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 $7,825 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 481.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 120,000).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.0% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($7,999 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,825 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 481.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 19.3 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $7,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 350W, a 285W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.0% higher average FPS across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX across 6 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,380 vs 120,000).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.3 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($7,999 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌438.5% higher power demand at 350W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12400F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX better than Core i5-12400F?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX 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 PRO 9985WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 41.0% more average FPS across 6 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 PRO 9985WX is the better fit. You are getting 869.3% 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 PRO 9985WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12400F makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is 4497.1% more expensive on MSRP at $7,999 MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it gives you a 41.0% average FPS lead across 6 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12400F is also 481.7% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 19.3 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 18 MB, more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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 PRO 9985WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	183 FPS	303 FPS
medium	168 FPS	281 FPS
high	139 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	195 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	268 FPS
medium	132 FPS	224 FPS
high	106 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	186 FPS
medium	81 FPS	155 FPS
high	64 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	105 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	471 FPS	803 FPS
medium	397 FPS	687 FPS
high	341 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	468 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	662 FPS
medium	351 FPS	590 FPS
high	309 FPS	477 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	386 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	370 FPS
medium	248 FPS	334 FPS
high	229 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	269 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	488 FPS	889 FPS
medium	488 FPS	728 FPS
high	488 FPS	654 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	556 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	693 FPS
medium	488 FPS	567 FPS
high	485 FPS	498 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	419 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	490 FPS
medium	389 FPS	407 FPS
high	337 FPS	365 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	303 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
1080p
low	488 FPS	1131 FPS
medium	488 FPS	1014 FPS
high	488 FPS	889 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	802 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	890 FPS
medium	488 FPS	783 FPS
high	488 FPS	688 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	599 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	649 FPS
medium	450 FPS	579 FPS
high	391 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX

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 PRO 9985WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Shimada Peak (2025) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: sTR5. Thermal design power (TDP): 350 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 154,361 points. Launch price was $7,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-12400F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX has 58 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX — a 20.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX uses Shimada Peak (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX's 154,361 — a 155.1% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 120,000 (162.6% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 3,644, a 72.8% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 37,967 (193.2% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 256 MB (total) on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	64 / 128+967%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.4 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	256 MB (total)+1322%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Shimada Peak (2025)
PassMark	19,532	154,361+690%
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380	120,000+869%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700	3,644+114%
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	37,967+5679%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX uses sTR5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX 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 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and WRX90,TRX50 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Socket	LGA1700	sTR5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX targets High-end Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX rivals Xeon w9-3475X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	true
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	High-end Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX debuted at $7999. On MSRP ($174 vs $7999), the Core i5-12400F is $7825 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 19.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9985WX — making the Core i5-12400F the 141.3% better value option.