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 $3,816 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 460.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $3,990 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 3990X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 64,366).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 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 20.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($3,990 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 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,816 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 460.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $3,990 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 3990X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 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 3990X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 64,366).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($3,990 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 3990X better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 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 3990X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.7% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 18 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the better fit. You are getting 419.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 1322.2% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 18 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is 2193.1% more expensive on MSRP at $3,990 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 460.6% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 20.0 PassMark/$), 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 3990X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	183 FPS	181 FPS
medium	168 FPS	152 FPS
high	139 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	157 FPS
medium	132 FPS	125 FPS
high	106 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	85 FPS
medium	81 FPS	72 FPS
high	64 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	471 FPS	584 FPS
medium	397 FPS	503 FPS
high	341 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	330 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	491 FPS
medium	351 FPS	433 FPS
high	309 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	308 FPS
medium	248 FPS	275 FPS
high	229 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	204 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	488 FPS	681 FPS
medium	488 FPS	563 FPS
high	488 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	428 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	582 FPS
medium	488 FPS	488 FPS
high	485 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	424 FPS
medium	389 FPS	338 FPS
high	337 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	488 FPS	942 FPS
medium	488 FPS	842 FPS
high	488 FPS	724 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	777 FPS
medium	488 FPS	677 FPS
high	488 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	502 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	540 FPS
medium	450 FPS	489 FPS
high	391 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 3990X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 79,889 points. Launch price was $3,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 58 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X's 79,889 — a 121.4% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 64,366 (135.5% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,961, a 14.3% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 22,045 (188.4% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 256 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	64 / 128+967%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.9 GHz+16%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	256 MB+1322%
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	79,889+309%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	64,366+420%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	1,961+15%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	22,045+3255%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 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 3990X — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 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 3990X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 68 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
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 3990X). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen Threadripper 3990X rivals Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
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 3990X debuted at $3990. On MSRP ($174 vs $3990), the Core i5-12400F is $3816 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 20.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — making the Core i5-12400F the 139.5% better value option.