Core i5-12400F vs EPYC 9354

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9354

32 Cores64 Thrd280 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2022

Popular choices:

i5-12400F•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-12400F

6 / 12

19,532

0.0%

73,892

+278.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

About PassMark

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 i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,246 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).
✅Delivers 419.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9354.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9354 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 73,892).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9354, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9354

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

EPYC 9354

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,246 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).
✅Delivers 419.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $3,420 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9354.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9354 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,532 vs 73,892).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9354, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.6 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($3,420 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9354 better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9354 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9354 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.5% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 18 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9354 is the better fit. You are getting 278.3% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1322.2% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 18 MB).

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

EPYC 9354 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9354 is 1865.5% more expensive on MSRP at $3,420 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 419.5% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 21.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

EPYC 9354 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 18 MB, more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 i5-12400F Benchmark Check

EPYC 9354 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
1080p
low	183 FPS	176 FPS
medium	168 FPS	145 FPS
high	139 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	96 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	132 FPS	123 FPS
high	106 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	71 FPS
medium	81 FPS	60 FPS
high	64 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9354

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
1080p
low	471 FPS	534 FPS
medium	397 FPS	466 FPS
high	341 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	304 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	439 FPS
medium	351 FPS	392 FPS
high	309 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	255 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	270 FPS
medium	248 FPS	246 FPS
high	229 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	179 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9354

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
1080p
low	488 FPS	673 FPS
medium	488 FPS	562 FPS
high	488 FPS	523 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	455 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	511 FPS
medium	488 FPS	426 FPS
high	485 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	377 FPS
medium	389 FPS	295 FPS
high	337 FPS	263 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	211 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9354

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
1080p
low	488 FPS	937 FPS
medium	488 FPS	856 FPS
high	488 FPS	735 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	648 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	751 FPS
medium	488 FPS	658 FPS
high	488 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	480 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	539 FPS
medium	450 FPS	484 FPS
high	391 FPS	423 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	366 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open EPYC 9354

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and EPYC 9354

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.

EPYC 9354

The EPYC 9354 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.25 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 73,892 points. Launch price was $3,420.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 9354 offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the EPYC 9354 has 26 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.8 GHz on the EPYC 9354 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.25 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 9354 uses Genoa (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the EPYC 9354's 73,892 — a 116.4% lead for the EPYC 9354. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9354.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	32 / 64+433%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+16%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.25 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	256 MB (total)+1322%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm, 6 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Genoa (2022−2023)
PassMark	19,532	73,892+278%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 9354 uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus 4800 on the EPYC 9354 — the EPYC 9354 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9354 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 12 (EPYC 9354). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 128 (EPYC 9354) — the EPYC 9354 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and SP5 (EPYC 9354).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+2184433%	6144
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9354). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; EPYC 9354 rivals Xeon Platinum 8468.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	EPYC 9354
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the EPYC 9354 debuted at $3420. On MSRP ($174 vs $3420), the Core i5-12400F is $3246 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 21.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 9354 — making the Core i5-12400F the 135.4% better value option.