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 $1,125 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 371.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 23.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 29,045).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,299 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,125 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 371.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 23.8 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 250W, a 185W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 64 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅220% more PCIe lanes (64 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 29,045).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 64 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.8 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,299 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌284.6% higher power demand at 250W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX 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, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.9% 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, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is the better fit. You are getting 134.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 255.6% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is 646.6% more expensive on MSRP at $1,299 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 371.1% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 23.8 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of TR4. 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	183 FPS	198 FPS
medium	168 FPS	177 FPS
high	139 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	160 FPS
medium	132 FPS	134 FPS
high	106 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	73 FPS
medium	81 FPS	64 FPS
high	64 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	41 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	471 FPS	536 FPS
medium	397 FPS	483 FPS
high	341 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	354 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	473 FPS
medium	351 FPS	424 FPS
high	309 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	299 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	295 FPS
medium	248 FPS	265 FPS
high	229 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	488 FPS	768 FPS
medium	488 FPS	640 FPS
high	488 FPS	577 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	504 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	640 FPS
medium	488 FPS	533 FPS
high	485 FPS	465 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	408 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	469 FPS
medium	389 FPS	377 FPS
high	337 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	280 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
1080p
low	488 FPS	774 FPS
medium	488 FPS	774 FPS
high	488 FPS	704 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	616 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	730 FPS
medium	488 FPS	644 FPS
high	488 FPS	549 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	474 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	523 FPS
medium	450 FPS	473 FPS
high	391 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	362 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX

The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 250 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 30,954 points. Launch price was $1,299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX's 30,954 — a 45.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 29,045 (80.5% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,240, a 31.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 7,241 (166.7% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	24 / 48+300%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+5%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	64 MB+256%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	19,532	30,954+58%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	29,045+135%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+37%	1,240
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	7,241+1002%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX uses TR4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 64 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX offers 44 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and X399 (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Socket	LGA1700	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	64+220%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX targets Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX rivals Core i9-7940X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Extreme Multi-threaded Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX debuted at $1299. On MSRP ($174 vs $1299), the Core i5-12400F is $1125 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 23.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX — making the Core i5-12400F the 130% better value option.