: +5.9% higher average FPS across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $18 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 89.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-11500

2021

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 750, while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $18 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 89.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅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 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,883 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 89.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Core i5-11500?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.9% average FPS lead across 47 shared CPU game tests in our data, 25.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 14.2% higher 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 5.9% more average FPS across 47 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 25.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 $18 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 47 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 26.1% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 89.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-11500 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, 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. 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 i5-11500 Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11500	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	189 FPS	183 FPS
medium	154 FPS	168 FPS
high	127 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	119 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	153 FPS
medium	120 FPS	132 FPS
high	98 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	87 FPS
medium	73 FPS	81 FPS
high	59 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	49 FPS

Open Core i5-11500 Open Core i5-12400F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11500	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	427 FPS	471 FPS
medium	359 FPS	397 FPS
high	324 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	282 FPS	301 FPS
1440p
low	400 FPS	407 FPS
medium	324 FPS	351 FPS
high	295 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	265 FPS
4K
low	334 FPS	282 FPS
medium	274 FPS	248 FPS
high	251 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i5-11500 Open Core i5-12400F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11500	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	427 FPS	488 FPS
medium	427 FPS	488 FPS
high	427 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	427 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	427 FPS	488 FPS
medium	427 FPS	488 FPS
high	427 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	427 FPS	442 FPS
medium	346 FPS	389 FPS
high	302 FPS	337 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-11500 Open Core i5-12400F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11500	Core i5-12400F
1080p
low	427 FPS	488 FPS
medium	427 FPS	488 FPS
high	427 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	427 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	427 FPS	488 FPS
medium	427 FPS	488 FPS
high	427 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	427 FPS	473 FPS
4K
low	427 FPS	488 FPS
medium	427 FPS	450 FPS
high	427 FPS	391 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	330 FPS

Open Core i5-11500 Open Core i5-12400F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11500 and Core i5-12400F

Core i5-11500

The Core i5-11500 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 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: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 17,096 points. Launch price was $299.

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 i5-11500 and Core i5-12400F share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-11500 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-11500 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 i5-11500 scores 17,096 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 13.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,883 vs 12,380 (22.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,064 vs 1,700, a 19.3% lead for the Core i5-11500 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,564 vs 657 (171.5% advantage for the Core i5-11500). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i5-11500	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+5%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+8%	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	17,096	19,532+14%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,883	12,380+25%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,064+21%	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,564+1204%	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500 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 i5-11500 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: H510,B560,Z590,H470,Z490 (Core i5-11500) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F).

Feature	Core i5-11500	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

Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. The Core i5-11500 includes integrated graphics (UHD 750), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500 targets Gaming, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500 rivals Ryzen 5 5600X; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-11500	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD 750	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-11500 launched at $192 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. On MSRP ($192 vs $174), the Core i5-12400F is $18 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-11500 delivers 89.0 pts/$ vs 112.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 23.1% better value option.