Core i5-12400F vs M2

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: +18.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌225% higher power demand at 65W vs 20W.

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 65W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 19,532).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2.

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 65W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌225% higher power demand at 65W vs 20W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 19,532).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than M2?

Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 18.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 30.8% 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 18.6% more average FPS across 50 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 30.8% 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 $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 18.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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, M2 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?

M2 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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

M2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M2
1080p
low	183 FPS	175 FPS
medium	168 FPS	140 FPS
high	139 FPS	113 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 M2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M2
1080p
low	471 FPS	288 FPS
medium	397 FPS	246 FPS
high	341 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	166 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	248 FPS
medium	351 FPS	220 FPS
high	309 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	150 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	174 FPS
medium	248 FPS	159 FPS
high	229 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	106 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M2
1080p
low	488 FPS	373 FPS
medium	488 FPS	373 FPS
high	488 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	373 FPS
medium	488 FPS	373 FPS
high	485 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	363 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	373 FPS
medium	389 FPS	314 FPS
high	337 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	M2
1080p
low	488 FPS	373 FPS
medium	488 FPS	373 FPS
high	488 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	373 FPS
medium	488 FPS	373 FPS
high	488 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	373 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	373 FPS
medium	450 FPS	373 FPS
high	391 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	328 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open M2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and M2

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.

M2

The M2 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 June 2022 (3 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.48 GHz. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 14,933 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the M2 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the M2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.48 GHz on the M2 — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.424 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 M2's 14,933 — a 26.7% lead for the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M2
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 8+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+26%	3.48 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+3%	2.424 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	20 MB+1500%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	19,532+31%	14,933
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 M2 uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	M2
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 (M2). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.