Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 7 5700U

Intel

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5700U

8 Cores16 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2021

Popular choices:

i5-12400F

Performance Spectrum - CPU

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

  • Better for gaming: +37.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
  • 66.7% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 5700U.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 5700U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 5700U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 5700U

2021

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (8 CUs), while Core i5-12400F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,600 vs 12,380).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 18 MB).
  • Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i5-12400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Ryzen 7 5700U?
Yes. Core i5-12400F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 37.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 44% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 25.9% higher 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 37.4% more average FPS across 4 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 44% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB).
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 $174 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 37.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
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), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FP6, 125% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
1080p
low183 FPS179 FPS
medium168 FPS147 FPS
high139 FPS119 FPS
ultra119 FPS96 FPS
1440p
low153 FPS152 FPS
medium132 FPS123 FPS
high106 FPS99 FPS
ultra89 FPS80 FPS
4K
low87 FPS82 FPS
medium81 FPS72 FPS
high64 FPS57 FPS
ultra49 FPS44 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
1080p
low471 FPS209 FPS
medium397 FPS179 FPS
high341 FPS164 FPS
ultra301 FPS144 FPS
1440p
low407 FPS183 FPS
medium351 FPS160 FPS
high309 FPS149 FPS
ultra265 FPS128 FPS
4K
low282 FPS148 FPS
medium248 FPS135 FPS
high229 FPS127 FPS
ultra196 FPS111 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
1080p
low488 FPS388 FPS
medium488 FPS388 FPS
high488 FPS388 FPS
ultra488 FPS388 FPS
1440p
low488 FPS388 FPS
medium488 FPS388 FPS
high485 FPS388 FPS
ultra434 FPS388 FPS
4K
low442 FPS388 FPS
medium389 FPS388 FPS
high337 FPS341 FPS
ultra274 FPS279 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
1080p
low488 FPS388 FPS
medium488 FPS388 FPS
high488 FPS388 FPS
ultra488 FPS388 FPS
1440p
low488 FPS388 FPS
medium488 FPS388 FPS
high488 FPS388 FPS
ultra473 FPS388 FPS
4K
low488 FPS388 FPS
medium450 FPS388 FPS
high391 FPS357 FPS
ultra330 FPS303 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 7 5700U

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 7 5700U

The Ryzen 7 5700U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,511 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5700U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700U — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700U uses Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen 7 5700U's 15,511 — a 22.9% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 8,600 (36% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,200, a 34.5% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 6,000 (160.5% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700U). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 5700U.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz+2%
4.3 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz+39%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
18 MB (total)+125%
8 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+150%
512K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Alder Lake-S (2022)
Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021)
PassMark
19,532+26%
15,511
Cinebench R23 Multi
12,380+44%
8,600
Geekbench 6 Single
1,700+42%
1,200
Geekbench 6 Multi
657
6,000+813%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 5700U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus LPDDR4x-4267 on the Ryzen 7 5700U — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 12 (Ryzen 7 5700U) — the Core i5-12400F offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and SoC (Ryzen 7 5700U).

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
Socket
LGA1700
FP6
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%
LPDDR4x-4267
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB+100%
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
20+67%
12
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5700U). The Ryzen 7 5700U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (8 CUs)), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 7 5700U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

FeatureCore i5-12400FRyzen 7 5700U
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon Graphics (8 CUs)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming Performance/Value
Mainstream Laptop