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 $1,225 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 186.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 39.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 34,260).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +49.3% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,399 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W 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 3960X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,225 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 186.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 39.1 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $1,399 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +49.3% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 34,260).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.1 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($1,399 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W 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 3960X better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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 3960X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 49.3% more average FPS across 6 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 18 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is the better fit. You are getting 176.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 611.1% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 704.0% more expensive on MSRP at $1,399 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 49.3% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 186.8% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 39.1 PassMark/$), 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 2019) 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 3960X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	183 FPS	270 FPS
medium	168 FPS	222 FPS
high	139 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	211 FPS
medium	132 FPS	164 FPS
high	106 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	98 FPS
medium	81 FPS	81 FPS
high	64 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	51 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	471 FPS	835 FPS
medium	397 FPS	706 FPS
high	341 FPS	547 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	474 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	677 FPS
medium	351 FPS	587 FPS
high	309 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	387 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	396 FPS
medium	248 FPS	345 FPS
high	229 FPS	307 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	271 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	488 FPS	1025 FPS
medium	488 FPS	927 FPS
high	488 FPS	862 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	765 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	777 FPS
medium	488 FPS	645 FPS
high	485 FPS	581 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	506 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	540 FPS
medium	389 FPS	428 FPS
high	337 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	306 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
1080p
low	488 FPS	1325 FPS
medium	488 FPS	1015 FPS
high	488 FPS	1074 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	875 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	1032 FPS
medium	488 FPS	900 FPS
high	488 FPS	778 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	656 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	744 FPS
medium	450 FPS	662 FPS
high	391 FPS	579 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

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 3960X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 54,763 points. Launch price was $1,399.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X's 54,763 — a 94.8% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 34,260 (93.8% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,270, a 29% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	24 / 48+300%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.8 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	128 MB+611%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	19,532	54,763+180%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	34,260+177%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+34%	1,270
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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 DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X offers 68 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and AMD TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Socket	LGA1700	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	88+340%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3960X). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen Threadripper 3960X rivals Core i9-10900X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	true
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X debuted at $1399. On MSRP ($174 vs $1399), the Core i5-12400F is $1225 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 39.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X — making the Core i5-12400F the 96.6% better value option.