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 i5-12400

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 89.9 vs 145.1 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600GT

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $69 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅Delivers 61.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 145.1 vs 89.9 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400 across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (9,300 vs 10,632).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12400

2022

Ryzen 5 5600GT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Costs $69 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅Delivers 61.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 145.1 vs 89.9 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 89.9 vs 145.1 PassMark/$ ($209 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400 across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (9,300 vs 10,632).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400 better than Ryzen 5 5600GT?

Yes. Core i5-12400 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.1% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data, 14.3% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 i5-12400 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% more average FPS across 45 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400 is the better fit. You are getting 14.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12400 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600GT makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-12400 is 49.3% more expensive on MSRP at $209 MSRP versus $140 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600GT is also 61.3% better value on MSRP (145.1 vs 89.9 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600GT 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 i5-12400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4 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 i5-12400 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600GT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	183 FPS	178 FPS
medium	168 FPS	150 FPS
high	139 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	153 FPS
medium	132 FPS	125 FPS
high	106 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	83 FPS
medium	81 FPS	74 FPS
high	64 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	470 FPS	360 FPS
medium	397 FPS	304 FPS
high	341 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	231 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	313 FPS
medium	351 FPS	271 FPS
high	309 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	235 FPS
medium	248 FPS	207 FPS
high	229 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	161 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	470 FPS	508 FPS
medium	470 FPS	508 FPS
high	470 FPS	502 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	418 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	499 FPS
medium	470 FPS	409 FPS
high	470 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	308 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	343 FPS
medium	389 FPS	291 FPS
high	337 FPS	252 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	194 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	470 FPS	508 FPS
medium	470 FPS	508 FPS
high	470 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	508 FPS
1440p
low	470 FPS	508 FPS
medium	470 FPS	508 FPS
high	470 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	470 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	508 FPS
medium	450 FPS	459 FPS
high	391 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-12400 Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400 and Ryzen 5 5600GT

Core i5-12400

The Core i5-12400 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: 18,794 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600GT

The Ryzen 5 5600GT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $140.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400 and Ryzen 5 5600GT share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600GT — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600GT (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600GT uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400 scores 18,794 against the Ryzen 5 5600GT's 20,312 — a 7.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600GT. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,381 vs 2,000, a 17.4% lead for the Core i5-12400 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,632 vs 9,300 (13.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600GT.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.6 GHz+5%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	18,794	20,312+8%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,400	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,381+19%	2,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,632+14%	9,300

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600GT uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600GT — the Core i5-12400 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600GT) — the Ryzen 5 5600GT offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400) and A520,B550,X570,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 5600GT).

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600GT). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 730 (Core i5-12400) and Radeon Vega 7 (Ryzen 5 5600GT) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400 targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 5 5600GT targets Budget Gaming/Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Core i5-12400	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 730	Radeon Vega 7
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Budget Gaming/Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400 launched at $209 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600GT debuted at $140. On MSRP ($209 vs $140), the Ryzen 5 5600GT is $69 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400 delivers 89.9 pts/$ vs 145.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600GT — making the Ryzen 5 5600GT the 46.9% better value option.