Core i5-12400F vs M1 Pro

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

✅Better for gaming: +15.7% higher average FPS across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M1 Pro.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while M1 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

M1 Pro

2021

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,218 vs 19,532).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

M1 Pro

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.7% higher average FPS across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M1 Pro.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while M1 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,218 vs 19,532).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than M1 Pro?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 15.7% average FPS lead across 47 shared CPU game tests in our data, 13.4% 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 15.7% 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 13.4% better PassMark, 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 at an unclear MSRP at $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 15.7% average FPS lead across 47 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 none + DDR5 setup, M1 Pro 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) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 10/10. 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 i5-12400F Benchmark Check

M1 Pro Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M1 Pro
1080p
low	183 FPS	175 FPS
medium	168 FPS	141 FPS
high	139 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	141 FPS
medium	132 FPS	111 FPS
high	106 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	66 FPS
medium	81 FPS	55 FPS
high	64 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M1 Pro

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M1 Pro
1080p
low	471 FPS	215 FPS
medium	397 FPS	190 FPS
high	341 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	129 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	183 FPS
medium	351 FPS	167 FPS
high	309 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	114 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	116 FPS
medium	248 FPS	107 FPS
high	229 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	77 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M1 Pro

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M1 Pro
1080p
low	488 FPS	430 FPS
medium	488 FPS	430 FPS
high	488 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	430 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	430 FPS
medium	488 FPS	430 FPS
high	485 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	359 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	414 FPS
medium	389 FPS	320 FPS
high	337 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M1 Pro

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M1 Pro
1080p
low	488 FPS	430 FPS
medium	488 FPS	430 FPS
high	488 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	430 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	430 FPS
medium	488 FPS	430 FPS
high	488 FPS	430 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	429 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	430 FPS
medium	450 FPS	408 FPS
high	391 FPS	363 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	315 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M1 Pro

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and M1 Pro

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.

M1 Pro

The M1 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,218 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the M1 Pro offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the M1 Pro has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro — a 31% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.064 GHz). The Core i5-12400F is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the M1 Pro's 17,218 — a 12.6% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 24 MB on the M1 Pro.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M1 Pro
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 10+67%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+37%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+21%	2.064 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	28 MB+2140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	19,532+13%	17,218
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the M1 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M1 Pro
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) / not specified (M1 Pro). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.